Rugby league is a team sport played in South Africa. There has been three dynasties of rugby league in South Africa that attempted to establish a thriving rugby league. Not all attempts were in the interest of South Africans; rather an interest in financial windfall. Others took to the townships and promoted the league at the grass roots, which saw some of the most successful periods of rugby league in South Africa. The game has changed over 50 years of involvement in South Africa and today is played by a small number of teams in 3 competitions, the Rhino Cup, Protea Cup and Western Province Rugby League which is administered by the South African Rugby League.
Danny Buderus is an Australian rugby league commentator, coach and former professional footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative hooker, he played in the National Rugby League for Australian club, the Newcastle Knights, with whom he won a Dally M Medal, and the 2001 NRL Premiership before setting a new record for most games with the club. Buderus also played in the Super League for English club, the Leeds Rhinos, with whom he won 2011's Super League XVI. He set the record for most appearances as captain of the New South Wales State of Origin team at 15 and for most consecutive appearances for the side at 21. Buderus also played representative football for the Exiles and New South Wales Country. In 2015, he took up an interim coaching role with the Knights and continued as an assistant coach in 2016.
Kylie Leuluai is a former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand Māori and Samoa international representative prop forward, he most notably played at club level for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He also played club football in Australia for National Rugby League clubs; the Wests Tigers, the Sydney Roosters, the Parramatta Eels, and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Joseph Sonny Vagana, also known by the nickname of "Big Joe", is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. During his career Vagana played for the Auckland Warriors, and the Bradford Bulls, and also represented both Samoa and New Zealand in international competition. His position of preference was at Prop forward. Joe is also the cousin of fellow rugby league international Nigel Vagana, and the New Zealand netballer Linda Vagana.
Marcus "George" Bai is a Papua New Guinean former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An international representative wing, he represented Papua New Guinea on numerous occasions including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Bai played club football for English clubs the Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos and the Bradford Bulls, as well as Australian clubs the Gold Coast Chargers and Melbourne Storm. He became the first player to have won the World Club Challenge with three different clubs. In 2005 he was minutes away from being the first person to win all of the major domestic competitions in both Australia and England however Hull F.C. struck with minutes to go in the Challenge Cup final to deny Leeds Rhinos the Challenge Cup and him a place in the history books.
Adrian Vowles is an Australian former Scotland international rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in Australia for several years, gaining State of Origin selection in 1994, but spent the majority of his career in the Super League. Vowles also represented for Scotland at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
James Darryl Peacock MBE, is an English professional rugby league footballer who played for the Leeds Rhinos and the Bradford Bulls in the Super League, and captained both Great Britain and England at international level. After retiring at the end of the 2015 season he became football manager at the Hull Kingston Rovers but resumed his playing career towards the end of the 2016 season. His position of choice was prop, although he played much of his early career as a second-row. He is one of the most successful players in Super League history, having won a total of nine Super League championships, four Challenge Cup winners medals, been named to the Super League Dream Team on eleven occasions and won the Man of Steel award in 2003.
Brett Mullins is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s, and early 2000s. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played his club football for Australian clubs the Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters, and for English club, the Leeds Rhinos. He was described as "one of the most exciting attacking weapons in rugby league."
Barrie "Baz" McDermott is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative prop, he played his club football at Oldham, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, Bramley and the Widnes Vikings.
Francois Cloete is a professional rugby league footballer who represented the South Africa national rugby league team at the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.
David Barnhill is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. His club career was with the Canberra Raiders, St. George Dragons, Sydney City and Leeds Rhinos. He played much of his career at Second row forward.
Daniel Tailliferre Hauman van der Merwe is a South African-Canadian rugby union player. He currently plays for Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14.
Paul Matete is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer, and coach who represented New Zealand in the 1975 World Cup.
Jaco Booysen is a South African rugby player who represented his country in rugby league at the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.
Jaco Webb is a South African rugby football player who represented his country in rugby league at the 2000 World Cup.
Tim Fourie is a South Africa rugby footballer who represented his country in rugby league at the 1995 World Cup.
Kobus Van Deventer is a South African rugby league player who represented his country in the 1995 World Cup.
Gerald Williams is a South African rugby league footballer who represented his country in the 1995 World Cup.
Headingley Rugby Stadium,, shares the same site as Headingley Cricket Ground and is home to both Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Carnegie rugby teams. Headingley is also the 5th largest rugby league stadium in England.
