About
The Valke broke a 17 year trophy drought when they claimed the Mzansi Challenge title after beating the SWD Ealges in a high-scoring final, but a week later they came up short as the Boland Kavaliers were crowned Currie Cup First Division champions for the first time since 2011. The three local teams were joined by Eastern Province, the Leopards, and Border in the First Division, while four teams from abroad - the Zimbabwean Goshawks, Kenyan Simbas, Welwitschias (Namibia) and the San Clemente Rhinos (Mexico/USA) - joined the SA teams in the new Mzansi Challenge. In 2022, the Griffons completed a perfect season by winning the Currie Cup First Division title in the final against Eastern Province, and gaining promotion to the Premier Division. Recent champions are the Leopards from Potchefstroom (2021), Jaguares from Argentina (2019), the SWD Eagles from George (2018), and the Griffons (2017 and 2016).
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 |
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 70 | 67 | 20 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 |
Valke
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 93 | 43 | 20 | 13 | 11 |
| 3 |
Leopards
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 95 | -3 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
| 4 |
Eastern Province
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 91 | 98 | -7 | 14 | 14 | 8 |
| 5 |
Phangela SWD Eagles
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 71 | 103 | -32 | 11 | 16 | 5 |
| 6 |
Border Bulldogs
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 130 | -68 | 9 | 20 | 2 |
Border Bulldogs
05 Jul | Mthatha Stadium, Umtata
15:00
Eastern Province
Phangela SWD Eagles
05 Jul | Outeniqua Park, George
15:00
Valke
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
06 Jul | Boland Stadium, Wellington
15:00
Leopards
