2023 Currie Cup First Division

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.

2023 Currie Cup First Division
CountriesSouth Africa
Date11 February – 24 June
ChampionsBoland Cavaliers (6th title)

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

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

Teams
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
Team Sponsored name
Boland Cavaliers Boland Kavaliers
Border Bulldogs Border Bulldogs
Eastern Province Elephants Eastern Province Elephants
Falcons Valke
Leopards Leopards
San Clemente Rhinos San Clemente Rhinos
Simbas Simbas
SWD Eagles SWD Eagles
Zimbabwe Goshawks Zimbabwe Goshawks
Welwitschias Windhoek Draught Welwitschias

Regular season

Standings - Mzansi Challenge
2023 Mzansi Challenge standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Falcons 9 8 0 1 323 208 +115 48 29 9 0 41 Semifinals
2 SWD Eagles 9 8 0 1 223 174 +49 31 23 8 0 40
3 Boland Cavaliers 9 7 0 2 232 146 +86 34 17 8 0 36
4 Leopards 9 5 0 4 190 170 +20 24 23 6 0 26
5 Eastern Province Elephants 9 5 0 4 191 211 −20 23 28 5 0 25
6 San Clemente Rhinos 9 4 0 5 209 226 −17 30 34 8 0 24
7 Welwitschias 9 3 0 6 241 274 −33 32 35 5 0 17
8 Simbas 9 2 0 7 135 119 +16 20 17 4 0 12
9 Border Bulldogs 9 2 0 7 197 352 −155 27 51 4 0 12
10 Zimbabwe Goshawks 9 1 0 8 106 167 −61 14 26 4 0 8
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
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Boland Cavaliers 10 7 0 3 355 197 +158 53 24 10 0 38 Final
2 Falcons 10 7 0 3 390 300 +90 55 42 10 0 38
3 SWD Eagles 10 6 0 4 328 252 +76 48 32 9 0 33
4 Eastern Province Elephants 10 7 0 3 264 251 +13 0 0 5 0 33
5 Leopards 10 3 0 7 255 288 −33 0 0 6 0 18
6 Border Bulldogs 10 0 0 10 172 476 −304 0 0 2 0 2
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 Falcons points after they refused to play against the San Clemente Rhinos.[8]

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

Final
17 June 2023 Falcons 55–38 SWD Eagles Barnard Stadium  
12.30

Play-offs: Currie Cup First Division


Final
24 June 2023 Boland Cavaliers 43–21 Falcons 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.
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