2025 Currie Cup First Division
| 2025 Currie Cup First Division | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | – 26 July |
| Champions | Griffons (6th title) |
| Runners-up | Valke |
The 2025 Currie Cup First Division is the 87th edition of the Currie Cup. As the second-tier of the competition, it runs alongside the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division. It is sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.
The 2025 SA Cup determined which teams participated, with the top four joining the United Rugby Championship teams in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division, and the bottom six playing in the First Division.[1]
The 2024 champions, Boland Cavaliers, are playing in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division, so this year will see a new champion.[2]
After four rounds, five of the six teams were still in contention for the semi-finals.[3][4]
The Valke and the Griffons qualified for the final,[5] with the Griffons winning 51–44 after the game went into extra time following a 37–37 stalemate at full time.[6]
Teams
The six competing teams are:
| Team | Sponsored name |
|---|---|
| Border Bulldogs | Border Bulldogs |
| Eastern Province Elephants | Eastern Province |
| Valke | Valke |
| Griffons | Novavit Griffons |
| Leopards | Leopards |
| SWD Eagles | Phangela SWD Eagles |
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valke | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 94 | +101 | 29 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 24 | Semi-Final |
| 2 | Griffons | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 271 | 127 | +144 | 40 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
| 3 | Eastern Province Elephants | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 160 | −11 | 23 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 16 | |
| 4 | Leopards | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 125 | 182 | −57 | 19 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| 5 | SWD Eagles | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 140 | 185 | −45 | 22 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 6 | Border Bulldogs | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 105 | 237 | −132 | 13 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Rules for classification: Tournament points in the standings were awarded to teams as follows:
- 4 points for a win.
- 2 points for a draw.
- 1 bonus point for a loss in a match by seven points or under.
- 1 bonus point for scoring four tries or more.
Semi-finals
| 19 July 2025 | Griffons | 48–20 | Eastern Province | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 15:00 | Report |
| 19 July 2025 | Valke | 55–12 | Leopards | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| 15:00 | Report |
Final
| 26 July 2025 | Valke | 44–51 (a.e.t.) | Griffons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| 15:00 | Try: Alexander (2) Pretorius Payi Wellman Con: Fortune (4) Stalmeester Pen: Fortune (2) Stalmeester |
Report | Try: Pretorius (2) Gray Syster De Beer Vers Stander Con: Kota (5) Pen: Kota (2) |
Referee: Lulutho Matomela |
See also
References
- ^ "Griquas out to up their game for 2025 SA Cup campaign". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ "New Champion Set to Rise as 2025 Carling Currie Cup First Division Kicks Off - Octafield". 12 June 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Fredericks, Lance (11 July 2025). "Deliciously tempting Currie Cup First Division race heats up as play-offs loom". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ https://supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup/news/4fb2c95c-d8d6-44ae-842c-ebc93a30265e/the-2025-carling-currie-cup-bulletin-9-down-to-the-wire
- ^ OFM. "Griffons to face Valke in Currie Cup First Division Final". OFM. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "NovaVit Griffons snatch Carling Currie Cup First Division title in dramatic final". SA Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "CARLING CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION - SA Rugby". springboks.rugby. Retrieved 11 July 2025.