Rugby: Currie Cup

Local players and SA Rugby are reportedly at odds over concerns regarding the decision to schedule the Currie Cup between July and September. According to a report by Netwerk24, the dispute is due to an expectation of what effectively amounts to a 20-month rugby playing calendar for SA professionals. MyPlayers, representing pro players in the…

The Pumas remain on course to defend their Currie Cup title after booking their spot in the final against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The Pumas defied all odds after reaching the championship match after beating the 14-man Sharks on Saturday evening at Kings' Park in Durban. The Pumas defence in the latter stages of the game was simply…

Rugby fans can look forward to more rugby action as the Currie Cup is scheduled to kick off on the 27 of November a little bit later this month. At this point, the Bulls are leading the charge with 19 points on the board, two points ahead of the Stormers who are sitting in second place in the thrilling Super Rugby Unlocked competition. Points…

The Airlink Pumas emerged as the Cinderella men of the Carling Currie Cup's modern era when they pipped Windhoek Draught Griquas 26-19 in a momentous final in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon to clinch their first title. In a historic battle of ultimate underdogs, the visitors maximised their maiden finals appearance by outscoring the hosts by three…

The City of Mbombela's executive mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe: I am elated by the recent exploits of the Pumas in the Currie Cup victory over the Griquas. This achievement is not only historic, but it also shows how you can achieve more with little. The Pumas defied all odds stacked against the team and conquered their more illustrious opponents…

In an extract from No Rules - The James Small Story, Japie Mulder recalls his verbal battles with the winger, and what happened when Small swore at Bok teammate Johan Ackermann. I met James when we played in the Transvaal U20 trials at Sturrock Park, the old police fields in Johannesburg in 1989. I knew of him because he'd already played for the…

ALONG with spring, rugby fever is in the air, filling Mzanzi with Springbok jerseys, cheers, laughter and bonhomie. Some long-term friendships have beaten the odds and grown around rugby - as in the time my late colleague Deon Basson and I took the trip to Bloemfontein for the Currie Cup final. A brief introduction to Deon, there are things you…

Image Source: Shutterstock.com The South African Rugby Union team that scooped up the Currie Cup on eight different occasions and steadily turned from a provincial rugby brand to a commercially recognized sporting brand with a global reputation, The Sharks, has appointed Hollywoodbets as their new title sponsor. The collaboration with the sports…

The Toyota Cheetahs received a massive boost ahead of Saturday's Currie Cup final against the Airlink Pumas when it was confirmed that 39-year old stalwart Ruan Pienaar had extended his contract for another year. Pienaar, who was the man of the match and engineered the big 39-10 win over the Vodacom Bulls last weekend, is a key figure that seems to…

The Pumas lost four Currie Cup matches in succession before shading past the Griquas 27-17 - in what was essentially a quarterfinal clash - and then sneaking past the Sharks 26-20 in the semi-finals on Saturday to make their second consecutive Currie Cup final. And while the whole squad deserves recognition for their achievements in the past two…

The Airlink Pumas will defend their Currie Cup Premier Division crown against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday after the teams from Mpumalanga and the Free State won their respective semi-finals this weekend. The Toyota Cheetahs beat the Vodacom Bulls by 39-10 on Saturday to secure home advantage for the season decider, while the…

Despite falling short at the final hurdle in the 2023 Currie Cup the Pumas can be incredibly proud of their recent form in the competition after winning the title in 2022 and reaching back to back finals. It was the Cheetahs' day on Saturday as they clinched a deserved 25-17 win to lift their seventh title, while stopping the Pumas from winning…

Western Province's Ben-Jason Dixon wants to end his breakthrough season with a big performance when they take on the table-topping Sharks in the Currie Cup this weekend. CAPE TOWN - At the start of the season, Ben-Jason Dixon never thought he would be getting the opportunities in the Stormers and Western Province jerseys that he has gotten. In…

Cape Town - At the start of the season, Ben-Jason Dixon never thought he would be getting the opportunities in the Stormers and Western Province jerseys that he has gotten. In fact for the utility forward the prospect was to grab every opportunity that came his way, even if it meant playing off the bench. But after a couple of breakthrough…

There'll be no room for error in the penultimate round of the Currie Cup regular season this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld. The Sharks (43) and Cheetahs (41) will look to consolidate their places in the top two, the third-placed Pumas (36) will push to stay ahead of the chasing pack while Western Province, the Lions, Bulls (all on 31) and…

The Cell C Sharks and Fidelity ADT Lions claimed important wins against the Currie Cup Premier Division's frontrunners, while there were further victories for DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Bulls in the matches staged over the weekend, with all four visiting sides victorious. The only major change to the Premier Division log sees DHL WP…

Western Province caught an error-prone Bulls outfit napping to claim a vital Currie Cup victory in Cape Town on Saturday night. The hosts won 31-7, after leading 14-0 at half-time. Two late intercept tries from WP speedsters Damian Markus and Luke Burger also gave the hosts a vital try-scoring bonus point. It was WP's second win over the Bulls in…

Following 10 years of "hard work and a lot of tears", loose forward Oupa Mohoje will play his 100th game for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup against the Griffons on Friday. The 32-year-old has battled injury for much of his professional career since making his debut for the Cheetahs in 2013, yet has featured for the Free Staters in Super Rugby, the…

A group of 41 players will attend this year's SA Rugby Academy programme, which will also kick-start the Junior Springboks' preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in South Africa later this year. While a total of 37 players will be in camp on a full-time basis, the four others will join them intermittently during the assembly period…

Following poor discipline in the first half, the Lions tightened up in the second to record their first Currie Cup win of the season with a come-from-behind 41-26 win over the Griffons at Ellis Park on Friday. The Griffons opened the scoring two minutes into the first half after an excellent offload by Duan Pretorius saw centre Marquit September…

Leon Lyons is part of a group of'buzzing' DHL Western Province front rankers eager to power their way into contention for higher honours by starring in the Currie Cup. Schooled at Selborne College in Eastern Cape, Lyons joined WP straight out of school and represented the Junior Springboks in 2018, alongside provincial teammates Sazi Sandi, Salmaan…

Andre Fouche goes on the charge for the Pumas in the Currie Cup Premier Division match against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on March 122023. Lee Warren/Gallo Images The defending Currie Cup champions, the Pumas, continued their giant-slaying act with a clinical 63-15 victory over the Bulls at a sweltering Loftus Versfeld on Sunday. Surely…

Veteran playmakers Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar have been included in the Cheetahs' matchday 23 to face Griquas in the opening clash of the 2023 Currie Cup on Friday. Steyn will start at inside centre for the Free Staters in Kimberley, while fellow Springbok Pienaar is set to run out at scrumhalf against last season's runners-up in rugby's oldest…

The Pumas outplayed Griquas in all departments to land a first-ever Currie Cup title in Kimberley on Saturday in front of 11000 roaring fans at Griqua Park. It was a fantastic spectacle that saw two of the country's smaller unions sharing the spotlight, throwing everything at each other, and while it ended in heartache for the hosts, coach Jimmy…

The Cell C Sharks are still in the running for a spot within the top seven in the Vodacom Rugby Championship, this mainly due to the influence of Curwin Bosch. The flyhalf was instrumental in their superb 29-7 win over the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg this past Saturday. Bosch's exemplary performance during the first half provided the Sharks with…

The elite leagues in club rugby are finishing up around the world, and the South African scene is looking especially set for madness ahead. The country's top club rugby competition, the Currie Cup, is perhaps as wide open as it's been in years, as several of the nation's historical powers found themselves out of the running for a championship,…

Western Province are treating Saturday's Currie Cup clash against the Sharks in Durban like a quarter-final and assistant coach Rito Hlungwani says they still believe they can win the tournament. WP enter the final league game needing a win at Kings Park in order to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. It's been an indifferent season…

Ali Vermaak is valued as an immense asset to the DHL Stormers because the veteran is called on to fill the sizeable boots of Springbok juggernaut Steven Kitshoff. Vermaak has been a sturdy understudy to stalwart Kitshoff since making his franchise debut in 2014, which includes sharing in the ecstasy of winning the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby…

ZIMBABWE rugby international Jason Fraser won his 100th cap for French outfit USON Nevers on Friday evening, joining a select band of centurions who have reached the milestone for the Pro D2 side. The 31-year-old versatile loose forward led out the USON Nevers side on his special milestone and it ended up being a memorable one after the French side…

The Griquas and Pumas will battle it out in a landmark Currie Cup final at Griqua Park in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon, after the two South African minnows upset the odds to reach the showpiece event. It has been an incredible season for both teams and they will hope to celebrate with a bit of history this weekend. Here are the coaches who led…

The Currie Cup final on Saturday might not have the appeal of the URC final a week earlier, but it is career-defining for all involved. Griquas last won the competition 52 years ago, while the Pumas have never contested a final. Sport24 speaks to the coaches - Pieter Bergh and Jimmy Stonehouse - ahead of the biggest matches of their careers. On…

The Emerging Ireland squad have settled into camp in Bloemfontein, South Africa, where they will be challenged by a largely unknown opponent in Friday's Toyota Challenge clash against the Griquas. Nicknamed the'Peacock Blues', Griquas are a team with a rich history dating back to the early days of South Africa's long-running domestic competition,…

Western Province are hoping to upset the playoff chasing Pumas when they meet for their Currie Cup match at Mbombela Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off at 7pm). It has been a tough competition for the Cape Town based side so far, having picked up just one win against the bottom of the table Lions while suffering seven losses, including a…