2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 82nd edition of the top tier of the Currie Cup, the premier domestic rugby union competition in South Africa. It was sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union. The competition was won by the , who beat the 26–19 after extra time in the final played at on 30 January 2021.

Traditionally played in winter, the Currie Cup began later than usual in the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and extended into summer. The tournament was scheduled to start in late August, subject to government approval, but no rugby was allowed to be played in South Africa between mid March and late September 2020.

To satisfy commercial partners, a combined Currie Cup and domestic Super Rugby Unlocked tournament was created for the seven Premier Division teams. It was played over 16 weeks with all regular season matches counting towards one combined log of the team's standings. The Super Rugby Unlocked competition began in October and was played as a seven-week round-robin. All tournament points were then carried forward to the Currie Cup Premier Division, played from November 2020 to January 2021 and incorporating a return round-robin of matches followed by cup playoffs.

There was no First Division of the Currie Cup played in 2020. It was provisionally scheduled to be played in June and July, but was cancelled due to financial stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teams

The seven competing teams were:

+ 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division Team Sponsored name Vodacom Blue Bulls Toyota Free State Cheetahs Xerox Golden Lions Tafel Lager Griquas Phakisa Pumas Cell C Sharks DHL Western Province

Regular season Format The Currie Cup Premier Division competition began with a seven-week round-robin stage. Each team started with the log points from the final position of their union in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition that was played over the preceding seven weeks. The top four teams on the combined standings log at the end of the regular season qualified for the semifinals, which was followed by a final.

Tournament points in the standings were awarded to teams as follows: 4 points for a win. 2 points for a draw. 1 bonus point for a loss in a match by seven points or under. 1 bonus point for scoring three tries more than the opponent.

Teams were ranked in the standings firstly by tournament points then by: (a) points difference from all matches (points scored less points conceded); (b) tries difference from all matches (tries scored less tries conceded); (c) points difference from the matches between the tied teams; (d) points scored in all matches; (e) tries scored in all matches; and, if needed, (f) a coin toss.

Standings Combined log of the regular season Currie Cup and Super Rugby Unlocked matches:

Round-by-round The table below shows the progression of all teams throughout the Currie Cup season. Each team's tournament points on the standings log is shown for each round, with the overall log position in brackets.

All teams started with the log points carried over from their union's final position in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition.

2020–21 Currie Cup team progressionTeam R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7SemiFinal 23 (1st) 27 (1st) 32 (1st) 33 (1st) 35 (1st) 35 (1st) 35 (1st) 39 (1st) 39 (1st) Won Won 19 (2nd) 20 (3rd) 21 (3rd) 26 (3rd) 26 (4th) 31 (2nd) 35 (2nd) 35 (2nd) 37 (2nd) Lost DNQ 19 (3rd) 24 (2nd) 24 (2nd) 28 (2nd) 28 (4th) 28 (4th) 33 (4th) 33 (4th) 35 (3rd) Won Lost 12 (5th) 16 (5th) 20 (4th) 25 (4th) 29 (3rd) 29 (3rd) 33 (3rd) 34 (3rd) 34 (4th) Lost DNQ 17 (4th) 17 (4th) 17 (5th) 17 (5th) 21 (5th) 26 (5th) 27 (5th) 27 (5th) 31 (5th) DNQ DNQ 7 (6th) 7 (6th) 11 (6th) 11 (6th) 12 (6th) 12 (6th) 12 (6th) 12 (6th) 17 (6th) DNQ DNQ 3 (7th) 4 (7th) 5 (7th) 5 (7th) 7 (7th) 7 (7th) 7 (7th) 7 (7th) 8 (7th) DNQ DNQKey: Win Draw Loss No match Bye ,

Matches

For the first half of the provincial season, a round-robin of matches was played for Super Rugby Unlocked honours, with all tournament points carried forward to the Premier Division of the Currie Cup.

Listed below are all matches for the return round-robin, played for the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Play-offs The play-off matches were rescheduled for a week later than previously planned to observe COVID-19 isolation protocols and maintain tournament integrity for the competing teams.

Semifinals

Final

Bulls: FB 15 David Kriel RW 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse OC 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren IC 12 Cornal Hendricks LW 11 Stravino Jacobs FH 10 Morné Steyn SH 9 Ivan van Zyl N8 8 Duane Vermeulen (c) BF 7 Elrigh Louw OF 6 Marco van Staden RL 5 Ruan Nortjé LL 4 Sintu Manjezi TP 3 Trevor Nyakane HK 2 Johan Grobbelaar LP 1 Lizo Gqoboka Substitutes: HK 16 Schalk Erasmus PR 17 Jacques van Rooyen PR 18 Mornay Smith LK 19 Jan Uys BR 20 Arno Botha SH 21 Embrose Papier FH 22 Chris Smith OB 23 Marnus Potgieter Coach:Jake WhiteSharks: FB 15 Aphelele Fassi RW 14 Sbu Nkosi OC 13 Lukhanyo Am (c) IC 12 Marius Louw LW 11 Yaw Penxe FH 10 Curwin Bosch SH 9 Jaden Hendrikse N8 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe BF 7 Henco Venter OF 6 Dylan Richardson RL 5 Ruben van Heerden LL 4 JJ van der Mescht TP 3 Thomas du Toit HK 2 Fez Mbatha LP 1 Ox Nché Substitutes: HK 16 Dan Jooste PR 17 Mzamo Majola PR 18 Michael Kumbirai LK 19 Hyron Andrews FL 20 Thembelani Bholi SH 21 Sanele Nohamba CE 22 Jeremy Ward FB 23 Manie Libbok Coach:Sean Everitt Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa) Griffin Colby (South Africa) Television match official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Players Player statistics Top point scorers No Player Team Points 1 Curwin Bosch 84 2 François Steyn 76 3 Tiaan Swanepoel 63 4 Morné Steyn 62 5 Tim Swiel 53 6 Elton Jantjies 42

Top try scorers No Player Team Tries 1 Eduan Keyter 4 2 Willie Engelbrecht 3 Daniel Maartens Bongi Mbonambi Sbu Nkosi Yaw Penxe

Team rosters

The respective team squads for the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division were:

+ squad Forwards Backs Coach

Referees The following referees officiated matches in the competition:

+ 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division referees

2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division

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