About
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.
Airlink Pumas
25 Jul | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
19:00
Suzuki Griquas
Fidelity ADT Lions
26 Jul | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
15:00
Hollywoodbets Sharks
DHL Western Province
26 Jul | DHL Stadium, Cape Town
17:10
Vodacom Bulls
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
27 Jul | Boland Stadium, Wellington
15:00
Toyota Cheetahs
Fidelity ADT Lions
14 - 16
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Do or die for three SA teams in quarter-finalsSouth Africa’s three Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-finalists face their biggest task of the season this weekend as they line up against top opposition in the quarter-final of the cross-hemisphere series, where victories will be non-negotiable to advance to the semi-final stages.
News
SA Rugby charts bold path for inclusive growth and developmentThe development of women’s rugby to ensure the growth of the game, the important role of schools’ rugby and the FNB Youth Weeks, and the presentation of a unified tackle age framework were three of the main points on the agenda at SA Rugby’s second Community Rugby Workshop, which was held in Johannesburg earlier this week.
SA Rugby Under-21 Cup and Shield
WP stay on course for third SA Rugby U21 Cup titleJunior Springbok and Blitzbok speedster Gino Cupido scored four tries for the DHL Western Province Under-21 side in their 85-22 demolition of the Leopards in the fourth round of SA Rugby’s U21 Cup over the weekend in Potchefstroom.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Six from SA nominated for Next-Gen Player AwardFour capped Springboks and another two rising stars from three South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises – the Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers, and Emirates Lions – featured among 16 nominees for the prestigious Vodacom URC Next-Gen Player of the Season Award named on Tuesday.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Nominees named for SA VURC Player of the SeasonSacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls duo of Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw were rewarded for their consistent good form during the season by grabbing the three nominations for the South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship Player of the Season Award.
