Bulls Daisies

Bulls Daisies

Union	Blue Bulls Rugby Union
Nickname(s)	Daisies
Founded	2023
Location	Tshwane, South Africa
Region	Gauteng
Ground(s)	Loftus Versfeld (Capacity: 51000)
CEO	Edgar Rathbone
President	Willem Strauss
Captain(s)	Lusanda Dumke
League(s)	Women's Premier Division
2024	Champions
Official website
bullsrugby.co.za

The Bulls Daisies are the first professional women's team in South African rugby union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, participating in the annual Women's Premier Division tournament under the auspices of SA Rugby.

The team are affiliated with the men's rugby team, the Blue Bulls known as the Vodacom Bulls for sponsorship reasons, and the Daisies in their name refer to the Barberton Daisy, which first appeared in the Blue Bulls crest in 1938 and continues to be a prominent franchise insignia.[1]

Leadership

Since 2023, Hayden Groepes has been the head coach of the side, winning both championships under his guidance. In seaon 1, Groepes was assisted by former Springbok Women's captain, Mandisa Williams and in Season 2, he was assisted by Aschin Klein.

In 2024, the Daisies added Bongiwe Nhleko and former Springbok star Zeenay Jordaan as assistant coaches.

Lusanda Dumke has been the captain of the side since the 2023 season.

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.[2]

In 2024, the Daisies successfully defended their Women's Premier Division title with a second consecutive victory [36-17] in the final over DHL Western Province in Pretoria.[3] Western Province, were the only team in 2024 to beat the Daisies in their league fixture. The other teams in the competition in 2024 were the Golden Lions Women, EP Queens, Sanlam Boland Dames, Sharks Women and the Free State Women.[4][5][6]

Current squad

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

Bulls United Rugby Championship squad
Props Asithandile Ntoyanto Lebogang Ralebona Sanelisiwe Charlie Thulisile Bukula Xolelwa Diliza Yonela Ngixingolo Hookers Doreen Mkhabele Micke Günter Locks Anathi Qolo Catha Jacobs^ST Lerato Makua Rights Mkhari Sinenhlahla Kwinana Vainah Ubisi Ziyanda Ngohlekana	Loose forwards Kyla de Vries Lusanda Dumke (c) Ntsako Tshauke Sinelitha Noxeke Sizophila Solontsi Sophy Mashapa Thandeka Shongwe Scrum-halves Rumandi Potgieter Unam Tose Fly-halves Byrhandre Dolf Libbie Janse van Rensburg Lynn-Mari Subke Mahlatse Nkumishe	Centres Jakkie Cilliers Shiniqwa Lamprecht Zintle Mpupha Chumisa Qawe Outside backs Ayanda Malinga Marlize de Bruin Maria Tshiremba Simamkele Namba Unathi Mali Zintle Nonkasana 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. "Fourteen straight as Bulls Daisies claim Women's Premier Division title". SA Rugby. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
3. koosventer (12 August 2024). "Relief and gratitude from Bulls Daisies trophy winning coach". Rekord. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
4. 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.
5. Mjikeliso, Sibusiso. "History made: Bulls Daisies become SA's first professional women's rugby team". Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
6. "35 women sign deals with Bulls Daisies rugby team". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 27 August 2023.