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Currie Cup facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
For the cricket competition originally known as the Currie Cup, see 4-Day Domestic Series.
Quick facts for kids
Currie Cup
Current season or competition:
2023 Currie Cup Premier Division
Currie Cup logo.svg
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 1891
Inaugural season 1892
Number of teams Premier Division: 8
First Division: 9
Country  South Africa
Holders [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (2023)
Most titles Western Province (34) Four shared (4)
Broadcast partner SuperSport
SABC 2
FloSports
Sky Sports
Stan
RugbyPass
Star+
Related competition Rugby Challenge

The Currie Cup is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Although it is the premier domestic competition, four South African franchises also compete in the United Rugby Championship competition, including for the 'South African Shield'. for the highest placed South African team.

Steeped in history and tradition, the Currie Cup dates back to 1891. The tournament is regarded as the cornerstone of South Africa's rugby heritage, and the coveted gold trophy remains the most prestigious prize in South African domestic rugby.

History

The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions, with the first games played in 1889 but it was only in 1892 that it became officially known as the Currie Cup. The competition had its humble beginnings as an inter-province competition in 1884, but when the South African Rugby Board was founded in 1889 it decided to organize a national competition that would involve representative teams from all the major unions. 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. For a prize they received a silver cup donated by the South African Rugby Board, now displayed at the SA Rugby Museum in Cape Town. The story of how the Currie Cup came to be comes from the first overseas rugby team to tour South Africa in 1891, The British Isles, who carried with them a particularly precious bit of cargo. Among the bags, boots and balls was a golden cup given to them 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 the best game; and after a spirited display where the unbeaten British Lions narrowly won 3–0, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup. They then handed the trophy over to the South African rugby board and it became the floating trophy for the Currie Cup competition. The inaugural Currie Cup tournament was thus held in 1892 with Western Province earning the honour of holding it aloft as the first official winners.

The Currie Cup1
The Currie Cup trophy

The competition missed a few years here and there for reasons such as war and the like, but in 1968 it became a fully fledged annual showpiece. Western Province dominated the competition's early years, and by 1920 the team from Cape Town had already secured the trophy 10 times. Only Griqualand West could halt the rampant WP side and win the trophy in 1899 and 1911. In 1922 the Transvaal won the competition for the first time, however Western Province would continue to dominate the Currie Cup throughout the 1920s and 1930s, winning the trophy a further 4 times and sharing it twice with Border. In 1939 the trophy returned to Johannesburg for only the second time after Transvaal defeated Western Province in Cape Town. This was the first time WP had lost a final at their home ground Newlands. The Currie Cup went into hiatus during the Second World War but resumed in 1946 when [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] claimed their first ever trophy by beating Western Province 11–9 in the final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The late 1940s and early 1950s were dominated by Transvaal who would win the trophy in 1950 and 1952, however in 1954 the Currie Cup would finally return south following Western Province's narrow 11–8 victory over [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] in the final at Newlands in Cape Town.

At the end of the apartheid 1980s, South African rugby supporters were treated to two of the most memorable Currie Cup finals. In 1989 winger Carel du Plessis scored a last-minute try as WP managed to draw with [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 16-all, Riaan Gouws missed the conversion which would have given WP its 6th title of the decade a feat which has never been achieved. The following year the Blue Bulls slipped up, though, and Natal sneaked home 18–12, inspired by fly-half Joel Stransky. The 1990s saw further improvement by Natal and the rise of Francois Pienaar's Transvaal. Since the end of apartheid in 1990–4, and the age of professionalism in rugby union in the early 1990s, the Currie Cup has become much more competitive with no team able to carve out an era of dominance like that of WP in the early years or [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] in the 1970s and 1980s. Whilst these days the competition lags behind the United Rugby Championship and The Rugby Championship (previously the Tri-Nations) in the order of importance, the Currie Cup still holds a special place amongst South African rugby supporters and players, with the trophy very much still the holy grail of the South African domestic rugby.

In order to adjust to the European competition calendar, from the 2024 season the Currie Cup will take place in a new window. It is to be played between July and late September.

Teams

From 1996 to 2015, the following 14 provincial unions participated in the Currie Cup:

Provincial rugby unions of South Africa
Map of South Africa displaying the borders of the 14 teams in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup teams
Team Home base Region Previously in Premier Division
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Pretoria The Pretoria metropolitan area and the entire Limpopo province 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Wellington Northern and central districts of the Western Cape province 2016
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] East London Eastern districts of the Eastern Cape province 1999
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Gqeberha Western districts of the Eastern Cape province 2016
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Kempton Park The East Rand and other municipalities to the east and south of Johannesburg 2008
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Bloemfontein Central and western districts of the Free State province 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Johannesburg Johannesburg and the West Rand 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Welkom Northern and eastern districts of the Free State province 2023
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Kimberley The entire Northern Cape province 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Potchefstroom The entire North West province 2011
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Mbombela The entire Mpumalanga province 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Durban The entire KwaZulu-Natal province 2022
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] George Eastern districts of the Western Cape province 2004
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Cape Town Cape Town metropolitan area 2022
Other Currie Cup teams (from 2023 in order to compete for Mzanzi Challenge)
Team Home base Country Years competed
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] Windhoek Namibia 2016 − 2017, 2023 −
Jaguares XV only away matches Argentina 2019
Black Lion only away matches Georgia 2022
Simbas Nairobi Kenya 2022 −
Zimbabwe Goshawks only away matches Zimbabwe 2022 −
San Clemente Rhinos TBD United States 2023 −

Champions and Finals

Between 1892 and 1920, the competition was held as a centralised tournament, with the team with the best record crowned as the winner. Between 1922 and 1936 (as well as in three tournaments between 1957 and 1966), the winner was the team with the best record following a round-robin competition. In all the other seasons, a final was played to determine the champion.

Currie Cup

Currie Cup Champions and Finals Results
Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue
1892 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1894 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1895 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1897 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1898 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
18991 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1904 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1906 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1908 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1911 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1914 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1920 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1922 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1925 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1927 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1929 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1932 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A N/A N/A
1934 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A N/A N/A
1936 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1939 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 17–6 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1946 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 11–9 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1947 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 16–12 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1950 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 22–11 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
1952 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 11–9 Wellington
1954 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 11–8 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1956 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 9–8 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
1957–19592 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1964 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1966 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] N/A N/A N/A
1968 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 16–3 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1969 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 28–13 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1970 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 11–9 De Beers, Kimberley
1971 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A 14–14 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
1972 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–19 Pam Brink Stadium, Springs
1973 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 30–22 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1974 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 17–15 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 12–6 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1976 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 33–16 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 27–12 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 13–9 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1979 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A 15–15 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1980 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 39–9 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1981 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 23–6 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1982 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 24–7 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1983 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 9–3 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1984 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 19–9 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1985 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 22–15 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1986 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 22–9 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1987 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 24–18 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
1988 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 19–18 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1989 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A 16–16 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1990 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 18–12 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1991 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 27–15 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1992 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 14–13 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
1993 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 21–15 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
1994 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 56–33 Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1995 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–17 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
1996 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]6 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]3 33–15 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
1997 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]4 14–12 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
1998 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]5 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 24–20 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1999 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 32–9 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2000 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–15 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2001 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 29–24 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2002 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 31–7 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
2003 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 40–19 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2004 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 42–33 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 29–25 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] & [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] (shared) N/A 28–28 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2007 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 20–18 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2008 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 14–9 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2009 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 36–24 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2010 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 30–10 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2011 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 42–16 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
2012 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–18 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2013 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 33–19 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2014 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 19–16 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2015 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 32–24 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
2016 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 36–16 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2017 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 33–21 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2018 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 17–12 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2019 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 31–28 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2020–217 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 26–198 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2021 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 44–10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2022 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 26–19 Griqua Park, Kimberley
2023 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–17 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

In addition to the winners above, [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] also won the South African Rugby Board Trophy in 1889. This tournament was effectively the precursor to the Currie Cup, which started in 1892.

1 Western Province and Transvaal did not compete.
2 Contested over two seasons.
3 Transvaal were renamed the Gauteng Lions; now known as Golden Lions.
4 Orange Free State were renamed the Free State Cheetahs.
5 Northern Transvaal were renamed the Blue Bulls.
6 Natal were renamed the Sharks.
7 Contested between November and January due to COVID-19 pandemic.
8 Final went to extra-time.

Currie Cup First Division

Currie Cup First Division Champions and Finals Results
Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue
2000 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 41–20 Telkom Park, Port Elizabeth
2001 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 41–27 Boland Stadium, Wellington
2002 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 29–20 Outeniqua Park, George
2003 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 27–25 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2004 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 23–22 Boland Stadium, Wellington
2005 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 25–16 Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
2006 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 37–13 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2007 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 38–3 Outeniqua Park, George
2008 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 31–26 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2009 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 47–19 Puma Stadium, Witbank
2010 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 16–12 Outeniqua Park, George
2011 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 43–12 Boland Stadium, Wellington
2012 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 26–25 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
2013 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 53–30 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
2014 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 23–21 North West Stadium, Welkom
2015 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 44–20 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2016 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 44–25 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2017 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 60–36 North West Stadium, Welkom
2018 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 36–27 Outeniqua Park, George
2019 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 49–5 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
20201 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2021 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 19–18 Olën Park, Potchefstroom
2022 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 45–16 HT Pelatona Projects Stadium, Welkom
2023 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 43–21 Boland Stadium, Wellington

1 The 2020 Currie Cup First Division was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mzansi Challenge

Mzansi Challenge Champions and Finals Results
Season Champions Runner-Up Score Final Venue
2023 [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 55–38 Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Champions Match

South African Rugby Union announced that fans would get a chance to vote and select their own Currie Cup Select XV. Two matches were played in 2021 and 2022.

Champions Match Results
Season Winner Runner-Up Score Final Venue
2021 Champions match Currie Cup Select XV  Kenya 85–17 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
2022 Champions match Carling Champions team Italy A 31–27 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha

Overall winners

Currie Cup Premier Division

Overall record in the Currie Cup Premier Division
Team Number of titles Runner-up Semi-Finalists Notes Most recent title
Western Province 34 13 11 Four titles shared 2017
Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls 25 9 10 Four titles shared 2021
Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions 11 12 11 One title shared 2015
Natal/Sharks 8 12 14 2018
Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs 7 9 13 One title shared 2023
Griqualand West/Griquas 3 1 4 1970
Border/Border Bulldogs 2 0 0 Two titles shared 1934
South Eastern Transvaal/Pumas 1 1 1 2022
Eastern Transvaal/Falcons 0 1 2
Boland 0 1 1
Northern Free State/Griffons 0 0 4
Eastern Province 0 0 3
South West Africa 0 0 1
SWD Eagles 0 0 1
Rhodesia 0 0 1
Western Transvaal/Leopards 0 0 1
  • Correct as of 18 June 2023

Since the competition became established as an annual competition in 1968 (see History above).

Team Number of wins Number shared Number runners-up Years won Years shared Year runner-up
Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls 19 4 8 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2020–21, 2021 1971, 1979, 1989, 2006 1970, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2005, 2008, 2016
Western Province 11 2 10 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2014, 2017 1979, 1989 1969, 1976, 1980, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018
Natal/Sharks 8 0 11 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018 1984, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2020–21, 2021
Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions 6 1 11 1972, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2011, 2015 1971 1968, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2014, 2019
Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs 6 1 9 1976, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2019, 2023 2006 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1994, 1997, 2004, 2009
Griqualand West/Griquas 1 0 1 1970 2022
Pumas 1 0 1 2022 2023
Eastern Transvaal/Falcons 0 0 1 1972

Currie Cup First Division

Overall winners in the Currie Cup First Division
Team Number of wins Runners-up Years won Year Runner-up Secondary titles
Boland Cavaliers 6 0 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2023
Griffons 5 2 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 2019, 2021
SWD Eagles 3 3 2002, 2007, 2018 2009, 2010, 2015
Pumas 3 1 2005, 2009, 2013 2012
Leopards 2 6 2015, 2021 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017
Eastern Province Kings/Eastern Province Elephants 2 5 2010, 2012 2000, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2022
Blue Bulls 1 0 2000
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] 1 0 2019
Falcons 0 4 2005, 2014, 2018, 2023 2023 Mzansi Challenge
Border 0 2 2002, 2004

Records and statistics

  • Most career matches
Name Team/s Seasons Games
Hugh Reece-Edwards Natal 1982–1995
165
Jacques Botes Pumas/Sharks 2002–2014
156
Helgard Müller Free State Cheetahs 1983–1998
142
Rudi Visagie Free State/Natal/Mpumalanga 1980–1996
141
Chris Badenhorst Free State Cheetahs 1987–1999
136
Burger Geldenhuys Blue Bulls 1977–1989
128
André Joubert Free State/Natal 1986–1999
126
  • Most career points
    • 1. 1699 Naas Botha (Northern Transvaal) 1977–1992
    • 2. 1412 Willem de Waal (Leopards/Free State/WP) 2002–2010
    • 3. 1402 Eric Herbert (Northern Free State (Griffons)/Free State) 1986–2001
    • 4. 1210 De Wet Ras (Free State/Natal) 1974–1986
    • 5. 1165 André Joubert (Free State/Natal) 1986–1999
  • Most career tries
    • 1. 74 John Daniels (Golden Lions/Boland Cavaliers)
    • 2. 66 Breyton Paulse (Western Province)
    • 3. 65 Chris Badenhorst (Free State)
    • 4. 58 André Joubert (Free State/Natal)
    • 5. 51 Gerrie Germishuys (Free State/Transvaal)
    • 5. 51 Carel du Plessis (Western Province/Transvaal)
    • 5. 51 Niel Burger (Western Province)
    • 5. 51 Jan-Harm Van Wyk (Free State/Pumas)
  • Most individual points in a season
    • 1. 268 Johan Heunis (Northern Transvaal) 1989
    • 2. 263 Gavin Lawless (Golden Lions) 1996
    • 3. 252 Casper Steyn (Blue Bulls) 1999
    • 4. 230 Kennedy Tsimba (Cheetahs) 2003
    • 5. 228 Kennedy Tsimba (Cheetahs) 2002
  • Most team points in a season
    • Sharks (792 in 1996)
  • Most individual tries in a season
    • 1. 21 Bjorn Basson (Griquas) 2010
    • 2. 19 Carel du Plessis (Western Province) 1989
    • 2. 19 Colin Lloyd (Leopards) 2006
    • 4. 18 Ettiene Botha (Blue Bulls) 2004
    • 5. 16 Jan-Harm Van Wyk (Free State) 1997
    • 6. 15 Phillip Burger (Cheetahs) 2006
  • Most team tries in a season
    • Sharks (112 in 1996)
  • Most points in match
    • Jannie de Beer – 46 v. Northern Free State in 1997
  • Most tries in a match
    • Jacques Olivier – 7 v SWD in 1996
  • Most final appearances
    • Burger Geldenhuys 11 (Northern Transvaal—between 1977 and 1989)
    • Naas Botha 11 (Northern Transvaal—between 1977 and 1991)

Broadcasting rights

  • SuperSport broadcasts live Currie Cup matches in South Africa.
  • Sky Sports broadcasts live Currie Cup matches in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
  • FloSports airs live Currie Cup matches in the Americas via online streaming.
  • Nine Network airs Currie Cup matches live in Australia through streaming service Stan. Previously matches were aired on Fox Sports.
  • RugbyPass airs live Currie Cup matches via online streaming in certain countries in Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam), European Economic Area (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), and Eastern Europe (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine).
  • Star+ airs live matches in Latin América, including Brazil.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Currie Cup para niños

  • Rugby union in South Africa
  • Super Rugby
  • Super Rugby franchise areas
  • SA Cup
  • Mzanzi Challenge
  • Preparation Series
  • SuperSport Rugby Challenge
  • Vodacom Cup
  • Bankfin Nite Series
  • 2019 Currie Cup First Division
  • Lion Cup
  • Currie Cup / Central Series
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