Greatest Currie Cup Finals Ever Played 

For more than 130 years, the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division has been the centre of South African domestic rugby union competitions. In fact, it’s the oldest and most prestigious trophy to win. The competition has showcased some of the best provincial talent and has produced some unforgettable finals.  

But which finals have been good enough to be considered the greatest Currie Cup finals to have ever been played?  

Well, there’s no definitive answer, of course. However, we happen to think we’ve done a pretty good job of compiling the greatest Currie Cup finals ever played. Our list showcases these finals and explains why they stand out from the rest.  

A Brief History of the Currie Cup 

The Currie Cup began in 1889. This makes it the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world. But the competition’s name only came about in 1892 after Sir Donald Currie donated the trophy.  

He instructed that the trophy be given to the best team in South Africa. And at the time, that team was Griqualand West. However, at the inaugural tournament, the Western Province, now known as the DHL Stormers XXIII in this league, won (and dominated for many years after).  

From here, the Currie Cup became the premier provincial rugby championship in South Africa. It’s the cornerstone of the domestic rugby calendar as it gives emerging players the chance to prove themselves at the highest level. It also gives experienced players a chance to represent their provinces. And for more than a century, the tournament has delivered some extraordinary finals.  

1. 1987: Northern Transvaal 24-18 Transvaal 

In the 49th edition of the Currie Cup, the Northern Transvaal took on the Transvaal in an epic final. This final is remembered for the greatness that was Naas Botha. The Northern Transvaal won this final with 24 points, all of which were scored by Botha. He kicked four penalties and four drop goals.  

This ended up being the Northern Transvaal’s 14th Currie Cup title and was ultimately a defining moment in Botha’s career. Botha is remembered for this match and being able to kick with both his feet.  

2. 1989: Western Province 16-16 Northern Transvaal 

With a great final comes a great winner. But in this case, this final produced two great winners, as there was a 16-16 tie between the Western Province and the Northern Transvaal. This was the first time in a Currie Cup final that there had been co-winners.  

The Northern Transvaal had been dominant during the season. But the Western Province refused to back down when the trophy was on the line. The final became famous for the late try and missed conversion by the Western Province that made the teams even in score. 

3. 1990: Natal 18-12 Northern Transvaal  

The 1990 Currie Cup final marked the first time Natal had won the prestigious trophy. They managed to break the Northern Transvaal’s dominance in this competition with their unexpected win. In this process, they started a new chapter in South African rugby history.  

Natal were viewed as major underdogs heading into this match. No one expected them to cause such an upset, especially against the superior Northern Transvaal side. In fact, the Northern Transvaal had won the Cup three years in a row and had 12 out of 14 wins during the regular season. So, when Natal did win, this final went down in the history books as one of the greatest Currie Cup finals ever.  

4. 1994: Transvaal 56-33 Orange Free State 

The 1994 Transvaal Currie Cup win marked the highest team total in a Currie Cup final ever. This win resulted from seven tries from the Transvaal, an unheard number in this tournament. As such, this final was a celebration of attacking rugby. Both sides contributed insane numbers to the scoreboard. But the Transvaal came out on top.  

5. 2005: Free State Cheetahs 29-25 Blue Bulls 

In an unexpected win, the Cheetahs were victorious in 2005. This was their second-ever Currie Cup title. They beat the defending champions, the Bulls, 29-25 in a close final at Loftus Versfeld.  

This match was exhilarating as the Bulls led 12-9 and 25-15 with only nine minutes remaining. But Bevin Fortuin and Meyer Bosman managed to score late tries and win the match for the Cheetahs.  

6. 2006: Free State Cheetahs 28-28 Blue Bulls

For the fourth time in Currie Cup history, the final was a tie when the Cheetahs and Bulls drew 28-28. The match went into overtime, and at 100 minutes of play the score was still deadlocked. Morne Steyn scored a penalty at 84 minutes, giving the Bulls the lead. But the Cheetahs upped the tempo and also scored a penalty.  

So, with no winner after extra time, the trophy was shared. This was the first time since 1989 when the Western Province and Northern Transvaal tied.  

7. 2012: Western Province 25-18 Sharks

For the first time in 11 years, the Western Province claimed a major trophy, the Currie Cup title. At half time, the Sharks were leading 16-12. But the Western Province, captained by Deon Fourie, led his team to a victory.  

The shift in momentum was largely due to Demetri Catrajilis, who scored two drop goals that sealed the win. His performance became one of the standout performances in the modern rugby era. This was a classic final where a team was able to overcome odds and win in an away setting.  

8. 2014: Western Province 19-16 Golden Lions 

The 2014 Currie Cup final was a closely contested match between the Western Province and the Lions. The Western Province took an early lead with 13-0, but the match became closer later on. Demetri Catrakilis again led the match for his side. 

He scored a conversion and four penalty goals, which ultimately led to the Western Provinces’ win. This victory marked the second consecutive Currie Cup title for the Western Province side.  

9. 2024: Sharks 16-14 Lions 

The score was 0-0 at half-time, which brought an exciting second half. The Lions were leading 14-13 for a long while until the Sharks won a penalty that led to their 16-14 win. This monster kick was taken by Jordan Hendrikse from the 59-metre line.  

This match is remembered for its scoreless score from both sides at half-time and the close encounter between these two sides. The unbelievable final score left the Lions ‘heartbroken’.  

10. 2025: Griquas 27-25 Lions 

In last year’s Currie Cup final, the Suzuki Griquas took on the Fidelity ADT Lions in a close-score encounter. This match is on the list as it’s remembered as one of the greatest underdog wins of the modern era.  

The Lions took the lead with 17-14 at half time. By 79 minutes they were still leading 25-24. But the Griquas were given a penalty chance due to a deliberate knock-down by Lions lock Ruan Delport. Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead scored the penalty and won the trophy for the Griquas. This was their first victory in 55 years.  

What Makes the Greatest Currie Cup Finals So Memorable? 

When we look at these matches, we can see that there is no one formula for producing a memorable final. Some finals are memorable as they showed extraordinary individual performances and others due to their level of attacking rugby and record-breaking scores. Some because the scores were even. And others because the underdogs demolished the favourites.  

For more than 100 years the Currie Cup has produced some unforgettable memories and unexpected endings. This unpredictability is part of what makes the Currie Cup so interesting for rugby fans.  

And now with this year’s Currie Cup well underway, you can bet on all the action. Bet on rugby now with bet.co.za and follow all the action up close.