About
A new champion will be crowned after 2024 and 2023 winners, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, qualified for the Premier Division through the SA Cup in 2025. The Bolanders successfully defended their Carling Currie Cup First Division title in 2024 when they beat Eastern Province in a tense final in Wellington. The other teams in the competition were the East Rand-based Valke - winners of the Mzansi Challenge in 2023 - and Phangela SWD Eagles from George, as well as the Leopards (Potchefstroom), and Border Bulldogs (East London). The 2022 champions, the NovaVit Griffons, will join the fray again in 2025 after a few years in the Premier Division. Other recent champions are the Leopards (2021), Jaguares from Argentina (2019), Eagles (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.
Leopards
14 Jun | TBC
12:00
Border Bulldogs
NovaVit Griffons
14 Jun | TBC
12:00
Valke
Eastern Province
14 Jun | TBC
12:00
Phangela SWD Eagles