Why are Currie cup teams called funny names like Blue Bulls or Cheetahs? Why not good old province names?....

Question

.....like before.

Answer 1

They do have provincial names the bulls are the Northern transvall blue bull and the cheetas are the free state cheetas. Iit's a bit like how i call the wellington lions, the lions.

Answer 2

The advent of the Super 10 competition brought about a whole new commercialisation of rugby. Its success depended on broadcasting rights, advertising, sponsorships and merchandise. Rugby became franchised and, with it, so the need to 'brand' the teams within the competition.

Nicknames have always been a part of rugby, SA no exception. Northern Transvaal are recognised as the 'Blue Bulls' even though a Barbeton Daisey is emblazoned on the shirt.  Natal were always affectionately known as the 'Banana Boys' where Wildebeest comprised their emblem.  Even countries like Rhodesia and South West Africa were part of the Currie Cup competition.

South Africa's re-integration into world rugby following their democratic election in 1994 coincided with renaming of Provinces and the creation of new ones. Transvaal became Gauteng, Natal, KwaZulu Natal; names not easily recognisable in the international arena.

With the branding of the Super 10 franchises, names like the 'Natal Bananas' would not have cut it or garnered the respect they deserve, hence the need for a new identity to match the brand. The name 'Sharks', by way of example, is still synonomous with coastal Durban but a has a certain bite to it, particularly in a marketing sense.

Interestingly, while the Currie Cup originally did retain the old provincial names for the competition, the acceptance and sense of identity as a result of Super 14 marketing and profile, will ensue that funny names like Blue Bulls or Cheetahs will endure for quite some time to come.