Eastern Province Elephants

Rugby team

Eastern Province Elephants

Full name| Eastern Province Elephants
Union| Eastern Province Rugby Union
Founded| 1888
Region| Western half of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Ground(s)| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Capacity: 48,000)
President| Maasdorp Cannon
Coach(es)| Allister Coetzee
Captain(s)| Garrick Mattheus
League(s)| Currie Cup First Division
2024| Runners-up
2nd on log

Team kit

Official website
www.eprugby.co.za
Current season

The Eastern Province Elephants (known as the Multisure Eastern Province Elephants for sponsorship reasons) are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge competitions. They are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU or EP Rugby). The team represents the Western half of the Eastern Cape province, and they play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

In February 2018, the EPRU announced that the name of the team would revert to Eastern Province Elephants for the 2018 season.[1]

## History

[edit]

The Eastern Province Rugby Football Union was founded in 1888. The team was originally a representative team, drawing players from within the provincial union area's local clubs.

### Professionalism and Super Rugby

[edit]

The team was known as the Eastern Province Kings from 2010 to 2017.

However, with the advent of professionalism in rugby union in 1995, the team contracted players from various areas. The Eastern Province Elephants is a professional team run by the EPRU, who are also responsible for junior representative rugby teams and administrative matters in the region.

Prior to 2010, they were known as the Mighty Elephants, but in order to align themselves with the Super Rugby side the Southern Kings, who were also governed by the EPRU, they changed their name to Eastern Province Kings. After the 2010 World Cup, they moved their offices to the new Port Elizabeth Stadium to establish their new headquarters. The team is the primary feeder to the Southern Kings, which also incorporates the Border Bulldogs and the SWD Eagles.[2]

### Financial problems and liquidation

[edit]

After late payments of player salaries throughout most of the 2015 season, it came to a head in November 2015, when the EPRU failed to meet a final deadline imposed by the South African Rugby Players Association. All players' contracts were declared null and void, leading to an exodus of players.[3] A few days later, the South African Rugby Union announced that they would take control of the affiliated Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise,[4] and released an operational plan in early December which indicated that SARU would operate the franchise independently from the Eastern Province Kings.[5]

After a petition handed to president Cheeky Watson, in which players announced their refusal to play for the Eastern Province Kings or Southern Kings until certain issues were sorted out,[6] was not met, the South African Rugby Players' Association submitted a liquidation application in January 2016 against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd on behalf of eighteen Eastern Province Kings players who were not included in the Southern Kings Super Rugby squad for 2016 and have not received their salaries since September 2015.[7] The Port Elizabeth High Court provisionally liquidated Eastern Province Rugby in March 2016 and imposed a deadline of 10 May 2016 to pay outstanding player salaries, before the liquidation order would being made final.[8]

The Eastern Province Kings submitted details of a rescue package to the High Court in May 2016,[9] which saw the liquidation order being postponed until 4 August 2016. In July 2016, it emerged that the rescue package would not come to fruition and SARU withdrew their appeal against the final liquidation order.[10] On 4 August 2016, the High Court ruled that the Eastern Province Kings should be liquidated.[11]

Within hours of the liquidation being finalised, SARU released a statement that an Eastern Province Kings team funded by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality would continue to participate in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.[12]

## Stadium

[edit]

The team was originally based at St George's Park. This was also where the first South African Rugby and Cricket Tests took place. They shared the ground with the Eastern Province cricket team.

In 1959, the EPRU decided to move the team to the then named Boet Erasmus Stadium and the inauguration took place in 1960 with the test between the Springboks and Scotland on 30 April 1960. The stadium was later named Telkom Park, due to a naming rights deal, and then renamed to the current name, the EPRU Stadium. The team played most home matches at the stadium, with a few hosted at other venues in Port Elizabeth and surrounding towns. During the late 2000s, the team shared the stadium with football (soccer) club Bay United.

In 2009, the team played its first match at their current home, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

## Honours

[edit]

* Vodacom Shield champions: 2002 Vodacom Shield
* Vodacom Shield runners-up: 2001 Vodacom Shield
* Currie Cup First Division champions: 2010, 2012
* Currie Cup First Division runners-up: 2000, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024

## Results by season

[edit]

The table below indicates the Elephants' recent finishes. This includes games played as Eastern Province, Eastern Province Kings and Mighty Elephants.

Currie Cup

Season  | Pool/group  | No. of teams  | Position  | Play-off result
1988 | Currie Cup Division A | 7 | 6th |
1989 | Currie Cup Division A | 8 | 8th |
1990 | Currie Cup Division A | 8 | 5th |
1991 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th |
1992 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th |
1993 | Currie Cup | 6 | 3rd |
1994 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th |
1995 | Currie Cup | 6 | 5th |
1996 | Currie Cup Section A | 7 | 5th |
1997 | Currie Cup | 14 | 14th |
1998 | Currie Cup | 14 | 9th |
1999 | Currie Cup | 14 | 7th |
2000 | Currie Cup Section X | 7 | 5th |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 1st | Losing Finalists
2001 | Currie Cup Section X | 7 | 7th |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 3rd |
2002 | Currie Cup Section Y | 7 | 7th |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 3rd |
2003 | Currie Cup Qualifying | 8 | 6th |
First Division | 6 | 3rd |
2004 | First Division | 6 | 5th |
2005 | Premier Division Section X | 7 | 5th |
First Division Section X2 | 3 | 2nd | Losing Semi-Finalists
2006 | First Division | 6 | 4th | Losing Finalists
2007 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists
2008 | First Division | 6 | 6th |
2009 | First Division | 6 | 4th | Losing Semi-Finalists
2010 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Champions
promotion/relegation | 2 | 2nd | Failed to win promotion
2011 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists
2012 | First Division | 8 | 1st | Champions
promotion/relegation | 2 | 2nd | Failed to win promotion
2013 | First Division | 8 | 2nd | Losing Finalists, Promoted
2014 | Premier Division | 8 | 8th |
2015 | Premier Division | 8 | 7th |

1 Between 2000 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Bankfin Cup.
2 In 2005, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Premier Division, the bottom 3 in each section for the First Division.

Vodacom Cup

Season  | Pool/group  | No. of teams  | Position  | Play-off result
1998 | Vodacom Cup Section A | 7 | 4th |
1999 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 4th |
2000 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 3rd | Losing Quarter Finalists
2001 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 8 | 5th |
Vodacom Shield1 | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists
2002 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 7 | 6th |
Vodacom Shield1 | 6 | 3rd | Champions
2003 | Vodacom Shield | 7 | 4th | Losing Semi-Finalists
2004 | Vodacom Shield | 7 | 6th |
2005 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 7 | 7th |
2006 | Vodacom Cup | 14 | 12th |
2007 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 4th | Losing Quarter Finalists
2008 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 6th |
2009 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 7th |
2010 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 6th |
2011 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th |
2012 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 3rd | Losing Quarter Finalists
2013 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 3rd | Losing Semi-Finalists
2014 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th |
2015 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th |

1 Between 2001 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Vodacom Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Vodacom Shield.

Super 10

Season  | Pool/group  | No. of teams  | Position  | Play-off result
1994 | Super 10 Pool A | 5 | 5th |

## Current season

[edit]

Further information: 2016 Eastern Province Kings season

## Current squad

[edit]

The following players were included in the Eastern Province Elephants squad for the 2022 Currie Cup First Division:[13]

Eastern Province Elephants Currie Cup squad

Props

* Duncan Du Buisson
* Cebo Gidane
* Luxolo Koza
* Sibusiso Lali
* Rob Lyons
* Sive Mazosiwe
* Siya Nzuzo
* Roche van Zyl
* Vian Wolmarans

Hookers

* Mzwanele Besman
* Duan du Plessis
* Robin Stevens

Locks

* Hannes Huisamen
* Arnold Kleyn
* Lungi Mbiko
* Jaco Willemse
* Stefan Willemse

Loose forwards

* Zingisa April
* Billy Dutton
* Laken Gray
* Gerrit Huisamen
* Athenkosi Manentsa
* Tiaan Vermaak
* Diego Williams

Scrum-halves

* Chucky Ismail
* Rouche Nel
* Sacha Toring

Fly-halves

* Luvo Claassen
* Garrick Mattheus (c)

Centres

* Athi Mayinje
* Aya Oliphant
* Merlynn Pieterse
* Josiah Twum-Boafo

Wingers

* Riaan Arends
* Rodney Damons
* Dayle Nel
* Qeutyne Oerson

Fullbacks

* Masixole Banda
* Mbembe Payi
* Davian Swanepoel

(c) Denotes team captain and Bold denotes internationally capped.

## Records

[edit]

Eastern Province Elephants records:[14]

Team match records

Record  | Opposition  | Venue  | Season  |
Biggest win | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 110–17
Biggest Currie Cup win | Griffons | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2013 | 63–7
Heaviest defeat | Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | 1998 | 12–80
Heaviest Currie Cup defeat | Northern Transvaal |  | 1984 | 3–65
Highest score | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 110
Most points conceded | Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | 1998 | 80
Most tries | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 16
Most Currie Cup tries | Griffons | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2011 | 11
Player match records

Record  | Player  | Opposition  | Venue  | Season  |
Most points by a player | Hennie le Roux | Eastern Transvaal | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 1991 | 38
Most Currie Cup points by a player | Bertus Kruger | Western Transvaal |  | 1996 | 29
Most tries by a player | Erich Knoetze | Stellaland | Rustenburg | 1991 | 5
Frikkie Crous | Western Transvaal | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 1994 | 5
Norman Nelson | Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | 2010 | 5
Team season records

Record  | Matches  | Season  |
Most team points | in 27 matches | 2012 | 875
Most Currie Cup team points | in 27 matches | 2012 | 611
Most team tries | in 24 matches | 2003 | 103
in 27 matches | 2012 | 103
Most Currie Cup team tries | in 18 matches | 2012 | 76
Player season records

Record  | Player  | Season  |
Most points by a player | Bertus Kruger | 1996 | 282
Most Currie Cup points by a player | Brett Hennessey | 2002 | 153
Most tries by a player | Manie van Vuuren | 1994 | 14
Henry Pedro | 1998 | 14
Fabian Juries | 2003 | 14
Most Currie Cup tries by a player | Henry Pedro | 1998 | 13
Luke Watson | 2012 | 13
Player career records

Record  | Player  | Seasons  |
Most appearances | Barry Pinnock | 1993–2002 | 173
Most points | Giepie van Zyl | 1981–1988 | 1,126
Most Currie Cup points | Giepie van Zyl | 1981–1988 | 755
Most tries | Norman Nelson | 2006–2013 | 56

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "EP's rugby jumbo resurrected". Herald Live. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
2. ^ "Name change for EP Rugby". Sport24. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
3. ^ "Kings facing player exodus?". Rugby365. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
4. ^ "SARU steps in to assist the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 17 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
5. ^ "SA Rugby unveils Southern Kings management team and operational plan" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
6. ^ "EP Kings players hand over petition to Watson". Rugby15. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
7. ^ "Southern Kings unaffected by liquidation application against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd". South African Rugby Union. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
8. ^ "EP Rugby provisionally liquidated". Herald Live. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
9. ^ "UK firm revealed as Kings' saviour". Herald Live. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
10. ^ "EP Kings business rescue hits a snag". Herald Live. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
11. ^ "It's official: EP Kings liquidated". SA Rugby Magazine. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
12. ^ "EP Kings confirmed in Currie Cup Premier Division with Municipal support" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
13. ^ "Eastern Province Elephants squad". SA Rugby. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
14. ^ SA Rugby Annual 2014. South African Rugby Union. 2014. p. 251\. ISBN 978-0-620-57859-2.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Province Elephants

Stadiums|

* EPRU Stadium
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Competitions|

* Currie Cup
* Vodacom Cup

Seasons|

* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017

Related team|

* Southern Kings

* v
* t
* e

Currie Cup

Teams|

| Premier Division:|

* Blue Bulls
* Free State Cheetahs
* Golden Lions
* Griffons
* Griquas
* Pumas
* Sharks
* Western Province

|

First Division:|

* Boland Cavaliers
* Border Bulldogs
* Eastern Province Elephants
* Falcons
* Leopards
* SWD Eagles

Seasons|

| Board Trophy:|

* 1889

|

Amateur era:|

* 1892
* 1894
* 1895
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1911
* 1914
* 1920
* 1922
* 1925
* 1927
* 1929
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1939
* 1946
* 1947
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1957–1959
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* Div A
* Div B
* Tphy A
* Tphy B
* 1989
* Div A
* Div B
* Tphy A
* Tphy B
* 1990
* Div A
* Div B
* Tphy
* 1991
* CC
* CC/Ce
* Div A
* Div B
* Ce/Ru
* Div C
* Div D
* 1992
* CC
* CC/Ce
* Cen A
* Cen B
* Ce/Ru
* Rur A/B
* Rur B
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995

Professional era:|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* Top 8
* Bf Cup
* Qual
* 2001
* Top 8
* Bf Cup
* Qual
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* Prem
* 1st
* 2005
* Prem
* 1st
* 2006
* Prem
* 1st
* 2007
* Prem
* 1st
* 2008
* Prem
* 1st
* 2009
* Prem
* 1st
* 2010
* Prem
* 1st
* 2011
* Prem
* 1st
* 2012
* Prem
* 1st
* 2013
* Prem
* 1st
* 2014
* Prem
* 1st
* Qual
* 2015
* Prem
* 1st
* Qual
* 2016
* Prem
* 1st
* Qual
* 2017
* Prem
* 1st
* 2018
* Prem
* 1st
* 2019
* Prem
* 1st
* 2020–21
* Prem
* 2021
* Prem
* 1st
* 2022
* Prem
* 1st
* 2023
* Prem
* 1st
* 2024
* Prem
* 1st

* v
* t
* e

Rugby Challenge

Teams|

* Blue Bulls XV
* Boland Cavaliers
* Border Bulldogs
* Eastern Province Elephants
* Falcons
* Free State XV
* Golden Lions XV
* Griffons
* Griquas
* Leopards
* Pumas
* Sharks XV
* SWD Eagles
* Welwitschias
* Western Province
* Zimbabwe

Seasons|

* 2017
* 2018
* 2019

* v
* t
* e

Vodacom Cup (defunct)

Teams|

* Blue Bulls
* Boland Cavaliers
* Border Bulldogs
* Eastern Province Kings
* Falcons
* Free State XV
* Golden Lions
* Griffons
* Griquas
* Leopards XV
* Limpopo Blue Bulls
* Pampas XV
* Pumas
* Sharks XV
* Simba XV
* SWD Eagles
* Welwitschias
* Western Province

Seasons|

* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in South Africa

Governing body|

* South African Rugby Union

National teams|

| Men's|

* Springboks
* 'A'
* 7's
* Amateurs
* U-21
* U-20
* Schoolboys

|

Women's|

* Women's
* 7's

Competitions|

| International|

* South Africa at the Rugby World Cup
* World Rugby Sevens Series
* South Africa Sevens
* South Africa Women's Sevens
* World Rugby U20 Championship
* United Rugby Championship
* The Rugby Championship

|

Provincial|

* Currie Cup
* SA Cup

Club|

* Gold Cup
* Varsity Rugby
* Women's Varsity Cup

Women's clubs|

* Women's Premier Division

Youth rugby|

* Craven Week

Defunct|

* Vodacom Cup
* Rugby Challenge
* Mzanzi Challenge

Related articles|

* International players
* Rugby union and apartheid
* Springbok colours

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Province Elephants - current squad

Forwards|

* Mzwanele Besman
* Duncan Du Buisson
* Duan du Plessis
* Billy Dutton
* Cebo Gidane
* Laken Gray
* Gerrit Huisamen
* Hannes Huisamen
* Athenkosi Khethani
* Arnold Kleyn
* Luxolo Koza
* Sibusiso Lali
* Rob Lyons
* Sive Mazosiwe
* Lungi Mbiko
* Siya Nzuzo
* Robin Stevens
* Roche van Zyl
* Tiaan Vermaak
* Jaco Willemse
* Stefan Willemse
* Diego Williams
* Vian Wolmarans

Backs|

* Riaan Arendse
* Masixole Banda
* Luvo Claasen
* Rodney Damons
* Chucky Ismail
* Garrick Mattheus
* Athi Mayinje
* Dayle Nel
* Rouche Nel
* Qeutyne Oerson
* Aya Oliphant
* Mbembe Payi
* Merlynn Pieterse
* Davian Swanepoel
* Sacha Toring
* Josiah Twum-Boafo

Coach(es)|

* Dumisani Mhani

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