Highveld XV
Encyclopedia
The Highveld XV, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Royal Bafokeng Nation
Highveld XV or simply the Royal XV, are a composite provincial rugby union
team from South Africa
.
Like their Coastal XV
counterparts, the Highveld XV were created by the South African Rugby Union
to provide an opponent for the British and Irish Lions
as part of their 2009 tour to South Africa
. It is not know if the team will be re-activated for future tours or if this was just a one-off operation. The Coastal XV however will be rebranded as the Southern Kings, with hopes of becoming the future Super 15
fifteenth franchise in 2011.
Traditionally the Lions only play against the best Currie Cup
provinces when touring South Africa but the South African Rugby Union felt the best players from all provinces should have an opportunity to play against the touring side. As a result two composite teams regrouping players from weaker unions were created, the Highveld XV being one of them.
The team represents most of the Highveld
region in the country's north-west. It draws players from the Griquas
from the Northern Cape Province, the Leopards
from the North West Province, the Pumas
from Mpumalanga Province, the Griffons
from part of the Free State Province and the Falcons (Valke)
from part of Gauteng
.
The Highveld XV played their first game against the touring Lions on 30 May 2009 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
in Rustenburg and lost honorably 25 to 37.
Royal Bafokeng Nation
The Royal Bafokeng Nation is the ethnic homeland of the Bafokeng people, a Setswana-speaking traditional community. The monarchy covers in the North West Province of South Africa. The administrative capital is Phokeng, near Rustenburg. "Bafokeng" is used to refer to both the tribal grouping as...
Highveld XV or simply the Royal XV, are a composite provincial rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Like their Coastal XV
Southern Kings
The Southern Kings are a South African rugby union franchise. The franchise was formally announced at the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 16 June 2009, in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa....
counterparts, the Highveld XV were created by the South African Rugby Union
South African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
to provide an opponent for the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
as part of their 2009 tour to South Africa
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
. It is not know if the team will be re-activated for future tours or if this was just a one-off operation. The Coastal XV however will be rebranded as the Southern Kings, with hopes of becoming the future Super 15
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
fifteenth franchise in 2011.
Traditionally the Lions only play against the best Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
provinces when touring South Africa but the South African Rugby Union felt the best players from all provinces should have an opportunity to play against the touring side. As a result two composite teams regrouping players from weaker unions were created, the Highveld XV being one of them.
The team represents most of the Highveld
Highveld
The Highveld is a high plateau region of inland South Africa which is largely home to the largest metropolitan area in the country, the Gauteng City Region, which accounts for one-third of South Africa's population.-Location and description:...
region in the country's north-west. It draws players from the Griquas
Wildeklawer Griquas
The GWK Griquas are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. Their home ground is Hoffe Park Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as GWK Park in Kimberley, and they draw their players from Northern Cape Province. They were previously known as...
from the Northern Cape Province, the Leopards
Leopards (rugby team)
The Leopards, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They play out of Potchefstroom at Olën Park as well as the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg...
from the North West Province, the Pumas
Pumas (rugby team)
The Ford Pumas are a South African rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the 2011 Currie Cup. Based at Puma Stadium in Witbank as well as the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province .The Pumas won the Currie Cup First Division The...
from Mpumalanga Province, the Griffons
Griffons (rugby team)
The Griffons, currently referred to as the Tasol Solar Griffons for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
from part of the Free State Province and the Falcons (Valke)
Falcons (rugby team)
The Falcons, or Valke in Afrikaans, are a South African rugby union team in Gauteng province that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments....
from part of Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
.
The Highveld XV played their first game against the touring Lions on 30 May 2009 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Royal Bafokeng Stadium
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a football, rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation.. It is used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars...
in Rustenburg and lost honorably 25 to 37.