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
|
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 200 | 112 | 88 | 23 | 12 | 27 |
| 2 |
Cell C Sharks
|
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 173 | 132 | 41 | 20 | 15 | 24 |
| 3 |
DHL Western Province
|
7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 160 | 134 | 26 | 20 | 15 | 20 |
| 4 |
Toyota Cheetahs
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 126 | 106 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 17 |
| 5 |
Xerox Lions
|
7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 139 | 120 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 16 |
| 6 |
Phakisa Pumas
|
8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 151 | 241 | -90 | 19 | 34 | 11 |
| 7 |
Tafel Lager Griquas
|
8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 157 | 261 | -104 | 17 | 34 | 5 |
Vodacom Bulls
05 Dec | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
16:30
Toyota Cheetahs
Xerox Lions
05 Dec | Emirates Airline Park, JHB
19:00
DHL Western Province
DHL Western Province
11 Dec | DHL Newlands, Cape Town
19:00
Phakisa Pumas
Preview
Carling Currie Cup Preview – Round 2It may be early in the Carling Currie Cup but the pressure on the teams will rise significantly this weekend as the race for favourable log positions intensifies with a little over a month left before the pool stage concludes.
News
Glasgow Warriors hope Jones’ luck will turn the tideThe Glasgow Warriors will be hoping former DHL Stormers midfielder Huw Jones’ luck may have turned the tide for them as they look to make up some lost ground in the Guinness PRO14 this weekend against the Dragons.
News
Phakisa Pumas grab first Carling Currie Cup winA powerful display by the Phakisa Pumas’ forwards paved the way to a 22-17 victory over Tafel Lager Griquas and their first Carling Currie Cup victory of the season in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
Team announcement
50* up for Phakisa Pumas’ Janse van RensburgPhakisa Pumas hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg will celebrate a big career milestone of 50 caps for the Lowvelders on Friday if he takes the field in their Carling Currie Cup clash against Tafel Lager Griquas in Nelspruit.
Team announcement
Sekekete, Cronjé move up in Toyota Cheetahs’ ranksVictor Sekekete and George Cronjé will earn Carling Currie Cup honours for the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday when they line up against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in their opening match of the competition.
