The SA Cup was created to replace the Mzanzi Challenge which was played for only one season in 2023 and was won by the Falcons.[1] [2] The inaugural SA Cup competition was contested between 21 March 2024 - 25 May 2024 and the primary function of the SA Cup is to serve as qualification to the Currie Cup Premier Division and Currie Cup First Division respectively. The domestic teams with a place in the United Rugby Championship, namely the Blue Bulls, Western Province, Sharks and Golden Lions are excluded from the SA Cup. [3]
Current season or competition: 2024 SA Cup | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2024 |
| Inaugural season | 2024 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Holders | Griquas (2024) |
| Most titles | Griquas (1 title) |
| Related competition | Currie Cup, Mzanzi Challenge |
The top four teams in the 2025 SA Cup will join the four United Rugby Championship teams in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division and the remaining six teams will battle it out for the 2025 Currie Cup First Division title.[4]
The Griquas beat the Pumas 46-24 in the final to take the first SA Cup title.[5]
George Whitehead top scored in the tournament with 150 points and Darnell Osaugwu scored 11 tries.[6]
Teams
edit| SA Cup teams | |
|---|---|
| Team | Sponsored name |
 Boland Cavaliers |
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers |
 Border Bulldogs |
Border Bulldogs |
 Eastern Province Elephants |
Eastern Province Elephants |
 Free State XV |
Toyota Free State XV |
 Falcons |
Hino Valke |
 Griffons |
Down Touch Griffons |
 Griquas |
Suzuki Griquas |
 Leopards |
Leopards |
 Pumas |
Steval Pumas |
 SWD Eagles |
Phangela SWD Eagles |
Location of teams in 2024 SA Cup
Standings
edit| 2024 SA Cup | |||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griquas | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 577 | 173 | 404 | 85 | 20 | 45 | |
| Pumas | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 488 | 80 | 408 | 70 | 11 | 41 | |
| Griffons | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 329 | 273 | 56 | 48 | 40 | 35 | |
| Free State Cheetahs | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 394 | 208 | 186 | 61 | 30 | 32 | |
| Boland Cavaliers | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 345 | 260 | 85 | 51 | 37 | 27 | |
| Falcons | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 276 | 400 | -124 | 39 | 58 | 18 | |
| Leopards | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 215 | 458 | -243 | 33 | 71 | 16 | |
| SWD Eagles | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 248 | 391 | -143 | 36 | 56 | 14 | |
| Eastern Province | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 203 | 374 | -171 | 28 | 56 | 14 | |
| Border Bulldogs | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 105 | 563 | -458 | 13 | 85 | 0 | |
- Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for the SA Cup grand final and 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division.
- Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division.
- Plain background (row 5-10) indicates other teams qualified for the 2025 Currie Cup First Division.
Source = springboks.rugby
Fixtures and results
editRegular season
editRound one
editRound one [1]
| 21 March 2024 | Griquas | 88-0 | Leopards | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Try: Janco Uys Stephan Smit Sako Makata (2) Tertius Kruger Sango Xamlashe Marcqiewn Titus (4) Thomas Bursey Connor Mahoney (2) George Whitehead Con: George Whitehead (6) Lubabalo Dobela (3) |
Report[2] |
| 22 March 2024 | SWD Eagles | 22-43 | Pumas | Outeniqua Park, George | ||
| Try: Liko Ndiyalwa Mpho Ntsane (2) Joshua Vermeulen Con: Jade Stoffels (2) |
Report[3] | Try: Llewellyn Classen (2) Sampie Swiegers Andre Fouche Tino Swanepoel Etienne Janeke Giovan Snyman Con: Clinton Swart (3) Brandon Thomson |
| 22 March 2024 | Free State Cheetahs | 38-7 | Boland Cavaliers | Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Report[4] |
| 23 March 2024 | Eastern Province | 31-27 | Falcons | Isaac Wolfson Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay | ||
| Report[5] |
| 24 March 2024 | Griffons | 52-8 | Border Bulldogs | Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report[6] |
Round two
editRound two [7]
| 28 March 2024 | Falcons | 25-66 | Griquas | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| Report[8] |
| 29 March 2024 | Pumas | 61-0 | Eastern Province | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| Report[9] |
| 30 March 2024 | Border Bulldogs | 25-40 | SWD Eagles | Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane | ||
| Report[10] |
| 30 March 2024 | Leopards | 5-76 | Free State Cheetahs | Olen Park, Potchefstroom | ||
| Report[11] |
| 30 March 2024 | Boland Cavaliers | 31-34 | Griffons | Boland Stadium, Wellington | ||
| Report[12] |
Round three
editRound three [13]
| 5 April 2024 | Free State Cheetahs | 0-50 | Pumas | Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Report[14] |
| 6 April 2024 | Griquas | 119-5 | Border Bulldogs | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Try: Jac van der Walt (2) Niel Otto Dylan Maart (3) Athenkosi Khetani Carl Els (3) Bingo Ivanisevic Connor Mahoney Sean Swart George Whitehead (3) Sango Xamlashe Con: George Whitehead (17) |
Report[7] | Try: Simthembile Ntleki |
| 6 April 2024 | Boland Cavaliers | 29-13 | Falcons | Boland Stadium, Wellington | ||
| Report[15] |
| 6 April 2024 | Eastern Province | 23-24 | SWD Eagles | Isaac Wolfson Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay | ||
| Report[16] |
| 7 April 2024 | Griffons | 42-10 | Leopards | Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report[17] |
Round four
editRound four [18]
| 12 April 2024 | Pumas | 89-3 | Falcons | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| Report[19] |
| 13 April 2024 | Leopards | 57-15 | Border Bulldogs | Olen Park, Potchefstroom | ||
| Report[20] |
| 13 April 2024 | Free State Cheetahs | 59-26 | Eastern Province | Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein | ||
| Report[21] |
| 13 April 2024 | Griquas | 61-17 | Griffons | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Report[22] |
| 14 April 2024 | SWD Eagles | 5-35 | Boland Cavaliers | Outeniqua Park, George | ||
| Report[23] |
Round five
editRound 5 [24]
| 20 April 2024 | Leopards | 43-26 | Eastern Province | Olen Park, Potchefstroom | ||
| Report[25] |
| 20 April 2024 | Boland Cavaliers | 30-48 | Griquas | Boland Stadium, Wellington | ||
| Report[26] |
| 20 April 2024 | Border Bulldogs | 0-56 | Pumas | Police Park, East London | ||
| Report[27] |
| 20 April 2024 | Falcons | 63-31 | SWD Eagles | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| Report[28] |
| 21 April 2024 | Griffons | 36-33 | Free State Cheetahs | Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report[29] |
Round six
editRound six [30]
| 26 April 2024 | Eastern Province | 0-50 | Griquas | Central Rugby Field, Kariega | ||
| Report[31] |
| 27 April 2024 | SWD Eagles | 14-46 | Free State Cheetahs | Outeniqua Park, George | ||
| Report[32] |
| 27 April 2024 | Pumas | 71-10 | Leopards | Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit | ||
| Report[33] |
| 27 April 2024 | Boland Cavaliers | 106-7 | Border Bulldogs | Boland Stadium, Wellington | ||
| Try: Taine-Randall Booysen (3) Erik Lambrecht (3) Xavier Mitchell (3) Bentley Geldenhuys (2) Neil Rautenbach Gift Dlamini Andre Manuel Jason Beukes Durin Nasson Con: Darian Hock (7) Garth April (6) |
Report[34] | Try: Lwandile Mapuko Con: Lwandile Mapuko |
| 28 April 2024 | Griffons | 53-40 | Falcons | Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report[35] |
Round seven
editRound seven [36]
| 3 May 2024 | Griquas | 31-26 | Pumas | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Report[37] |
| 4 May 2024 | SWD Eagles | 28-36 | Griffons | Outeniqua Park, George | ||
| Report[38] |
| 4 May 2024 | Leopards | 26-59 | Boland Cavaliers | Leeudoringstad Rugby Club | ||
| Report[39] |
| 4 May 2024 | Eastern Province | 38-17 | Border Bulldogs | Isaac Wolfson Stadium, Nelson | ||
| Report[40] |
| 4 May 2024 | Falcons | 17-68 | Free State Cheetahs | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| Report[41] |
Round eight
editRound eight [42]
| 10 May 2024 | Border Bulldogs | 14-57 | Free State Cheetahs | Police Park, East London | ||
| Report[43] |
| 10 May 2024 | Pumas | 49-0 | Boland Cavaliers | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| Report[44] |
| 11 May 2024 | Falcons | 50-19 | Leopards | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | ||
| Report[45] |
| 11 May 2024 | Griquas | 75-53 | SWD Eagles | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Report[46] |
| 12 May 2024 | Griffons | 45-19 | Eastern Province | Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom | ||
| Report[47] |
Round nine
editRound nine [48]
The Cheetahs vs Griquas was the last competitive rugby match of Ruan Pienaar before retirement.[8]
| 17 May 2024 | Free State Cheetahs | 17-39 | Griquas | Shimla Park, Bloemfontein | ||
| [49] Report |
| 17 May 2024 | Pumas | 43-14 | Griffons | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | ||
| Report[50] |
| 18 May 2024 | SWD Eagles | 31-45 | Leopards | Outeniqua Park, George | ||
| Report[51] |
| 18 May 2024 | Boland Cavaliers | 48-40 | Eastern Province | Rhino Park, Piketberg | ||
| Report[52] |
| 19 May 2024 | Border Bulldogs | 14-38 | Falcons | Police Park, East London | ||
| Report[53] |
Grand Final
edit| 25 May 2024 | Griquas | 46-24 | Pumas | Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley | ||
| Try: Makata Hufke Whitehead du Rand Alexander Penalty try Con: Whitehead (4) Pen: Whitehead (2) |
Report[54] | Try: Willemse Osaugwu Msenge Penalty try Con: Willemse (1) |
Referee: Christopher Allison |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "SA Cup to lift off in Kimberley on Human Rights Day", sarugby.co.za, 22 May 2024
- ^ "Good Fortune guides Valke to Mzansi glory", sarugby.co.za, 23 May 2024
- ^ "The conundrum of the SA Cup: Is anyone benefitting?", citizen.co.za, 8 June 2024
- ^ "Currie Cup gets new window in major revamp for local season", sarugby.co.za, 22 May 2024
- ^ "Unbeaten Griquas crowned SA Cup champions", sarugby.co.za, 26 May 2024
- ^ "New chapter in the intense Griquas and Pumas rivalry", rugby365.com, 26 May 2024
- ^ "Griquas obliterate Border Bulldogs 119-5", heraldlive.co.za, 8 June 2024
- ^ "Ruan Pienaar's farewell party spoiled", https://rugby365.com, 8 June 2024