Our Story
Pirates, Pretoria, Wanderers, Potchefstroom, and Kaffrarians were the first Transvaal clubs when the union was formed in 1889.
Pretoria went on to win the first club competition in that same year, and Pirates won it in 1890 – and in the years from 1891 to 1894.
By 1895, the competition was known as the Pirates Grand Challenge. Pirates had donated the original trophy to the union after winning it three times in succession.
Wanderers had to wait until 1902 to become club champions, and Pretoria until 1904 to regain the title.
Winning the Pirates Grand Challenge is a monumentous feat but what happens when you cannot find the trophy? When Pirates beat the Pukke in Potchefstroom in the final in 2001, the celebrations continued well into the night.
It was only on Monday morning, when the trophy had to be returned, didthat the team realised that the Grand Challenge Cup that was first played for in 1889, was nowhere to be found.
After panic and dismay, club manager Pieter Visser, when was contacted, and he calmly let everyone know that revealed he had taken care of the trophy and there was no need for panic.
Crisis averted!
Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) players have contributed significantly to the Boks both on and off the field. One of these contributors, Mac Hendricks, was the Springboks’ logistics manager for years under Jake White and was a member of the World Cup winning team.
Dr Frans Verster was the Springboks’ team doctor for many a year and was the Springboks’ the national team’s doctor when they won the World Cup in 1995.
Three outstanding provincial captains have led the Springboks in tests, namely Jannie Breedt, Francois Pienaar and Andre Vos.
A look at the winners of the Pirates Grand Challenge Trophy – originally called the Imroth Trophy – shows the spread of winners over the years.
Pirates, Diggers and Roodepoort Rugby Club have won the competition in “surges” over the years. The latest club to follow this trend is the Pukke, who have won the Cup six times in a row since they joined the Golden Lions Rugby Union leagues.
Three clubs hold the record of five successive titles. Diggers Rugby Club achieved it twice in between 1895 – 1899 and 1958 – 1962. The other two clubs are Leadhome Pirates Rugby Club (1890 – 1894) and Pukke (2002 – 2006).
Committee
NR Jardine
President
AJ Allers
Deputy President
NR Jardine
President
