About
South Africa's oldest and premier provincial competition ran from July to September in 2019, and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs were crowned champions in front of their home fans in Bloemfontein, beating the Xerox Lions from Johannesburg in the final. The other teams in the competition were 2018 champions, the Cell C Sharks (from Durban), DHL Western Province (Cape Town), the Vodacom Blue Bulls (Pretoria), Phakisa Pumas (Nelspruit) and Tafel Lager Griquas (Kimberley). The same seven teams will contest the Carling Currie Cup in 2020, with the opening round on 27/28 November and the final set for Saturday, 23 January 2021 (due to the season being disrupted with the COVID-19 pandemic).
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 | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() Vodacom Bulls
|
12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 305 | 216 | 89 | 32 | 22 | 39 |
2 |
![]() DHL Western Province
|
12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 272 | 216 | 56 | 32 | 21 | 37 |
3 |
![]() Cell C Sharks
|
12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 274 | 244 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 35 |
4 |
![]() Xerox Lions
|
12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 275 | 221 | 54 | 29 | 20 | 34 |
5 |
![]() Toyota Cheetahs
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 285 | 275 | 10 | 30 | 28 | 31 |
6 |
![]() Phakisa Pumas
|
12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 265 | 351 | -86 | 34 | 48 | 17 |
7 |
![]() Tafel Lager Griquas
|
12 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 211 | 364 | -153 | 24 | 47 | 8 |
Vodacom Bulls
23 Jan | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
14:00
Xerox Lions
DHL Western Province
23 Jan | DHL Newlands, Cape Town
16:30
Cell C Sharks
News
“New focus” in Cell C Sharks camp with semi-final loomingCell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt said there is a new focus in the team as his charges turn their attention to the Carling Currie Cup semi-final against DHL Western Province in Cape Town next week Saturday.
News
Playing at Loftus a big boost for Vodacom Bulls“Fortress Loftus” will await the Xerox Lions in the first Carling Currie Cup semi-final next Saturday, with Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White saying they must use their home ground advantage to progress to the final.
Stat Attack
Steyn, Kitshoff dominate Carling Currie Cup statsRugby World Cup-winning Springboks Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) and Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province) showed why they are rated amongst the best players in the world by dominating the overall stats at the completion of this year’s regulation matches in the Carling Currie Cup.
News
Carling Currie Cup semi-final kick-off times confirmedThe Vodacom Bulls and Xerox Lions will meet in the first of the two Carling Currie Cup semi-finals on Saturday, 23 January, as SA Rugby announced the kick-off times on Tuesday.
News
Van Rooyen: “There will be more respect for points”Xerox Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen predicted a tightly fought Carling Currie Cup semi-final against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria next week Saturday, saying there will be more respect for points as it is a playoff game.