About

CURRIE CUP PREMIER DIVISION

The Airlink Pumas from Mpumalanga defied the odds and made history by winning South Africa's oldest and premier provincial competition in 2022, after beating Windhoek Draught Griquas in a pulsating Currie Cup Premier Division final in Kimberley on 25 June. The Pretoria-based Vodacom Bulls won the title in 2020 and 2021, but lost in the semi-finals in 2022. In 2023, these three sides will be joined by the Toyota Cheetahs (from Bloemfontein), Cell C Sharks (Durban), DHL Western Province (Cape Town), Fidelity ADT Lions (Johannesburg) and the Novavit Griffons (Welkom), who were promoted after winning the First Division in 2022.

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	Airlink Pumas	4	4	0	186	76	110	26	10	19
2	Toyota Cheetahs	4	3	1	147	99	48	21	13	15
3	Fidelity ADT Lions	4	2	2	130	126	4	19	15	13
4	DHL Western Province	3	2	1	92	81	11	10	12	10
5	Cell C Sharks	4	2	2	114	105	9	17	13	10
6	Windhoek Draught Griquas	3	1	2	80	110	-30	10	14	5
7	NovaVit Griffons	4	1	3	86	153	-67	7	23	5
8	Vodacom Bulls	4	0	4	83	168	-85	12	22	3