About
The Valke, based in Kempton Park on the East Rand of Gauteng, broke a 17-year trophy drought when they claimed the Mzansi Challenge title after beating the Phangela SWD Eagles (from George) in a high-scoring final, but a week later they came up short as the Wellington-based Sanlam Boland Kavaliers were crowned Currie Cup First Division champions for the first time since 2011. In 2024, these three local teams are joined by Eastern Province (from Nelson Mandela Bay), the Leopards (Potchefstroom), and Border Bulldogs (East London) in the First Division. In 2022, the NovaVit Griffons completed a perfect season by winning the Currie Cup First Division title in the final against Eastern Province, and in the process gained promotion to the Premier Division. Recent champions are the Leopards from Potchefstroom (2021), Jaguares from Argentina (2019), the 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
|
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 267 | 91 | 176 | 40 | 13 | 25 |
| 2 |
Eastern Province
|
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 203 | 157 | 46 | 31 | 23 | 18 |
| 3 |
Valke
|
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 202 | 168 | 34 | 29 | 23 | 17 |
| 4 |
Phangela SWD Eagles
|
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 148 | 169 | -21 | 22 | 25 | 12 |
| 5 |
Leopards
|
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 132 | 211 | -79 | 19 | 32 | 12 |
| 6 |
Border Bulldogs
|
5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 102 | 258 | -156 | 15 | 40 | 3 |
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
27 Jul | Boland Stadium, Wellington
12:30
Eastern Province
