About

CARLING CURRIE CUP PREMIER DIVISION

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV upset the odds when they edged the Fidelity ADT Lions in a pulsating final in Johannesburg in 2024, dethroning 2023 season champions, the Toyota Cheetahs. The Airlink Pumas (2022) and Vodacom Bulls (2020 and 2021) are other recent champions. These teams were joined in the 2024 Premier Division by the DHL WP, Suzuki Griquas and the Novavit Griffons, but in 2025, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will return to the competition for the first time since 2016, while the Griffons have dropped out after the SA Cup. This season, the teams will play a single round of matches, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals (weekend of 13 September) before the final, on Saturday, 20 September.

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	PF	PA	DIFF	TF	TA	PTS
1	Fidelity ADT Lions	1	1	0	46	5	41	7	1	5
2	Vodacom Bulls	1	1	0	48	23	25	6	2	5
3	Airlink Pumas	1	1	0	49	28	21	6	3	5
4	Sanlam Boland Kavaliers	1	1	0	37	35	2	5	5	5
5	Toyota Cheetahs	1	0	1	35	37	-2	5	5	2
6	Suzuki Griquas	1	0	1	28	49	-21	3	6	0
7	DHL Western Province	1	0	1	23	48	-25	2	6	0
8	Hollywoodbets Sharks	1	0	1	5	46	-41	1	7	0