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. This season, the teams were divided into two groups of four each by virtue of 2023’s standings, playing home and away matches within their respective groups plus a single round of games against sides in the opposite group. In the end, the top four sides on the combined log progressed to the semi-finals - the Lions, Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs.
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 |
Fidelity ADT Lions
|
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 437 | 215 | 222 | 62 | 31 | 43 |
| 2 |
Vodacom Bulls
|
10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 384 | 266 | 118 | 54 | 37 | 38 |
| 3 |
Hollywoodbets Sharks
|
10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 351 | 258 | 93 | 48 | 35 | 35 |
| 4 |
Toyota Cheetahs
|
10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 352 | 281 | 71 | 50 | 36 | 30 |
| 5 |
Suzuki Griquas
|
10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 310 | 356 | -46 | 46 | 51 | 24 |
| 6 |
Airlink Pumas
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 331 | 391 | -60 | 46 | 57 | 24 |
| 7 |
DHL Western Province
|
10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 311 | 314 | -3 | 41 | 39 | 20 |
| 8 |
NovaVit Griffons
|
10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 185 | 580 | -395 | 27 | 88 | 3 |
| There are currently no fixtures available. |
Fidelity ADT Lions
14 - 16
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Coastal sides bounce back as Lions remain unbeatenThe Emirates Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers made it a Super Saturday for the South African franchises in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with all three teams bagging valuable victories to make it a full day of wins.
SA Rugby Under-21 Cup and Shield
Late flourish sees WP defend their U21 crownDHL Western Province scored two tries in as many minutes at the death of an absorbing SA Rugby Under-21 final as they beat hosts, the Fidelity ADT Lions, by 53-36 (half-time 21-17) in a thrilling game at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
African Rainbow Community Gold Cup
Naka Bulle go back-to-back in ARC Gold CupNaka Bulle beat Northam Rhinos by 22-19 (half-time 3-7) in Pretoria on Saturday to successfully defend their African Rainbow Community Gold Cup title, thanks to a successful fightback in the second stanza.
SA Rugby Under-19 Cup
Lions break Bulls’ hearts in SA Rugby U19 Cup finalThe Fidelity ADT Lions twice fought back from behind to clinch the SA Rugby Under-19 Cup title with a try at the death when they beat the Vodacom Bulls by 43-41 (half-time 10-24) in Pretoria on Friday.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
SA teams on a mission in round five of Vodacom URCWhile the Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls will be determined to maintain their unbeaten runs in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this weekend, the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers will have their sights set firmly on bouncing back from disappointing defeats.
