The 1987 Currie Cup was the 49th edition of the Currie Cup, the premier annual domestic rugby union competition in South Africa.

1987 Currie Cup Division A
CountriesSouth Africa
ChampionsNorthern Transvaal (14th title)
Runners-upTransvaal
RelegatedNorthern Free State
← 1986
1988 →
1987 Currie Cup Division B
ChampionsSouth West Africa
Runners-upWestern Transvaal
PromotedSouth West Africa
RelegatedNone
← 1986
1988 →

The tournament was won by Northern Transvaal for the 14th time; they beat Transvaal 24–18 in the final at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.[1]

Naas Botha scored all the points for Northern Transvaal by kicking 4 penalties and 4 drop-goals.[2]

Teams

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1987 Currie Cup Division A
Eastern Province
Free State
Natal
Northern Free State
Northern Transvaal
Transvaal
Western Province
1987 Currie Cup Division B
Eastern Transvaal
Griqualand West
South West Africa
Vaal Triangle
Western Transvaal

Competition

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Regular season and title play-offs

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There were seven participating teams in the 1987 Currie Cup Division A and five in the Division B. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away. Teams received two points for a win and one points for a draw. The top two teams in Division A qualified for the title play-offs, along with the top team from Division B. In the semi-finals, the team that finished second in Division A had to play against the team that finished top of Division B, while the team that finished top of Division A had a bye through to the final. The top two teams in Division B qualified for the Division B finals.

The venue for the semi-final and the finals are determined by a rotation system. For example, if Team A and Team B played the final at the home venue of Team A on the previous occasion they met in a final, then Team B will host the next final, irrespective of log positions.

Promotion – Relegation play-offs

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The bottom team on the respective logs qualified for the relegation play-offs. The Division A team played off against the team placed top in Division B. The winner of this match qualified for the 1988 Currie Cup Division A, while the losing team qualified for the 1988 Currie Cup Division B.

The bottom team on the Division B log qualified for the relegation play-offs. That team played off against the team that won the 1987 Santam Bank Trophy Division A over two legs. The winner over these two ties qualified for the 1988 Currie Cup Division B, while the losing team qualified for the 1988 Santam Bank Trophy Division A.

Division A

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1987 Currie Cup Division A log
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts Qualification
1 Northern Transvaal 12 10 0 2 331 146 +185 29 16 20 Currie Cup final
2 Transvaal 12 9 1 2 320 203 +117 36 8 19 Currie Cup semi-final
3 Free State 12 8 0 4 228 244 −16 18 26 16
4 Western Province 12 5 2 5 242 210 +32 29 18 12
5 Eastern Province 12 5 0 7 205 296 −91 18 31 10
6 Natal 12 2 1 9 185 272 −87 15 27 5
7 Northern Free State 12 1 0 11 162 302 −140 13 32 2 Relegation play-off
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw

Division B

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1987 Currie Cup Division B log
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts Qualification
1 South West Africa 8 7 0 1 201 111 +90 22 10 14 Currie Cup semi-finals
Division B finals
Promotion play-off
2 Western Transvaal 8 6 0 2 245 131 +114 30 12 12 Division B finals
3 Vaal Triangle 8 4 0 4 135 151 −16 11 13 8
4 Eastern Transvaal 8 2 0 6 118 202 −84 11 21 4
5 Griqualand West 8 1 0 7 101 205 −104 6 24 2 Relegation play-off
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw

Division A: Finals and play-offs

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Semi-final

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As champions of Division B, South West Africa qualified to the semi-finals of the Currie Cup competition, where they met Division A runners-up Transvaal.


Final

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26 September 1987
Transvaal18–24Northern Transvaal
Try: Hempas Rademeyer
Schalk Naude
Con: Liaan Kirkham 2
Pen: Liaan Kirkham 2
Report[4]Pen: Naas Botha 4
Drop: Naas Botha 4
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 67,000
Referee: Freek Burger

Relegation play-offs

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In the relegation play-offs, South West Africa beat Northern Free State and won promotion to the Division A. Northern Free State were relegated to Division B.

Division B: Final and play-offs

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Final

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Relegation play-offs

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In the relegation play-offs, Griqualand West beat Eastern Free State on aggregate to retain their place in the 1988 Currie Cup Division B.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Currie Cup Finals History". SuperSport. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  2. ^ jpsinnet (19 December 2011), 1987 Currie Cup Final Noord Transvaal vs Transvaal, retrieved 24 July 2017
  3. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1988). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1988. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 98. ISBN 0620117222.
  4. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1988). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1988. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. pp. 89, 97. ISBN 0620117222.
  5. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1988). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1988. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 108. ISBN 0620117222.
  6. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1988). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1988. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 98. ISBN 0620117222.
  7. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1988). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1988. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 98. ISBN 0620117222.