Bulls (rugby union)
The Bulls ( engl. the bulls; formerly called Northern Bulls, also known as Vodacom Bulls, in conjunction with the main sponsor ) are a rugby union team from the South African capital Pretoria. She plays in the international Super Rugby League and has so far won three league titles. The home games are played at Loftus Versfeld.
- 3.1 Super 12
- 3.2 Super 14
- 3.3 Super Rugby
History
The Bulls have already participated in the first Super 12 season in 1996, then under the name of Northern Transvaal region. They succeeded in the third place, but in the semi-final against the Auckland Blues, they had no chance and lost 11:48. In the next season they could not build on the success of 1996 and ended up in eighth place. In the following years South Africa took over the franchise system, which was common long ago in Australia and New Zealand. The Association created four teams, the Bulls were one of them.
By 2005 the team was not able to penetrate into the semi-finals and to repeat the success of 1996. Since then, the Bulls have, however, managed to always reach at least the round of last four. In the last Super -12 Championship in 2005, they failed at the Waratahs. With the Central Cheetahs and the Western Force came to 2006, two more teams so that the tournament for the Super 14 was. The Bulls failed again this year in the semifinals.
However, in 2007 they won their first title. The season started with a loss to the Sharks, but the team rose steadily and made it again in the semi-finals. Among other things, succeeded in this season, a record victory over the Queensland Reds who were beaten with 92:3. The Bulls defeated the Crusaders in the semifinals for the first time and went into the final of the tournament, where they met with the Sharks. This was also the first all- South African final duel in the Super-12/14-Geschichte. The final developed into a very tight game, the Sharks led until shortly before the finish with six points. Only in injury time scored Bryan Habana decisive attempt to Derick Hougaard could increase to lead the Bulls to the first league title in club history.
In 2009, the team secured the second title by the 61:17 - Final victory over the Chiefs, also the highest victory in a final part of the Super 14 this success could repeat the Bulls in the following year, when she in the finals Stormers beat.
Player
Current squad
The squad for the 2012 season:
Pillar
Hooker
Second - row players
Winger
Scrum half
Connector
- South Africa Louis Fouché
- South Africa Morné Steyn
Indoor Three Quarter
Outer three-quarters
Final Men
Well-known former players
- Jannie de Beer
- Bryan Habana
- Derick Hougaard
- Louis Koen
- Joost van der Westhuizen