Bulls Daisies

South African women's rugby team

Rugby team
Bulls Daisies
LocationPretoria, South Africa
Ground(s)Loftus Versfeld
Coach(es)Hayden Groepes
Captain(s)Lusanda Dumke
League(s)Women's Premier Division
2024Champions
Official website
bullsrugby.co.za

The Bulls Daisies are a South African women's rugby union team based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria that participate in the annual Women's Premier Division tournament.

The team are affiliated with the men's rugby team, the Blue Bulls, and the daisies in their name refer to the Barberton Daisy, which first appeared in the Blue Bulls crest in 1938.[1]

In 2023, they became the first professional women's team in South African rugby, contracting 35 players.[2][3][4]

History

In 2023, their first season since turning professional, the Bulls Daisies won the Women's Premier Division, winning all fourteen games, and defeating Western Province 69–8 in the final.[5]

They retained their title in 2024, defeating Western Province 36–17 in the final.[6]

Current squad

The Bulls Daisies squad for the 2023–25 Women's Premier Divisions is:

Bulls United Rugby Championship squad

Props

  • South Africa Asithandile Ntoyanto
  • South Africa Lebogang Ralebona
  • South Africa Sanelisiwe Charlie
  • South Africa Thulisile Bukula
  • South Africa Xolelwa Diliza
  • South Africa Yonela Ngixingolo

Hookers

  • South Africa Doreen Mkhabele
  • South Africa Micke Günter

Locks

  • South Africa Anathi Qolo
  • South Africa Catha JacobsST
  • South Africa Lerato Makua
  • South Africa Rights Mkhari
  • South Africa Sinenhlahla Kwinana
  • South Africa Vainah Ubisi
  • South Africa Ziyanda Ngohlekana

Loose forwards

  • South Africa Kyla de Vries
  • South Africa Lusanda Dumke (c)
  • South Africa Ntsako Tshauke
  • South Africa Sinelitha Noxeke
  • South Africa Sizophila Solontsi
  • South Africa Sophy Mashapa
  • South Africa Thandeka Shongwe

Scrum-halves

  • South Africa Rumandi Potgieter
  • South Africa Unam Tose

Fly-halves

  • South Africa Byrhandre Dolf
  • South Africa Libbie Janse van Rensburg
  • South Africa Lynn-Mari Subke
  • South Africa Mahlatse Nkumishe

Centres

  • South Africa Jakkie Cilliers
  • South Africa Shiniqwa Lamprecht
  • South Africa Zintle Mpupha
  • South Africa Chumisa Qawe

Outside backs

  • South Africa Ayanda Malinga
  • South Africa Marlize de Bruin
  • South Africa Maria Tshiremba
  • South Africa Simamkele Namba
  • South Africa Unathi Mali
  • South Africa Zintle Nonkasana
  • South Africa Patience Mokone
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, ST denotes a short-term signing, italic indicates sevens capped.

References

  1. ^ "South Africa's Bulls Daisies: 'It wasn't until that first payslip came through that it sank in.'". www.rugbypass.com. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  2. ^ Adams, Mariette (3 May 2023). "HISTORY: Bulls unveil South Africa's first-ever professional women's rugby side". The South African. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  3. ^ Mjikeliso, Sibusiso. "History made: Bulls Daisies become SA's first professional women's rugby team". Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  4. ^ "35 women sign deals with Bulls Daisies rugby team". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Fourteen straight as Bulls Daisies claim Women's Premier Division title". SA Rugby. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  6. ^ koosventer (12 August 2024). "Relief and gratitude from Bulls Daisies trophy winning coach". Rekord. Retrieved 14 August 2024.