2023 Currie Cup First Division

Last updated

2023 Currie Cup First Division
Countries South Africa
Date11 February – 24 June
Champions Boland Cavaliers (6th title)
  2022
2024  

The 2023 Currie Cup First Division is the 85th edition of the Currie Cup. As the second-tier of the competition, it runs alongside the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division. It is sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.

Contents

The tournament will be played from February to June in a single round-robin format, following 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 competition ran concurrently with the Mzansi Challenge, which, in addition to the six South African sides, featured four additional international sides; the Welwitschias from Namibia, the Zimbabwe Goshawks, the Simbas from Kenya and the San Clemente Rhinos from the USA. Initially, the Tel Aviv Heat from Israel were due to play. However, after pressure from the South African BDS, SARU withdrew their invitation to the Heat, who were replaced by the Rhinos. [1] [2]

Heat accused SARU of discrimination and took the case to World Rugby, who ruled that the withdrawal of the invitation was not discriminatory. [3]

The top South African side in the 2023 Currie Cup First Division will be promoted to the Premier Division for 2024, forming an eight team competition. The 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division began in January and was completed in June.

South Western District Eagles and the Valke qualified for the Mzansi Challenge final, with the Valke winning 55-38 and taking their first title since 2006. [4] [5]

Boland Cavaliers and the Valke qualified for the Currie Cup First Division final, with Boland winning 43–21. [6] [7]

Teams

South Africa adm location map.svg
Location of teams in the 2023 Currie Cup First Division - not including the international Mzansi Challenge participants

The ten competing teams are:

2023 Currie Cup First Division/Mzansi Challenge
TeamSponsored name
Boland Cavaliers Boland Kavaliers
Border Bulldogs Border Bulldogs
Eastern Province Elephants Eastern Province Elephants
Leopards Leopards
San Clemente Rhinos San Clemente Rhinos
Simbas Simbas
SWD Eagles SWD Eagles
Valke Valke
Welwitschias Windhoek Draught Welwitschias
Zimbabwe Goshawks Zimbabwe Goshawks

Regular season

Standings - Mzansi Challenge

2023 Mzansi Challenge standings
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBLBPtsQualification
1 Valke 9801323208+11548299041 Semifinals
2 SWD Eagles 9801223174+4931238040
3 Boland Cavaliers 9702232146+8634178036
4 Leopards 9504190170+2024236026
5 Eastern Province Elephants 95041912112023285025
6 San Clemente Rhinos 94052092261730348024
7 Welwitschias 93062412743332355017
8 Simbas 9207135119+1620174012
9 Border Bulldogs 920719735215527514012
10 Zimbabwe Goshawks 9108106167611426408
Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: springboks.rugby
Rules for classification: 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 firstly by tournament points then 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.

Standings - Currie Cup First Division

2023 Currie Cup First Division standings
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBLBPtsQualification
1 Boland Cavaliers 10703355197+158532410038 Final
2 Valke 10703390300+90554210038
3 SWD Eagles 10604328252+7648329033
4 Eastern Province Elephants 10703264251+13005033
5 Leopards 1030725528833006018
6 Border Bulldogs 10001017247630400202
Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: springboks.rugby
Rules for classification: 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 firstly by tournament points then 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.

Play-offs: Mzansi Challenge

On the eve of the playoffs, South Western Districts Eagles threatened to pull out of their semifinal, disputing the decision to award the Valke points after they refused to play against the San Clemente Rhinos. [8]

Semifinals

10 June 2023 Valke 57–30 Leopards Barnard Stadium  
15:00
10 June 2023 SWD Eagles 37–20 Boland Cavaliers Outeniqua Park  
15:00

Final

17 June 2023 Valke 55–38 SWD Eagles Barnard Stadium  
12.30

Play-offs: Currie Cup First Division


Final

24 June 2023 Boland Cavaliers 43–21 Valke Boland Stadium  
13.00

See also

References

  1. Smilk, Carin M. (24 March 2023). "Major Jewish groups urge US rugby team to pull out of South Africa tournament". JNS.org. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  2. "South African Rugby Union withdraws invitation to Tel Aviv Heat". MSN. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  3. Gurvis, Jacob. "World Rugby rules South Africa's exclusion of Israel was not discrimination". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. "Currie Cup semifinals and Mzanzi Challenge final confirmed". SuperSport. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  5. Adams, Mariette (17 June 2023). "Good Fortune guides Valke to Mzansi glory". The South African. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  6. Lewis, Craig (20 June 2023). "What time does the Currie Cup final kick off this Saturday?". The South African. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. "The Boland Kavaliers are crowned #CurrieCup First Division champions". Twitter. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  8. Mjikeliso, Sibusiso. "SA Rugby avoid crisis as SWD lodge Valke dispute, nearly pull out of troubled Mzansi Challenge". Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2023.