Currie Cup

The Currie Cup is the principal South-African competition of Rugby to XV. It is disputed by selections representing either of the whole provinces, or of the important parts within the provinces. During the period of international insulation of the South Africa because of the Apartheid, it was the event headlight of South-African Rugby. Its importance a little decreased since the appearance of the Super 14 and the Tri-nations.

The French Thierry Lacroix gained this test twice with the Natal Sharks (in 1995 and 1996).

History

The competition began in the form from a modest interurban tournament in 1884 but when South African Rugby Board was created in 1889, it was decided to found a national competition disputed by selections of all the provincial leagues. The first participants were the Western Province, the Griqualand West, the Transvaal and the Eastern Province. The first tournament, disputed with Kimberley, was gained by the Western Province which accepted in reward a silver cut given by South African Rugby Board, from now on exposed to the museum of South-African Rugby to the Cape.

The first foreign team to come in round to South Africa was that of the British Lions in 1891. Among the bags, the shoes and the balloons which they transported was a gold cut given to the British team by Sir Donald Currie, owner of the maritime line Union-Castle on which they had travelled until the end of Africa. The trophy had been given to them before their arrival by Sir Donald Currie itself with the clear instruction to give it to the South-African team which would have provided them the best opposition. The British having gained the 19 matches of their round, they offered it to Griqualand West which had inclined only 0-3 against them. The trophy was then given to the national authorities and became the reward of the competition from now on called “Currie Cup”. The first tournament rewarded by the cut took place in 1892 and was gained by the Western Province. Since then, the trophy remains Graal of South-African Rugby.

The various teams disputed the trophy as from 1892, but for years of occasional tournaments dominated by the Western Province (32 titles on the whole, record of the test), it was necessary to await 1968 so that the principal event of South-African Rugby becomes annual.

This year, the Blue bulldozers of Northern Transvaal, taken along by legendary the second line Frik of Preez dominated their neighbors of Transvaal 16-3 finally, inaugurating one period of domination lasting which the men of Pretoria gained the trophy 15 times, dividing it on 3 occasions. This incredible performance is indissociable of the most influential player having exerted its talents in the competition: the extraordinary half of opening Naas Botha. Dictating the play with an incredible tactical direction, he managed to put at knees teams with his boot, registering all the points of Blue bulldozers (including four drop goals) in 1987 at the time of the victory finally 24-18 over Transvaal.

Since Currie Cup had become annual, only one team had seriously threatened supremacy of the bulldozers, their large rivals of the Western Province. Enormous festivals took place all around the Cape when the Western Province crushed Northern Transvaal 24-7 at the time of the finale 1982, which inaugurated their golden age. The heroes of Currie Cup like Faffa Knoetze, Fixed Scholtz or surpuissant it winger Neil Burger succeeded in preserving the trophy four years more at the shade of the Montagne of the Table, before it sets out again towards north.

The end of the decade offered to the South-African supporters two more memorable finales. In 1989, the Carel winger of Plessis registered a test at the last minute to tear off a tie for the Western Province against Blue bulldozers, 16-16. The following year, everyone thought that Northern Transvaal had only to be presented on the ground to beat the Natal. “Banana Boys” however made stumble Blue bulldozers, it carrying 18-12 with the assistance of a half of opening, Joel Stransky, very inspired.

The Nineties transfer the rise to power of Native and the blossoming of Transvaal of François Pienaar, but after the return of the South Africa on the international scene in 1992, the importance of Currie Cup slowly started to decline.

Since the launching of the Super 14 in the Nineties, the competition moved back on the chess-board of the competitions, even if to pose its hands on the trophy of Sir Donald Currie remains still something of exceptional, as can the being does it of touching the Bouclier of Brennus for the French rugbymen.

In 2005, the Free State gained the competition for the first time in 29 years. The bulldozers were only finalists but proved then their talent into Super 12. The two teams found themselves finally the following year but could not decide between itself in spite of the prolongations (28-28). The Cut was thus allotted jointly to the two provinces.

Participating teams

There was to 22 provinces in the years 1970. Following regroupings, South-African Rugby from now on is divided of 14 regional leagues. Four of them select their players within a whole province:

The province of the Cape-Eastern comprises two teams:

Just like that of the province of the State-Free :

The province of the Cape-Westerner comprises three teams:

The province of the Gauteng comprises two leagues which together recover portions of the province:

Finally a league includes part of the Gauteng more one whole province:

  • Pretoria, two municipalities of the Gauteng in the east and the province of Limpopo: Blue bulldozers (ex Northern Transvaal) (home matches with Pretoria)

Format of the competition

The format of Currie Cup often evolved/moved with the passing of years and is regularly discussed again. The large provinces (called the Big Five : Western Province, Northern Blue bulldozers, Free State Cheetahs, Lions, Natal Sharks) wish a restricted elite with five or six teams and closed, the less powerful provinces would prefer a championship with 14 which would enable them to face the best. A compromise was thus found: 8 provinces take part in the the First Division and the 6 others with the First Division . Until now, there was no direct passage between the two levels. That will change as from the season 2007. The Boland Riders, first of First Division in 2006, will play against the Pumas, the last of the First Division, a stopping return ticket. The winner will play in the First Division in 2008.

Phase championship

In each division the teams meet in return ticket in the form of championship. The four first of the final classification play the semi-finals on the ground of the teams best classified.

Finale

The final is played on the ground of the team best classified at the conclusion of the phase of championship. With four recoveries, the finalists of the elite were left on a tie, the last time in 2006. However, this case of figure will not reproduce any more after the decision of the South-African federation (South African Rugby Union) to found an extension by twenty minutes in the event of no one at the end of the prescribed time. If the equality were to persist, the team having marked the most tests during the final will carry it. Lastly, if the two teams marked as many tests one than the other, it is that which will have finished the preliminary phase at the head which will be declared victorious.

First Division 2007

Classification 2007

Semi-finals

Cheetahs - Blue bulldozers: 11-6

Sharks - Lions : 12-19

Finale

on October 27th, with Bloemfontein

Cheetahs - Lions: 20-18

Led 6-18 to fifteen minutes of the end, Cheetahs succeeded in reversing the vapor thanks to two transformed tests.

Prize list

1 Western Province and Transvaal does not have participé.
² Disputée on two saisons.
³ Transvaal becomes Gauteng Lions, then Golden Lions.
4 Orange Free State becomes Free State Cheetahs.
5 Northern Transvaal becomes Blue Bulls.

Prize list by team

NB: the title was allotted jointly to two teams with six recoveries (1932, 1934,1971,1979,1989,2006).

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