About
The Toyota Cheetahs dethroned the Airlink Pumas - the 2022 champions from Mbombela - by winning South Africa's oldest and premier provincial competition in 2023, winning a superb final at home in Bloemfontein. The Pretoria-based Vodacom Bulls won the title in 2020 and 2021, but lost in the semi-finals in 2022 and 2023. These four sides were joined in the Premier Division by the Hollywoodbets Sharks (Durban), DHL Western Province (Cape Town), Fidelity ADT Lions (Johannesburg) and the Novavit Griffons (Welkom), who were promoted after winning the First Division in 2022.
The history
The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, with the first games played in 1889, but it was only in 1892 that it became officially known as the Currie Cup. The original participating unions were Western Province, Griqualand West, Transvaal and Eastern Province. The first tournament was held in Kimberley and was won by Western Province. The Currie Cup trophy was donated to South Africa in 1891 by the touring British Isles team - it was given to the tourists by Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, the shipping company that transported them to the southern tip of Africa. Sir Donald was clear with his instructions – hand this trophy over to the team in South Africa that gives you the best game. After a spirited display where the unbeaten British Lions narrowly won 3-0, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup.
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Toyota Cheetahs
|
14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 439 | 324 | 115 | 63 | 39 | 51 |
2 |
Hollywoodbets Sharks
|
14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 370 | 310 | 60 | 50 | 37 | 48 |
3 |
Airlink Pumas
|
14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 436 | 292 | 144 | 58 | 38 | 40 |
4 |
Vodacom Bulls
|
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 399 | 415 | -16 | 57 | 53 | 38 |
5 |
DHL Western Province
|
14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 377 | 335 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 37 |
6 |
Fidelity ADT Lions
|
14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 386 | 390 | -4 | 52 | 51 | 36 |
7 |
Suzuki Griquas
|
14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 364 | 399 | -35 | 45 | 53 | 35 |
8 |
NovaVit Griffons
|
14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 288 | 594 | -306 | 33 | 89 | 10 |
There are currently no fixtures available. |
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Pressure mounts on SA sides in Vodacom URCThe South African franchises will be under immense pressure to bounce back strongly from disappointing results in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship last week – apart from the Emirates Lions – as the competition reaches the fourth-last pool round and the scramble for quarter-final spots reaches boiling point.
SA Cup
Chasing pack looking to close gap on frontrunnersWith just four rounds of league action remaining in the SA Cup – including this weekend’s sixth round – the two frontrunners, Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas, will no doubt target their next matches to put more distance between them and the chasing pack.
News
Tackle height changes having a positive impactSA Rugby praised referees, coaches, and players in the FNB Varsity Cup for their positive approach to the new tackle height laws that were introduced to the community game in South Africa this year – and already appear to be making a difference.
SA Cup
Leaders grab crucial away wins in fifth roundSuzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas maintained their unbeaten record in the SA Cup when both again scored important away wins during the weekend’s fifth round action.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
A weekend that intensified the Vodacom URC logjamThe Emirates Lions made a strong statement but the two teams that won in South Africa were arguably the biggest winners on a Vodacom United Rugby Championship weekend that underlined just how competitive the cross-hemisphere competition has become.