One thought on “Tournament: ABSA Currie Cup”

  1. The Absa Currie Cup is the premier domestic rugby competition in South Africa, dating back to 1889.

    The iconic gold trophy that represents Provincial superiority was first presented to the South African provincial champions in 1892. The trophy had been donated by the owner of Castle Shipping, Sir Donald Currie, to W E Maclagan, captain of the first British Isles touring team on their departure for South Africa. Currie instructed Maclagan that the trophy should be awarded to the first side to beat the tourists and thereafter become a floating trophy for the South African Inter-Provincial champions.

    Although the tourists won all 19 of their matches, the cup was presented to Griqualand West, who had lost only 3-0. Griquas in turn handed the trophy to the SA Rugby Board as per Currie’s instructions.

    In the early years there were no Cup finals with the team finishing at the top of the log being crowned champions. The first-ever Currie Cup final was played in 1939.

    During the early 1900’s the tournament was not played every year and it was also interrupted by the two world wars. However, the competition has taken place every year from 1968 to the present day. The list of winners down the years is as follows:

    Currie Cup winners
    (1889 – 2006)

    1889 Western Province
    1892 Western Province
    1894 Western Province
    1895 Western Province
    1896 Western Province
    1898 Western Province
    1899 Griqualand West
    1904 Western Province
    1906 Western Province
    1908 Western Province
    1911 Griqualand West
    1914 Western Province
    1920 Western Province
    1922 Golden Lions
    1925 Western Province
    1927 Western Province
    1929 Western Province
    1932 Western Province/Border
    1934 Western Province/Border
    1936 Western Province
    1939 Golden Lions
    1946 Blue Bulls
    1947 Western Province
    1950 Golden Lions
    1952 Golden Lions
    1954 Western Province
    1956 Blue Bulls
    1957 Western Province
    1958 Western Province
    1959 Western Province
    1964 Western Province
    1966 Western Province
    1968 Blue Bulls
    1969 Blue Bulls
    1970 Griqualand West
    1971 Blue Bulls/Golden Lions
    1972 Golden Lions
    1973 Blue Bulls
    1974 Blue Bulls
    1975 Blue Bulls
    1976 Free State
    1977 Blue Bulls
    1978 Blue Bulls
    1979 Blue Bulls/Western Province
    1980 Blue Bulls
    1981 Blue Bulls
    1982 Western Province
    1983 Western Province
    1984 Western Province
    1985 Western Province
    1986 Western Province
    1987 Blue Bulls
    1988 Blue Bulls
    1989 Blue Bulls/Western Province
    1990 Natal
    1991 Blue Bulls
    1992 Natal
    1993 Golden Lions
    1994 Golden Lions
    1995 Natal
    1996 Natal
    1997 Western Province
    1998 Blue Bulls
    1999 Lions
    2000 Western Province
    2001 Western Province
    2002 Blue Bulls
    2003 Blue Bulls
    2004 Blue Bulls
    2005 Cheetahs
    2006 Cheetahs/Blue Bulls

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