About
South Africa's oldest and premier provincial competition, which was contested from October 2020 to January 2021 during a season disrupted by COVID-19, ended in joy for the Vodacom Bulls as they won the title for the first time since 2009, beating the Durban-based Cell C Sharks in a dramatic and nail-biting home final in Pretoria. The other teams in the competition were 2019 champions, the Toyota Cheetahs (from Bloemfontein), as well as DHL Western Province (Cape Town), Xerox Lions (Johannesburg), Phakisa Pumas (Nelspruit) and Tafel Lager Griquas (Kimberley).
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
|
12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 305 | 216 | 89 | 32 | 22 | 39 |
| 2 |
DHL Western Province
|
12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 272 | 216 | 56 | 32 | 21 | 37 |
| 3 |
Cell C Sharks
|
12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 274 | 244 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 35 |
| 4 |
Xerox Lions
|
12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 275 | 221 | 54 | 29 | 20 | 34 |
| 5 |
Toyota Cheetahs
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 285 | 275 | 10 | 30 | 28 | 31 |
| 6 |
New Nation Pumas
|
12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 265 | 351 | -86 | 34 | 48 | 17 |
| 7 |
Tafel Lager Griquas
|
12 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 211 | 364 | -153 | 24 | 47 | 8 |
| There are currently no fixtures available. |
Team announcement
Vodacom Bulls aim for consistency in NelspruitVodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has opted for continuity in selection of the starting line-up when the Vodacom Bulls travel to Nelspruit to square off against the New Nation Pumas in their 2021 Kick-Off Pools clash on Tuesday.
Team announcement
Haznar back in Tafel Lager Griquas’ midfieldMichal Haznar has returned to Kimberley from Cape Town and will start against his former team-mates on Tuesday, when Tafel Lager Griquas host the DHL Stormers in the Northern Cape.
Tournament news
Leinster favourites as Munster surge into Guinness PRO14 finalJohann van Graan’s Munster have booked a place in the Guinness PRO14 final for the first time in four years, but their celebrations would have been tempered a bit the following evening had they watched the ease with which Leinster went about securing their own spot in the 27 March decider.
Team announcement
New Nation Pumas make wholesale changes for Vodacom Bulls' visitThe New Nation Pumas have made wholesale changes to their starting line-up for Tuesday’s match against the Vodacom Bulls in Nelspruit.
Team announcement
Abrahams, Chait and Meyer to start for Cell C SharksThaakir Abrahams, Jordan Chait and John-Hubert Meyer have been named in the Cell C Sharks’ starting line-up for their second 2021 Kick-Off Pools match, against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
