2023_Currie_Cup_Premier_Division
2023 Currie Cup Premier Division
Domestic rugby union competition
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]
| 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) |
2024 → | |
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]
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 |
Standings
| 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division standings | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Free State Cheetahs | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 439 | 324 | +115 | 63 | 39 | 11 | 2 | 51 |
| 2 | Sharks | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 370 | 310 | +60 | 50 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 48 |
| 3 | Pumas | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 439 | 292 | +144 | 58 | 38 | 5 | 3 | 40 |
| 4 | Blue Bulls | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 399 | 415 | −16 | 57 | 53 | 8 | 2 | 38 |
| 5 | Western Province | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 377 | 335 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 7 | 2 | 37 |
| 6 | Golden Lions | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 386 | 390 | −4 | 52 | 51 | 8 | 4 | 36 |
| 7 | Griquas | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 364 | 399 | −35 | 45 | 53 | 5 | 0 | 35 |
| 8 | Griffons | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 288 | 594 | −306 | 33 | 89 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
Source: springboks.rugby
Key: P = matches played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Tries bonus, LB = Loss Bonus, Pts = Tournament points The top four teams qualified for the semifinals |
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.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Semifinals
| 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
| 24 June 2023 | Free State Cheetahs | 25–17 | Pumas | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Attendance: 33,804[5] |
- "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.