Currie Cup

Currie Cup Info and FAQs

Are you here in the hopes of becoming a Currie Cup superfan? Then you’ve come to the right place. Here on this page you’ll discover the answers to a carefully curated selection of Currie Cup FAQs, including information about the tournament’s history, format and teams.

From the first competition to the current season, our rugby gurus sifted through your questions and read your comments to ensure we answered your most pressing queries. This meant diving into more than 130 years of annual tournaments, making notes of every win, remarkable player and restructure.

Whether you landed here from a Google search or you’re a long-time RugbyPass reader, get ready to find out the answers to your burning Currie Cup questions. Scroll down to learn which teams play in the Mzansi Challenge, which players have scored the most points and tries, and explore the history of the Currie Cup.

When was the first edition of the Currie Cup?

The first edition of the Currie Cup was held in 1892 and it was won by Western Province. The Currie Cup is South Africa’s premier rugby union tournament and it’s contested on an annual basis. Additionally, it’s one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world.

How many teams play in the Currie Cup Premier Division?

As of 2023, eight South African teams play in the Currie Cup Premier Division. Additionally, six South African sides compete in the Currie Cup First Division. These six sides are joined by five international teams to compete in the Mzansi Challenge.

Which teams play in the Currie Cup Premier Division?

The teams playing in the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division are: Blue Bulls, Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Griffons, Griquas, Pumas, Sharks and Western Province. Additionally, six teams will play in the Currie Cup First Division.

Which teams play in the Currie Cup First Division and Mzansi Challenge?

The teams that play in the Currie Cup First Division are: Boland Cavaliers, Border Bulldogs, Eastern Province Elephants, Falcons (Valke), Leopards and SWD Eagles. These teams are joined by five international clubs for the Mzansi Challenge: Diables Barcelona, Kenya Simbas, Mexican Rhinos, Windhoek Draught Welwitschias and Zimbabwe Goshawks.

Which team has won the Currie Cup the most times?

Western Province is the team that has won the most Currie Cup titles. The side has claimed 34 Currie Cup titles to date. The team’s first Currie Cup win came in 1889 and their greatest winning streak occurred between 1982 and 1986, when they won five consecutive tournaments.

Which player has played the highest number of games in the Currie Cup?

Hugh Reece-Edwards is the player who has played in the highest number of Currie Cup games. Reece-Edwards represented Natal in 165 Currie Cup matches between 1982 and 1995. This is followed by Jacques Botes (156), Helgard Müller (142), Rudi Visagie (141) and Chris Badenhorst (136).

Who has scored the most points in Currie Cup history?

Naas Botha is the player who has scored the most points in Currie Cup history. Botha represented Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls and scored 1,699 points between 1977 and 1992. This is followed by Willem de Waal (1,412), Eric Herbert (1,402), De Wet Ras (1,210) and André Joubert (1,165).

Who has scored the most tries in Currie Cup history?

John Daniels is the player who has scored the most tries in Currie Cup history. Daniels scored 74 tries for the Golden Lions and Boland Cavaliers at the Currie Cup. This is followed by Breyton Paulse (66), Chris Badenhorst (65) and André Joubert (58).