Currie Cup

The Currie Cup () is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. The Currie Cup dates back to 1891.

History The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions, with the first games played in 1889, although it was only in 1892 that it became officially known as the Currie Cup. The competition had its humble beginnings as an inter-province competition in 1884, but when the South African Rugby Board was founded in 1889 it decided to organize a national competition that would involve representative teams from all the major unions. 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. For a prize they received a silver cup donated by the South African Rugby Board, now displayed at the SA Rugby Museum in Cape Town. The story of how the Currie Cup came to be comes from the first overseas rugby team to tour South Africa in 1891, The British Isles, who carried with them a particularly precious bit of cargo. Among the bags, boots and balls was a golden cup given to them 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 the best game; and after a spirited display where the unbeaten British Lions narrowly won 3–0, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup. They then handed the trophy over to the South African rugby board and it became the floating trophy for the Currie Cup competition. The inaugural Currie Cup tournament was thus held in 1892 with Western Province earning the honour of holding it aloft as the first official winners.

Western Province dominated the competition's early years, and by 1920 the team from Cape Town had already secured the trophy 10 times. Only Griqualand West could halt the rampant WP side and win the trophy in 1899 and 1911. In 1922 the Transvaal won the competition for the first time, however Western Province would continue to dominate the Currie Cup throughout the 1920s and 1930s, winning the trophy a further 4 times and sharing it twice with Border. In 1939 the trophy returned to Johannesburg for only the second time after Transvaal defeated Western Province in Cape Town. This was the first time WP had lost a final at their home ground Newlands. The Currie Cup went into hiatus during the Second World War but resumed in 1946 when claimed their first ever trophy by beating Western Province 11–9 in the final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The late 1940s and early 1950s were dominated by Transvaal who would win the trophy in 1950 and 1952, however in 1954 the Currie Cup would finally return south following Western Province's narrow 11–8 victory over in the final at Newlands in Cape Town. The competition missed a few years here for reasons such as war and the like, but in 1968 it became a fully fledged annual showpiece.

At the end of the apartheid 1980s, South African rugby supporters were treated to two of the most memorable Currie Cup finals. In 1989 winger Carel du Plessis scored a last-minute try as WP managed to draw with 16-all, Riaan Gouws missed the conversion which would have given WP its 6th title of the decade a feat which has never been achieved. The following year the Blue Bulls slipped up, though, and Natal sneaked home 18–12, inspired by fly-half Joel Stransky. The 1990s saw further improvement by Natal and the rise of Francois Pienaar's Transvaal. Since the end of apartheid in 1990–4, and the age of professionalism in rugby union in the early 1990s, the Currie Cup has become much more competitive with no team able to carve out an era of dominance like that of WP in the early years or in the 1970s and 1980s.

In order to adjust to the European competition calendar, from the 2024 season the Currie Cup takes place in a new window between July and late September.

Teams The following 14 provincial unions participate in the Currie Cup:

Currie Cup teams Team Home base Region Last appearance in Premier Division Wellington Northern and central districts of the Western Cape province 2026 East London Eastern districts of the Eastern Cape province 1999 Pretoria The Pretoria metropolitan area and Limpopo province 2026 Bloemfontein Central and western districts of the Free State province 2026 Gqeberha Western districts of the Eastern Cape province 2016 Welkom Northern and eastern districts of the Free State province 2024 Kimberley Northern Cape province 2026 Potchefstroom North West province 2011 Johannesburg Johannesburg and the West Rand 2026 Mbombela Mpumalanga province 2026 Durban KwaZulu-Natal province 2026 Cape Town Cape Town metropolitan area 2026 George Eastern districts of the Western Cape province 2004 Kempton Park The East Rand and other municipalities to the east and south of Johannesburg 2008

Champions and finals

Between 1892 and 1920, the competition was held as a centralised tournament, with the team with the best record crowned as the winner. Between 1922 and 1936 (as well as in three tournaments between 1957 and 1966), the winner was the team with the best record following a round-robin competition. In all the other seasons, a final was played to determine the champion.

Currie Cup

Currie Cup Champions and Finals Results Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue 1892 1894 1895 1897 1898 18991 1904 1906 1908 1911 1914 1920 1922 1925 1927 1929 1932 & (shared) 1934 & (shared) 1936 1939 17–6 1946 11–9 1947 16–12 1950 22–11 1952 11–9 Wellington 1954 11–8 1956 9–8 1957–19592 1964 1966 1968 16–3 1969 28–13 1970 11–9 De Beers, Kimberley 1971 & (shared) 14–14 1972 25–19 1973 30–22 1974 17–15 1975 12–6 1976 33–16 1977 27–12 1978 13–9 1979 & (shared) 15–15 1980 39–9 1981 23–6 1982 24–7 1983 9–3 1984 19–9 1985 22–15 1986 22–9 1987 24–18 1988 19–18 1989 & (shared) 16–16 1990 18–12 1991 27–15 1992 14–13 1993 21–15 1994 56–33 Springbok Park, Bloemfontein 1995 25–17 1996 6 3 33–15 1997 4 14–12 1998 5 24–20 1999 32–9 2000 25–15 2001 29–24 2002 31–7 2003 40–19 2004 42–33 2005 29–25 2006 & (shared) 28–28 2007 20–18 2008 14–9 2009 36–24 2010 30–10 2011 42–16 2012 25–18 2013 33–19 2014 19–16 2015 32–24 2016 36–16 2017 33–21 2018 17–12 2019 31–28 2020–217 26–198 2021 44–10 2022 26–19 2023 25–17 2024 16–14 2025 27–25 2026 23–16

In addition to the winners above, also won the South African Rugby Board Trophy in 1889. This tournament was effectively the precursor to the Currie Cup, which started in 1892.

1 Western Province and Transvaal did not compete. 2 Contested over two seasons. 3 Transvaal were renamed the Gauteng Lions; now known as Golden Lions. 4 Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs. 5 Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls. 6 Natal were renamed the Sharks. 7 Contested between November and January due to COVID-19 pandemic. 8 Final went to extra-time.

Currie Cup First Division

Currie Cup First Division Champions and Finals Results Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue 2000 41–20 Telkom Park, Port Elizabeth 2001 41–27 2002 29–20 2003 27–25 2004 23–22 2005 25–16 2006 37–13 2007 38–3 2008 31–26 2009 47–19 2010 16–12 2011 43–12 2012 26–25 2013 53–30 2014 23–21 2015 44–20 2016 44–25 2017 60–36 2018 36–27 2019 49–5 20201 2021 19–18 2022 45–16 2023 43–21 2024 27–272 2025 51–44 2026 41–21

1 The 2020 Currie Cup First Division was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2 The final went into extra time. It remained 27 all after the time was up and Boland was determined champions due to scoring more tries in the final.

SA Cup

SA Cup Champions and Finals Results Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue 2024 46–24 2025 39–14 2026 38–35

Mzansi Challenge

Mzansi Challenge Champions and Finals Results Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue 2023 55–38

Champions Match South African Rugby Union announced that fans would get a chance to vote and select their own Currie Cup Select XV. Two matches were played in 2021 and 2022.

Champions Match Results Season Winner Runner-Up Score Final Venue 2021 Champions match Currie Cup Select XV 85–17 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 2022 Champions match Carling Champions team Italy A 31–27 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha

Overall winners

Currie Cup Premier Division

Overall record in the Currie Cup Premier Division Team Number of titles Runner-up Semi-Finalists Notes Most recent titleWestern Province341311Four titles shared2017Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls25911Four titles shared2021Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions111412One title shared2015Natal/Sharks912142024Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs7916One title shared2023Griqualand West/Griquas5142026Border/Border Bulldogs200Two titles shared1934South Eastern Transvaal/Pumas1212022Eastern Transvaal/Falcons/Valke012Boland/Boland Cavaliers012Northern Free State/Griffons004Eastern Province003South West Africa001SWD/SWD Eagles001Rhodesia001Western Transvaal/Leopards001

Correct as of 12 September 2026

Since the competition became established as an annual competition in 1968 (see History above).

Team Number of wins Number shared Number runners-up Years won Years shared Year runner-upNorthern Transvaal/Blue Bulls19481968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2020–21, 20211971, 1979, 1989, 20061970, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2005, 2008, 2016Western Province112101982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2014, 20171979, 19891969, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018Natal/Sharks90111990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018, 20241984, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2020–21, 2021Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions61131972, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2011, 201519711968, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2014, 2019, 2024, 2025Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs6191976, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2019, 202320061973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1994, 1997, 2004, 2009Griqualand West/Griquas3011970, 2025, 20262022Pumas10220222023, 2026Eastern Transvaal/Falcons/Valke0011972

Currie Cup First Division

Overall winners in the Currie Cup First Division Team Number of wins Runners-up Years won Year Runner-up Secondary titlesBoland Cavaliers702001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2023, 2024Griffons622008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 20252019, 2021SWD Eagles432002, 2007, 2018, 20262009, 2010, 2015Pumas312005, 2009, 20132012 SA Cup 2025, 2026Leopards262015, 20212001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017Eastern Province Kings/Eastern Province Elephants262010, 20122000, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024Blue Bulls102000 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup102019Falcons/Valke062005, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2025, 2026Mzanzi ChallengeBorder022002, 2004 Griquas002024 SA Cup

Records and statistics Most career matches Name Team/s Seasons Games Hugh Reece-Edwards Natal 1982–1995 Jacques Botes Pumas/Sharks 2002–2014 Helgard Müller Free State Cheetahs 1983–1998 Rudi Visagie Free State/Natal/Mpumalanga 1980–1996 Chris Badenhorst Free State Cheetahs 1987–1999 Burger Geldenhuys Blue Bulls 1977–1989 André Joubert Free State/Natal 1986–1999

Most career points 1. 1699 Naas Botha (Northern Transvaal) 1977–1992 2. 1412 Willem de Waal (Leopards/Free State/WP) 2002–2010 3. 1402 Eric Herbert (Northern Free State (Griffons)/Free State) 1986–2001 4. 1210 De Wet Ras (Free State/Natal) 1974–1986 5. 1165 André Joubert (Free State/Natal) 1986–1999 Most career tries 1. 74 John Daniels (Golden Lions/Boland Cavaliers) 2. 66 Breyton Paulse (Western Province) 3. 65 Chris Badenhorst (Free State) 4. 58 André Joubert (Free State/Natal) 5. 51 Gerrie Germishuys (Free State/Transvaal) 5. 51 Carel du Plessis (Western Province/Transvaal) 5. 51 Niel Burger (Western Province) 5. 51 Jan-Harm Van Wyk (Free State/Pumas) Most individual points in a season