A new name will be engraved on the Carling Currie Cup First Division trophy in the last weekend of July, and all six teams will be eager to get their charge off to a strong start when the competition kicks off on Saturday.
Last year’s champions, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, were promoted to the Premier Division in 2025 after they finished in the top four of the recently concluded SA Cup.
This opens the doors for Eastern Province, runners up in 2024 after they were pipped to the crown by the tiniest of margins by the Kavaliers, the NovaVit Griffons, Valke, Phangela SWD Eagles, Leopards and Border Bulldogs to bring some silverware home in a few weeks’ time.
All three opening round matches kick off at 3pm on Saturday when EP welcome the Eagles to Gqeberha, the Griffons host the Valke in Welkom, and the Bulldogs travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Leopards.
Eastern Province have won three of the last five clashes between the two neighbouring sides, including a 39-26 victory in George in the SA Cup in March, and they will run out at the Madibaz Stadium as the favourites.
The clash between the Griffons and the Valke could very well determine which teams are near the top of the log at the conclusion of the competition, and looking at the recent results between the teams, a high-scoring affair could be on the cards.
Both sides did well in the SA Cup, with the East Randers edging the Northern Free Staters into sixth place on the standings, mainly courtesy of a 45-40 victory in Kempton Park in April, although the Griffons won their last home match against the Valke, last year in the SA Cup, by 53-40.
The Leopards will bank on recent history repeating itself when they welcome the Border Bulldogs to Olen Park, with the team from North West victorious in their seven last matches since rugby resumed after the pandemic a few years ago.
Border will take some heart from their last two clashes though, which were decided by margins of three and two points respectively.
Following a single round of matches, the top four sides will clash in the semifinals on the weekend of 19 July, with the final scheduled for the following weekend, when the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off.
WEEKEND - SATURDAY, 14 JUNE
Eastern Province v Phangela SWD Eagles
Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 3pm
NovaVit Griffons v Valke
Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 3pm
Leopards v Border Bulldogs
Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 3pm
