About
The Pumas were crowned champions of the SA Rugby U21 Shield after they beat Eastern Province in a pulsating final in Middelburg on 30 September. In 2023, the participating teams were divided into two sections - South, comprising Boland, Border, Eastern Province and SWD; and North, featuring the Griffons - the 2022 champions - Griquas, Pumas and Valke. Teams in the South Section played three home and three away matches and in the North a single round. At the conclusion of the league phase, the two teams with the highest number of log points contested semi-finals within their sections, and the two winners played in the final.
The history
| Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pumas U21
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 72 | 49 | 17 | 8 | 15 |
| 2 |
Griffons U21
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 110 | 88 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 12 |
| 3 |
Valke U21
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 112 | 106 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 7 |
| 4 |
Griquas U21
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 133 | -77 | 7 | 20 | 1 |
| Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Border U21
|
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 244 | 96 | 148 | 35 | 15 | 25 |
| 2 |
Eastern Province U21
|
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 215 | 132 | 83 | 29 | 19 | 22 |
| 3 |
Sanlam Boland U21
|
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 162 | 180 | -18 | 24 | 26 | 16 |
| 4 |
SWD U21
|
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 79 | 292 | -213 | 12 | 40 | 0 |
| 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.
