Currie Cup facts for kids
Current season or competition: 2024 Currie Cup Premier Division |
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 |
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| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1891 |
| Inaugural season | 1892 |
| Number of teams | Premier Division: 8 First Division: 9 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Holders | Sharks (2024) |
| 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 top competition for rugby union teams. These teams represent different provinces or large areas within South Africa. Even though it's the main local competition, four South African teams also play in the United Rugby Championship, which is a bigger international league.
The Currie Cup has a long and exciting history, going all the way back to 1891. It's seen as a very important part of South African rugby. Winning the golden Currie Cup trophy is still the biggest achievement in local rugby.
Contents
History of the Currie Cup
The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world. The first games were played in 1889, but it officially became known as the Currie Cup in 1892. It started as a competition between different provinces in 1884. Then, in 1889, the South African Rugby Board decided to create a national competition.
How the Cup Got its Name
The story of the Currie Cup's name is quite interesting! In 1891, the first overseas rugby team, called The British Isles, visited South Africa. They brought a special golden cup with them. This cup was a gift from Sir Donald Currie, who owned the shipping company that brought them to South Africa.
Sir Donald told them to give the trophy to the South African team that played the best. After a tough match where the British Lions won 3–0, Griqualand West was chosen. They were the first team to hold the Currie Cup! They then gave the trophy to the South African rugby board, and it became the official prize for the competition.
Early Years and Dominance
The first official Currie Cup tournament was held in 1892. Western Province became the first official winners. They were very strong in the early years, winning the trophy 10 times by 1920. Only Griqualand West managed to win it in 1899 and 1911.
In 1922, the Transvaal team won for the first time. But Western Province continued to dominate through the 1920s and 1930s. They won four more times and shared the trophy twice with Border.
Changes Over Time
The competition sometimes paused, for example, during wars. But in 1968, it became an annual event, meaning it happened every year.
After the 1980s, the Currie Cup finals became very exciting. In 1989, Western Province drew 16-all with Northern Transvaal. The next year, Natal won 18–12, led by Joel Stransky.
Since the early 1990s, when rugby became professional, the Currie Cup has become even more competitive. No single team has been able to dominate for a long time, like Western Province did in the early days.
Today, bigger international competitions like the United Rugby Championship are very important. However, the Currie Cup still holds a special place in the hearts of South African rugby fans and players. Winning the trophy is still a huge deal in South African rugby.
From 2024, the Currie Cup will be played between July and late September. This change helps it fit better with the European rugby calendar.
Teams in the Currie Cup
There are 14 provincial rugby unions that take part in the Currie Cup.
| Currie Cup teams | |||
| Team | Home base | Region | Last appearance in Premier Division |
|---|---|---|---|
 Blue Bulls |
Pretoria | The Pretoria metropolitan area and the entire Limpopo province | 2024 |
 Boland Cavaliers |
Wellington | Northern and central districts of the Western Cape province | 2016 |
 Border Bulldogs |
East London | Eastern districts of the Eastern Cape province | 1999 |
 Eastern Province Elephants |
Gqeberha | Western districts of the Eastern Cape province | 2016 |
 Falcons |
Kempton Park | The East Rand and other municipalities to the east and south of Johannesburg | 2008 |
 Free State Cheetahs |
Bloemfontein | Central and western districts of the Free State province | 2024 |
 Golden Lions |
Johannesburg | Johannesburg and the West Rand | 2024 |
 Griffons |
Welkom | Northern and eastern districts of the Free State province | 2024 |
 Griquas |
Kimberley | The entire Northern Cape province | 2024 |
 Leopards |
Potchefstroom | The entire North West province | 2011 |
 Pumas |
Mbombela | The entire Mpumalanga province | 2024 |
 Sharks |
Durban | The entire KwaZulu-Natal province | 2024 |
 SWD Eagles |
George | Eastern districts of the Western Cape province | 2004 |
 Western Province |
Cape Town | Cape Town metropolitan area | 2024 |
Currie Cup Champions
From 1892 to 1920, the winner was the team with the best record after playing all their games. Between 1922 and 1936 (and in a few later tournaments), the winner was also the team with the best record. In all other seasons, a final match was played to decide the champion.
| Currie Cup Champions and Finals Results | ||||
| Season | Champions | Runner-Up | Score | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1894 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1895 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1897 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1898 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 18991 | Griqualand West | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1904 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1906 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1908 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1911 | Griqualand West | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1914 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1920 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1922 | Transvaal | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1925 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1927 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1929 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1932 | Border & Western Province (shared) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1934 | Border & Western Province (shared) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1936 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1939 | Transvaal | Western Province | 17–6 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1946 | Northern Transvaal | Western Province | 11–9 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1947 | Western Province | Transvaal | 16–12 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1950 | Transvaal | Western Province | 22–11 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1952 | Transvaal | Boland | 11–9 | Wellington |
| 1954 | Western Province | Northern Transvaal | 11–8 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1956 | Northern Transvaal | Natal | 9–8 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 1957–19592 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1964 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1966 | Western Province | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1968 | Northern Transvaal | Transvaal | 16–3 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1969 | Northern Transvaal | Western Province | 28–13 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1970 | Griqualand West | Northern Transvaal | 11–9 | De Beers, Kimberley |
| 1971 | Northern Transvaal & Transvaal (shared) | N/A | 14–14 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1972 | Transvaal | Eastern Transvaal | 25–19 | Pam Brink Stadium, Springs |
| 1973 | Northern Transvaal | Free State | 30–22 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1974 | Northern Transvaal | Transvaal | 17–15 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1975 | Northern Transvaal | Free State | 12–6 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 1976 | Free State | Western Province | 33–16 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 1977 | Northern Transvaal | Free State | 27–12 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1978 | Northern Transvaal | Free State | 13–9 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 1979 | Northern Transvaal & Western Province (shared) | N/A | 15–15 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1980 | Northern Transvaal | Western Province | 39–9 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1981 | Northern Transvaal | Free State | 23–6 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1982 | Western Province | Northern Transvaal | 24–7 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1983 | Western Province | Northern Transvaal | 9–3 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1984 | Western Province | Natal | 19–9 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1985 | Western Province | Northern Transvaal | 22–15 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1986 | Western Province | Transvaal | 22–9 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1987 | Northern Transvaal | Transvaal | 24–18 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1988 | Northern Transvaal | Western Province | 19–18 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1989 | Northern Transvaal & Western Province (shared) | N/A | 16–16 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1990 | Natal | Northern Transvaal | 18–12 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1991 | Northern Transvaal | Transvaal | 27–15 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1992 | Natal | Transvaal | 14–13 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1993 | Transvaal | Natal | 21–15 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 1994 | Transvaal | Free State | 56–33 | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein |
| 1995 | Natal | Western Province | 25–17 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 1996 | Sharks6 | Golden Lions3 | 33–15 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1997 | Western Province | Free State Cheetahs4 | 14–12 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 1998 | Blue Bulls5 | Western Province | 24–20 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 1999 | Golden Lions | Sharks | 32–9 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2000 | Western Province | Sharks | 25–15 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2001 | Western Province | Sharks | 29–24 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 2002 | Blue Bulls | Golden Lions | 31–7 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2003 | Blue Bulls | Sharks | 40–19 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2004 | Blue Bulls | Free State Cheetahs | 42–33 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2005 | Free State Cheetahs | Blue Bulls | 29–25 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2006 | Blue Bulls & Free State Cheetahs (shared) | N/A | 28–28 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2007 | Free State Cheetahs | Golden Lions | 20–18 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2008 | Sharks | Blue Bulls | 14–9 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2009 | Blue Bulls | Free State Cheetahs | 36–24 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2010 | Sharks | Western Province | 30–10 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2011 | Golden Lions | Sharks | 42–16 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2012 | Western Province | Sharks | 25–18 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2013 | Sharks | Western Province | 33–19 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 2014 | Western Province | Golden Lions | 19–16 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 2015 | Golden Lions | Western Province | 32–24 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2016 | Free State Cheetahs | Blue Bulls | 36–16 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2017 | Western Province | Sharks | 33–21 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2018 | Sharks | Western Province | 17–12 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| 2019 | Free State Cheetahs | Golden Lions | 31–28 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2020–217 | Blue Bulls | Sharks | 26–198 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2021 | Blue Bulls | Sharks | 44–10 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2022 | Pumas | Griquas | 26–19 | Griqua Park, Kimberley |
| 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | Pumas | 25–17 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2024 | Sharks | Golden Lions | 16–14 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
In addition to the winners above, Western Province 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.
Overall Winners of the Premier Division
This table shows which teams have won the Currie Cup Premier Division the most times.
| 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 | 11 | Four titles shared | 2021 |
| Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions | 11 | 13 | 11 | One title shared | 2015 |
| Natal/Sharks | 9 | 12 | 14 | 2024 | |
| Orange Free State/Free State Cheetahs | 7 | 9 | 14 | 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 24 September 2024
This table focuses on wins since 1968, when the competition became an annual event.
| 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 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2024 | 1984, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2020–21, 2021 | |
| Transvaal/Gauteng Lions/Golden Lions | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1972, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2011, 2015 | 1971 | 1968, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2014, 2019, 2024 |
| 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 Winners
This table shows the winners of the Currie Cup First Division, which is a lower tier of the competition.
| Overall winners in the Currie Cup First Division | |||||
| Team | Number of wins | Runners-up | Years won | Year Runner-up | Secondary titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boland Cavaliers | 7 | 0 | 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2022, 2024 | ||
| 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 | 6 | 2010, 2012 | 2000, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024 | |
| Blue Bulls | 1 | 0 | 2000 | ||
| Jaguares XV | 1 | 0 | 2019 | ||
| Falcons | 0 | 4 | 2005, 2014, 2018, 2023 | 2023 Mzanzi Challenge | |
| Border | 0 | 2 | 2002, 2004 | ||
| Griquas | 0 | 0 | 2024 SA Cup | ||
Records and Statistics
Here are some interesting facts and records from the Currie Cup:
Player Records
- Most career matches
| Name | Team/s | Seasons | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Reece-Edwards | Natal | 1982–1995 |
|
| Jacques Botes | Pumas/Sharks | 2002–2014 |
|
| Helgard Müller | Free State Cheetahs | 1983–1998 |
|
| Rudi Visagie | Free State/Natal/Mpumalanga | 1980–1996 |
|
| Chris Badenhorst | Free State Cheetahs | 1987–1999 |
|
| Burger Geldenhuys | Blue Bulls | 1977–1989 |
|
| André Joubert | Free State/Natal | 1986–1999 |
|
- 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)
Season and Match Records
- 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
You can watch Currie Cup matches on these channels and streaming services:
- SuperSport shows live matches in South Africa.
- Sky Sports broadcasts live matches in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
- FloSports streams live matches online in North and South America.
- Nine Network streams matches live in Australia through Stan.
- RugbyPass streams live matches online in many countries in Asia and Europe.
- Star+ shows live matches in Latin America, including Brazil.
Images for kids
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The Currie Cup trophy
See also
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
