2023 Currie Cup Premier Division
| 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | 10 March – 24 June |
| Champions | Free State Cheetahs (7th title) |
| Runners-up | Pumas |
| Matches played | 56 |
| Tries scored | 406 (average 7.3 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Tinus de Beer (126) |
| Top try scorer | Gideon van der Merwe, David Kriel, Fez Mbatha, Devon Williams (7) |
The 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 85th edition of the Currie Cup, the premier domestic rugby union competition in South Africa. The competition was sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.[1]
The tournament was played from Friday 10 March 2023 to Saturday 24 June 2023.[2] This follows the realignment of the South African domestic rugby union calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere and the United Rugby Championship, which features four South African sides.
The Free State Cheetahs won the tournament final 25-17 against the Pumas to claim their 7th overall Currie Cup title
The competition featured an increased eight teams this season, with Griffons earning promotion into the Currie Cup Premier Division, after winning the 2022 Currie Cup First Division.[3]
Teams
[edit]
Team locations in the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division
The eight competing teams are:[4]
| Team | Sponsored name | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Bulls | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | 51,762 |
| Free State Cheetahs | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 48,000 |
| Golden Lions | Sigma Golden Lions | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg |
62,567 5,000 |
| Griffons | Novavit Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | 17,000 |
| Griquas | Tafel Lager Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | 11,000 |
| Pumas | Airlink Pumas | Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela | 40,929 |
| Sharks | Cell C Sharks | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 54,000 |
| Western Province | DHL Western Province | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch |
55,000 16,000 |
Regular season
[edit]Standings
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | B | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free State Cheetahs | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 439 | 324 | 115 | 63 | 39 | 13 | 51 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Sharks | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 370 | 310 | 60 | 50 | 37 | 8 | 48 | |
| 3 | Pumas | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 436 | 292 | 144 | 58 | 38 | 8 | 40 | |
| 4 | Blue Bulls | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 399 | 415 | −16 | 57 | 53 | 10 | 38 | |
| 5 | Western Province | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 377 | 335 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 9 | 37 | |
| 6 | Golden Lions | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 386 | 390 | −4 | 52 | 51 | 12 | 36 | |
| 7 | Griquas | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 364 | 399 | −35 | 45 | 53 | 5 | 35 | |
| 8 | Griffons | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 288 | 863 | −306 | 33 | 89 | 6 | 10 |
Source: springboks.rugby
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.
Teams were ranked in the standings by tournament points. Had two or more teams tied on points the tie would have been broken by: (a) points difference from all matches (points scored less points conceded); (b) tries difference from all matches (tries scored less tries conceded); (c) points difference from the matches between the tied teams; (d) points scored in all matches; (e) tries scored in all matches; and, if needed, (f) a coin toss.
Fixtures
[edit]Round 1
[edit]| 10 March 2023 | Griquas | 19–42 | Free State Cheetahs | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
| 11 March 2023 | Sharks | 32–16 | Griffons | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 11 March 2023 | Golden Lions | 28–44 | Western Province | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
| 12 March 2023 | Blue Bulls | 15–63 | Pumas | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| Try: Mihlali Mosi Cornal Hendricks Con: Morne Steyn Pen: Morne Steyn |
Report | Try: Eduan Swart Giovan Snyman Sebastian de Klerk Jade Stighling Devon Williams Andre Fouche Diego Appollis (2) Francois Kleinhans Con: Tinus de Beer (4) Giovan Snyman Brandon Thomson Pen: Tinus de Beer (2) |
Round 2
[edit]| 17 March 2023 | Pumas | 34–27 | Golden Lions | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 17 March 2023 | Blue Bulls | 33–41 | Western Province | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| Report |
| 19 March 2023 | Griffons | 12–52 | Free State Cheetahs | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 19 March 2023 | Griquas | 48–40 | Sharks | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
Round 3
[edit]| 24 March 2023 | Golden Lions | 41–26 | Griffons | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
| 24 March 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 32–7 | Blue Bulls | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Report |
| 24 March 2023 | Pumas | 28–13 | Griquas | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 26 March 2023 | Sharks | 20–7 | Western Province | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
Round 4
[edit]| 31 March 2023 | Griffons | 32–28 | Blue Bulls | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report |
| 31 March 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 21–61 | Pumas | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 1 April 2023 | Golden Lions | 34–22 | Sharks | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
| 1 April 2023 | Western Province | 13–32 | Griquas | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | ||
Round 5
[edit]| 7 April 2023 | Blue Bulls | 40–3 | Griquas | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| 7 April 2023 | Sharks | 19–12 | Pumas | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 8 April 2023 | Western Province | 47–28 | Griffons | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | ||
| 9 April 2023 | Golden Lions | 15–52 | Free State Cheetahs | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
Round 6
[edit]| 14 April 2023 | Sharks | 20–24 | Blue Bulls | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 15 April 2023 | Western Province | 17–26 | Free State Cheetahs | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | ||
| 16 April 2023 | Griffons | 6–64 | Pumas | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 16 April 2023 | Golden Lions | 18–25 | Griquas | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
Round 7
[edit]| 21 April 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 17–24 | Sharks | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 21 April 2023 | Pumas | 25–24 | Western Province | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 22 April 2023 | Blue Bulls | 30–19 | Golden Lions | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| 23 April 2023 | Griquas | 42–27 | Griffons | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
Round 8
[edit]| 28 April 2023 | Golden Lions | 26–10 | Pumas | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
| 28 April 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 33–10 | Griffons | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 29 April 2023 | Sharks | 24–6 | Griquas | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 29 April 2023 | Western Province | 31–7 | Blue Bulls | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | ||
Round 9
[edit]| 5 May 2023 | Griquas | 25–21 | Golden Lions | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
| 6 May 2023 | Pumas | 45–25 | Griffons | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 6 May 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 26–21 | Western Province | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 6 May 2023 | Blue Bulls | 27–41 | Sharks | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
Round 10
[edit]| 12 May 2023 | Griffons | 21–25 | Western Province | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 12 May 2023 | Pumas | 22–24 | Sharks | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 13 May 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 26–33 | Golden Lions | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 13 May 2023 | Griquas | 20–40 | Blue Bulls | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
Round 11
[edit]| 19 May 2023 | Western Province | 22–14 | Pumas | Athlone Stadium, Cape Town | ||
| 19 May 2023 | Sharks | 35–23 | Free State Cheetahs | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 20 May 2023 | Griffons | 21–47 | Griquas | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 20 May 2023 | Golden Lions | 32–33 | Blue Bulls | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg | ||
Round 12
[edit]| 26 May 2023 | Griffons | 9–35 | Sharks | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 26 May 2023 | Western Province | 12–32 | Golden Lions | Athlone Stadium, Cape Town | ||
| 27 May 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 29–29 | Griquas | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 27 May 2023 | Pumas | 17–24 | Blue Bulls | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
Round 13
[edit]| 2 June 2023 | Griquas | 38–29 | Western Province | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
| 2 June 2023 | Blue Bulls | 64–33 | Griffons | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| Report |
| 3 June 2023 | Pumas | 14–29 | Free State Cheetahs | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| 3 June 2023 | Sharks | 29–21 | Golden Lions | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
Round 14
[edit]| 9 June 2023 | Griquas | 17–27 | Pumas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | ||
| 9 June 2023 | Griffons | 22–39 | Golden Lions | North West Stadium, Welkom | ||
| 10 June 2023 | Blue Bulls | 27–31 | Free State Cheetahs | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | ||
| 10 June 2023 | Western Province | 44–5 | Sharks | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | ||
Play-offs
[edit]Semifinals
[edit]| 17 June 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 37–10 | Blue Bulls | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| 15:00 |
| 17 June 2023 | Sharks | 20–26 | Pumas | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | ||
| 17:30 |
Final
[edit]| 24 June 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 25–17 | Pumas | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Try: Fortuin 28' Jasper 37' Kruger 51' Con: Pienaar (2) 38',52' Pen: Pienaar (2) 5',20' |
Try: Mgijima 33' Pen: de Beer (4) 18',23',42',46' |
Attendance: 33,804[5] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Carling Currie Cup is Announced". WP Rugby. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "SA Rugby confirms bumper domestic calendar". SA Rugby. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Griffons Secured Promotion". Ruggas.co.za. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Currie Cup Premier Division". SA Rugby. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (25 June 2023). "Sharp-clawed Cheetahs outmuscle Pumas to clinch Currie Cup victory". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 February 2024.