About
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 | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() Toyota Cheetahs
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 31 | 63 | 13 | 3 | 10 |
2 |
![]() Airlink Pumas
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 42 | 55 | 14 | 6 | 10 |
3 |
![]() DHL Western Province
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 61 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
4 |
![]() Cell C Sharks
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 64 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 6 |
5 |
![]() Windhoek Draught Griquas
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 82 | -15 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
6 |
![]() Fidelity ADT Lions
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 78 | -23 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
7 |
![]() Vodacom Bulls
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 104 | -56 | 7 | 13 | 1 |
8 |
![]() NovaVit Griffons
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 84 | -56 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
Fidelity ADT Lions
24 Mar | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
15:00
NovaVit Griffons
Toyota Cheetahs
24 Mar | Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
17:05
Vodacom Bulls
Airlink Pumas
24 Mar | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
19:10
Windhoek Draught Griquas
Cell C Sharks
26 Mar | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
14:00
DHL Western Province
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
South African teams face big challenge abroadThe South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises will be wary of the fact that a massive effort will be required to topple the opposition in crucial matches for their playoff hopes when they return to the field in the big north versus south showpiece this weekend.
Currie Cup
The 2023 Currie Cup Bulletin #5Three Currie Cup Premier Division matches take place on an action-packed Friday, with log leaders the Toyota Cheetahs hosting Vodacom Bulls in Bloemfontein in a clash which should again be full of intrigue, while the Mzansi Challenge also kicks off this weekend.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Decisive round of action as Vodacom URC returnsThe Vodacom United Rugby Championship returns this weekend after a few weeks’ break while the Guinness Six Nations was being played and with three rounds to go, the competition has reached a decisive stage as the teams jostle for finishing position on the final log.
Currie Cup
The 2023 Currie Cup Bulletin #4DHL Western Province, the Airlink Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs all maintained their winning form in the second round of the Currie Cup Premier Division, while there was a first win of the campaign for the Windhoek Draught Griquas in Kimberley.
SA Rugby Under-20 Cup and Shield
Bulls back to winning ways as Sharks and WP surgeThe Vodacom Bulls defeated the SA Under-20 Cup log leaders, the Lions, by 26-13 in the latest round of age-group action played over the past weekend. There was also a second win for DHL Western Province, by 45-11 over the Valke, while the Cell C Sharks outplayed the Toyota Cheetahs 52-20 in Durban.