Kicking off the Currie Cup Premier Division action this year is a replay of the recent SA Cup final between traditional rivals the Pumas and Griquas on Friday night in Nelspruit (19:00).
On Saturday afternoon, the defending champions, the Sharks XV, take on the Lions in a repeat of their dramatic 2024 final in Johannesburg, where action starts from 15:00.
The early afternoon fixture at Ellis Park will be followed by a North-South derby in Cape Town between Western Province and the Bulls, from 17:10, at DHL Stadium.
The weekend’s first round action concludes on Sunday afternoon in Wellington, where the Boland Kavaliers, who won promotion to the Premier Division via the SA Cup, tackle the Cheetahs in their opening fixture at 15:00.
In recent years, the Currie Cup has very much become a development tournament as playing opportunities are afforded to the best local talent and several up-and-coming youngsters.
Meanwhile, several members of the triumphant Junior Springbok squad, who won the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, are expected to make the step-up to senior provincial rugby during this season’s Currie Cup.
All the Currie Cup Premier Division matches will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Rugby channel.
Currie Cup Premier Division:
Pumas vs Griquas
Date: Friday, 25 July
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 19:00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby
Lions vs Sharks XV
Date: Saturday, 26 July
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Dylen November
Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby
Western Province vs Bulls
Date: Saturday, 26 July
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:10
Referee: Sean Muller
Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby
Boland Kavaliers vs Cheetahs
Date: Sunday, 27 July
Venue: Sanlam Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby
SQUADS
BOLAND CAVALIERS
Forwards: Andrew Beerwinkel, Emile Booyen, Taine-Randall Booyse, Llewellyn Claasen, Gift Dlamini, Doctor Booysen, Wayrin Losper, Ameer Hendricks, HP van Schoor, Lamla Nunu, Laurence Victor, Micheal Benadie, Schalk Oelofse, Keenan Opperman, Sibusiso Sangweni, Sauliegh Arendse, Sidney Tobias, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Ludio Williams, Marlyn Williams, Thurlow Marsh, Khwezi Mafu, Jurie van Vuuren.
Backs: Bentley Geldenhuys, David Brits, Chriswill September, Darian Hock, Ashlon Davids, Domenic Smit, Donavan Don, Duren Hoffman, Cornell Engelbrecht, Erik Lambrecht, Jurick Lewis, Xavier Mitchell, Juan Mostert, Aphelele Madaka, Lunathi Nxele, Riaan Louw, Louis Schreduer, James Tedder, Marcqiewn Titus, Renaldo Young, Godlen Masimla.
BULLS
Forwards: Andrew Beerwinkel, Emile Booyen, Taine-Randall Booyse, Llewellyn Claasen, Gift Dlamini, Doctor Booysen, Wayrin Losper, Ameer Hendricks, HP van Schoor, Lamla Nunu, Laurence Victor, Micheal Benadie, Schalk Oelofse, Keenan Opperman, Sibusiso Sangweni, Sauliegh Arendse, Sidney Tobias, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Ludio Williams, Marlyn Williams, Thurlow Marsh, Khwezi Mafu, Jurie van Vuuren.
Backs: Bentley Geldenhuys, David Brits, Chriswill September, Darian Hock, Ashlon Davids, Domenic Smit, Donavan Don, Duren Hoffman, Cornell Engelbrecht, Erik Lambrecht, Jurick Lewis, Xavier Mitchell, Juan Mostert, Aphelele Madaka, Lunathi Nxele, Riaan Louw, Louis Schreduer, James Tedder, Marcqiewn Titus, Renaldo Young, Godlen Masimla.
CHEETAHS
Forwards: Cameron Dawson, Dux Manjama, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Tebogo Nkosi, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Louis van der Westhuizen, Vernon Paulo, Aranos Coetzee, John Kelly Okonkwo, Frankie Dos Reis, Hencus van Wyk, Ben Pitout, Carl Wegner, Victor Sekekete, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Juan Venter, Arno van der Merwe, Daniel Maartens, Gideon van der Merwe, Sasko Ndlovu, Pierre Uys, Sisonke Vumazonke, Thabang Mahlasi, Fano Linde, Ramon Uys, Mihlali Mosi, Neels Volschenk.
Backs: Rewan Kruger, Jandre Nel, Christiaan van der Westhuizen, Erick Visser, George Lourens, Ethan Wentzel, Tiaan Swanepoel, Franco Smith, Carel Jan Coetzee, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Munier Hartzenberg, Ali Mgijima, Raegan Oranje, Cohen Jasper, Prince Nkabinde, Banie Britz, Ntokozo Makhaza, Shaun Ray, James Verity-Amm, Michael Annies, Litha Nkula, Clayton Blommetjies.
GRIQUAS
Forwards: Eddie Davids, Cebo Dlamini, Johan Louw, Corne Lavanga, Leon Lyons, IG Prinsloo, Ebune Ngundue, Ntobeko Shezi, Dandre Delport, Gustav du Randt, Tiaan Lange, Janco Uys, Athenkosi Khethani, Albert Liebenberg, Lungisile Mbiko, Malembe Mpofu, Derik Pretorius, Marco de Witt, Carl Els, Gustav Erlank, Phumzile Maqondwana, Lourens Oosthuizen, Carel van der Merwe, Jac van der Walt.
Backs: Caleb Abrahams, Bobby Alexander, Thomas Bursey, Xavier Swartbooi, Zinedine Robinson, Tylor Sefoor, George Whitehead, Zane Bester, Tyler Bocks, Tertius Kruger, Tom Nel, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Cameron Hufke, Dylan Maart, Connor Mahoney, Izzy Novuka, Gurswin Wehr.
LIONS
Forwards: Jaco Visagie (c), SJ Kotze, Morgan Naude, Heiko Pohlmann, RF Schoeman, Conrad van Vuuren, Sebastian Lombard, Siya Dube, Stian de Bruyn, Franco Marais, Morne Brandon, Marno Grobbelaar, Thando Biyela, Raynard Roets, Darrien Landsberg, Dylan Sjoblom, Johnre Stopforth, Tiaan Wessels, Luca Ribbens, Renzoi du Plessis, Jarod Cairns, WJ Steenkamp, Izan Esterhuizen, Siba Zoma, Morne Venter
Backs: Nico Steyn, Layton Horn, Zian Cilliers, Haashim Pead, Lubabalo Dobela, Sam Francis, Kade Wolhuter, Gianni Lombard, Tapiwa Mafura, Gilermo Mentoe, Rynhardt Jonker, Bingo Ivanisevic, Alzeadon Fleix, Kelly Mpeku, Bronson Mills, Manuel Rass, Rabz Maxwane, Angelo Davids, Likhona Finca, Keagan Smith, Michail Damon.
PUMAS
Forwards: Etienne Janecke, Sampie Swiegers, Stephan de Jager, Dewald Maritz, Duard Deichmann, Eduan Swart, Jan-Henning Campher, Darnelle Osuagwu, Jeandre Leonard, Tiaan de Klerk, JJ Scheepers Miyelani Ngobeni, Heinz Bertram, Hanno Theunissen, Ntsika Fisanti, Willie Engelbrecht (c), Kwanda Dimaza, Armand Maritz, Ruwald van der Merwe, Marvellous Mashimbyi, Andre Fouche.
Backs: Ross Braude, Russwill Fredericks, Danrich Visagie, Carlton Banies, Clinton Swart, Wian van Niekerk, Sango Xamlashe, Jaycee Nel, Tiaan Pretorius, Darren Adonis, Lundi Msenge, Dalvon Blood, Stefan Coetzee, Tino Swanepoel, Kabelo Mokoena.
SHARKS
Forwards: Dian Bleuler, Phatu Ganyane, Dian Heunis, Mawande Mdanda, Jacques Marais, Corne Rahl, Coetzee le Roux, Deon Slabbert, Gideon Koegelenberg, Tino Mavesere, Jannes Potgieter, Meno Barnard, Nicholas Hatton (c), Bryce Calvert, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Matt Romao, Thomas Dyer, Bathobele Hlekani, Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, Simphiwe Ngobese, Kuhle Mthimkhulu, Ulrich van der Westhuizen, Yabo Ndzamela, Sphephelo Mbonambi, Van Heerden Pretorius, Liam van Wyk.
Backs: Bradley Davids, Tiaan Fourie, Jean Smith, Marnus Potgieter, Diego Appollis, Hakeem Kunene, Phikolomzi Sobahle, Paschal Ekeji, Christie Grobbelaar, Jaco Williams, Vusi Moyo, Scott Nel, Litelihle Bester, Chijiundu Okonta, Juan Loots, Drico Marx, Kuthi Rasivhaga, Albie Bester, Janco Purchase, Maurice Willemse, Chris Horak, Ceano Everson, Willem van der Hever.
WESTERN PROVINCE
Forwards: Abri Coetzee, Adam De Waal, Aden da Costa, Alex Groves, Andre Goedhals, Arno Gustufson, Cabous Eloff, Carlo van Greunen, CJ Velleman, Danio Botha, De Wet Marais, Enos Ndiao, Erhard Lambrecht, Francois Staples, Gary Porter, Gideon van Wyk, Herman Lubbe, Keagan Blanckenberg, Luca Bakkes, Louw Nel, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Matthew Beckett, Mhleli Khuzwayo, Nick Roebeck, Oliver Reid, Patrick Kitete, Riley Norton, Roland van der Heever, Scarra Ntubeni, Sti Sithole, Wandile Mlaba, Xola Nyali, Zachary Porthen, Zain Davids.
Backs: Asad Moos, Brendan Venter, Courtnall Skosan, Damian Markus, Dominic Malgas, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Gino Cupido, Imad Khan, Jared Africa, Joel Leotlela, Jurie Matthee, Justin Geduld, Kyle Smith, Luke Burger, Quewin Nortje, Ronald Brown, Sako Makata, Shilton van Wyk, Siya Ndlozi, Tristan Leyds.
WHO DO YOU THINK WILL CLAIM THE TITLE THIS YEAR?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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