Teams
| 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 |
| 1987 Currie Cup Division A | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Champions | Northern Transvaal (14th title) |
| Runners-up | Transvaal |
| Relegated | Northern Free State |
| 1987 Currie Cup Division B | |
|---|---|
| Champions | South West Africa |
| Runners-up | Western Transvaal |
| Promoted | South West Africa |
| Relegated | None |
The 1987 Currie Cup was the 49th edition of the Currie Cup, the premier annual domestic rugby union competition in South Africa.
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]
| 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 |
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.
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
| 26 September 1987 |
| Transvaal | 18–24 | Northern 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 |
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.
In the relegation play-offs, Griqualand West beat Eastern Free State on aggregate to retain their place in the 1988 Currie Cup Division B.