2025 Currie Cup First Division

2025 Currie Cup First Division
Countries	South Africa
Date	– 26 July
Champions	Griffons (6th title)
Runners-up	Valke
←  2024 2026  →

The 2025 Currie Cup First Division is the 87th edition of the Currie Cup. As the second-tier of the competition, it runs alongside the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division. It is sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.

The 2025 SA Cup determined which teams participated, with the top four joining the United Rugby Championship teams in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division, and the bottom six playing in the First Division. ^[1]

The 2024 champions, Boland Cavaliers, are playing in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division, so this year will see a new champion. ^[2]

After four rounds, five of the six teams were still in contention for the semi-finals. ^{[3] [4]}

The Valke and the Griffons qualified for the final, ^[5] with the Griffons winning 51–44 after the game went into extra time following a 37–37 stalemate at full time. ^[6]

Teams

Border Bulldogs

Eastern Province Elephants

Griffons

Leopards

SWD Eagles

Valke

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Location of teams in the 2025 Currie Cup First Division - not including the international Mzansi Challenge participants

The six competing teams are:

2025 Currie Cup First Division

Team	Sponsored name
Border Bulldogs	Border Bulldogs
Eastern Province Elephants	Eastern Province
Valke	Valke
Griffons	Novavit Griffons
Leopards	Leopards
SWD Eagles	Phangela SWD Eagles

Standings

2025 Currie Cup First Division standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Valke	5	5	0	0	195	94	+101	29	14	0	0	24	Semi-Final
2	Griffons	5	4	0	1	271	127	+144	40	18	0	0	21
3	Eastern Province Elephants	5	3	0	2	149	160	−11	23	22	0	0	16
4	Leopards	5	2	0	3	125	182	−57	19	28	0	0	11
5	SWD Eagles	5	1	0	4	140	185	−45	22	27	0	0	10
6	Border Bulldogs	5	0	0	5	105	237	−132	13	37	0	0	2

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.

^[7]

Semi-finals

	19 July 2025	Griffons	48–20	Eastern Province	North West Stadium, Welkom
	15:00		Report

	19 July 2025	Valke	55–12	Leopards	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	15:00		Report

Final

	26 July 2025	Valke	44–51 (a.e.t.)	Griffons	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	15:00	Try: Alexander (2) Pretorius Payi Wellman Con: Fortune (4) Stalmeester Pen: Fortune (2) Stalmeester	Report	Try: Pretorius (2) Gray Syster De Beer Vers Stander Con: Kota (5) Pen: Kota (2)	Referee: Lulutho Matomela

See also

• 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2025 SA Cup

References

1. "Griquas out to up their game for 2025 SA Cup campaign". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
2. "New Champion Set to Rise as 2025 Carling Currie Cup First Division Kicks Off - Octafield". 12 June 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
3. Fredericks, Lance (11 July 2025). "Deliciously tempting Currie Cup First Division race heats up as play-offs loom". Diamond Fields Advertiser. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
4. https://supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup/news/4fb2c95c-d8d6-44ae-842c-ebc93a30265e/the-2025-carling-currie-cup-bulletin-9-down-to-the-wire
5. OFM. "Griffons to face Valke in Currie Cup First Division Final". OFM. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
6. "NovaVit Griffons snatch Carling Currie Cup First Division title in dramatic final". SA Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
7. "CARLING CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION - SA Rugby". springboks.rugby. Retrieved 11 July 2025.