About

CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION | MZANSI CHALLENGE

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.

Currie Cup First Division | Mzansi Challenge 2023 table
1 - Mzansi Challenge
Pos Team PL W L D PF PA DIFF TF TA PTS
1
Valke
 9 8 1 0 323 208 115 48 29 41
2
SWD Eagles
 9 8 1 0 223 174 49 31 23 40
3
Boland Kavaliers
 9 7 2 0 232 146 86 34 17 36
4
Leopards
 9 5 4 0 190 170 20 24 23 26
5
Eastern Province
 9 5 4 0 191 211 -20 23 28 25
6
San Clemente Rhinos
 9 4 5 0 209 226 -17 30 34 24
7
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias
 9 3 6 0 241 274 -33 32 35 17
8
Simbas
 9 2 7 0 135 119 16 20 17 12
9
Border Bulldogs
 9 2 7 0 197 352 -155 27 51 12
10
Zimbabwe Goshawks
 9 1 8 0 106 167 -61 14 26 8

2 - Currie Cup First Division (SA teams only)
Pos Team PL W L D PF PA DIFF TF TA PTS
1
Boland Kavaliers
 10 7 3 0 355 197 158 53 24 38
2
Valke
 10 7 3 0 390 300 90 55 42 38
3
SWD Eagles
 10 6 4 0 328 252 76 48 32 33
4
Eastern Province
 10 7 3 0 264 251 13 33 35 33
5
Leopards
 10 3 7 0 255 288 -33 33 38 18
6
Border Bulldogs
 10 0 10 0 172 476 -304 21 72 2

There are currently no fixtures available.

RESULTS

24 Jun|Boland Stadium, Wellington

Boland Kavaliers

43 - 21

Valke

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17 Jun|Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Valke

55 - 38

SWD Eagles

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10 Jun|Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Valke

57 - 30

Leopards

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SEE ALL RESULTS