The Most Successful Currie Cup Teams Ever 

For over 130 years, the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division has been the heart of South African rugby. Provincial sides from around South Africa have competed to win the prestigious Currie Cup trophy. It has showcased some of the best provincial talent while producing legendary players and unforgettable moments. But which teams have been the most successful? 

The answer to this question is that one team stands out above the rest in terms of wins. The Western Province, now the DHL Stormers XXIII, have won the competition 34 times. They are closely followed by the Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity ADT Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, and the Toyota Cheetahs.  

While the 88th edition of the Currie Cup is happening, the race for this year’s winner is ongoing. We’ve put this guide together so you can have a look at the most successful Currie Cup teams ever.  

1. Stormers XXIII/Western Province – 34 Titles 

With 34 wins behind their name, the Stormers XXIII are the most successful team in the history of the competition. They won the inaugural Currie Cup in 1892 and from there dominated the tournament until 1936, winning 16 out of 19 competitions.  

During this period, they won multiple back-to-back Currie Cup titles. This success continued into the late 1950s and 1960s. It picked up again in the 1980s, when they won from 1982 to 1986. Their most recent win was in 2017 when they beat the Sharks 33-21 at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.  

Although they haven’t lifted the trophy since, they remain a benchmark for excellence in the Currie Cup. The Stormers XXIII have had players such as Bryan Habana, Eben Etzebeth, and Percy Montgomery wear their famous blue-and-white striped jersey.  

2. Blue Bulls/Northern Transvaal – 24 Titles

Participating in the Currie Cup since 1938, the Blue Bulls are the second most successful team in the competition. The nickname came about in the 1940s and was cemented after their first Currie Cup win in 1946. However, they only officially became known as the Blue Bulls in the 1990s.  

Since their win in 1946, they’ve won the tournament 24 times. They dominated in the 1970s, winning seven times (with two shared titles). They brought this momentum into the 1980s and again in the early 2000s. Their most recent win was in 2021 when they beat the Sharks 44-10 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. This came after their win the previous year too.  

3. Lions/Transvaal – 11 Wins

As one of the oldest rugby union teams in the competition, the Golden Lions have been participating in the Currie Cup from the start. They’ve gone through multiple name changes over the years. But one thing has remained consistent, their triumph in the world of rugby.  

They’ve won 11 Currie Cup titles, including three victories in the professional era. Their most recent title was won in 2015 when they defeated the Western Province 32-24 at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.  

The Lions have had key players such as Francois Pienaar, Rassie Erasmus, and Schalk Brits represent them.  

4. Sharks XV/Natal – 9 Titles

Founded in 1890, the Sharks XV were incredibly unsuccessful in their early years. In fact, the Sharks XV didn’t reach a Currie Cup final until 1956. Their first Currie Cup title only came in 1990. It was only in the 1990s and 2000s when their success rate changed, and they won two Currie Cup titles within three seasons (2008 and 2010).  

They’ve won the title 9 times. Their most recent win was in 2018 when they beat the Western Province 17-12 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. This was a redemption from their 2017 33-21 loss against the Western Province.  

The Sharks squad is as strong as it’s ever been, with multiple Springboks behind their name. They’ve also had key players such as John Smith, Ruan Pienaar, and Pieter-Steph du Toit represent them.  

5. Cheetahs – 7 Titles

Originally formed as the Orange Free State, the Cheetahs have won seven titles in the Currie Cup. However, they didn’t make a final until 1973. After this, they made a final again in 1975 but again lost the title. It was only in 1976 when they won their first Currie Cup title.  

After this, the Cheetahs lost six Currie Cup finals in a row. But their luck changed during the professional era when they won three back-to-back finals between 2005 and 2007. Their most recent win was in 2023 when they beat the Pumas 25-17 at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.  

6. Griquas/Griqualand West – 4 Titles

Winning the Currie Cup in 1899 and 1911, the Griquas sit in sixth place on this list with four titles. However, they had to wait 59 years before they would win another title. They won the competition again in 1970 when they defeated the Northern Transvaal 11-9 in Kimberly.  

The Griquas then had to wait another 50 years before their next win. They’re currently the defending Currie Cup champions, having won the competition in 2025. Here, they defeated the Lions 27-25 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.  

7. Border – 2 Titles

Although Border were one of the founding members of the Currie Cup, they haven’t won the competition since 1934. After the introduction of professional rugby in 1995, Border were relegated to the Currie Cup First Division. They’ve never been prompted up and so have not won a competition since the 1930s.  

8. Pumas – 1 Title

Having only won the competition once in 2022, the Pumas sit in eighth place on our list. They beat the Griquas 26-19 at Griqua Park in Kimberly. This recent win reminded us what the Currie Cup is all about. It reminded us that although the competition has been dominated by major teams, there’s still the potential for underdog wins.  

Bet on Rugby with bet.co.za 

Every year the Currie Cup produces a winner. Sometimes the winner is the favourite, the one destined to win based off of consistent performance throughout the tournament. Other times, the winner is the underdog, the one no one can believe made it so far in the competition.  

Follow along for this year’s Currie Cup tournament to see who will be crowned the winner. Bet on rugby now with bet.co.za.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Which team won the most Currie Cups? 

The Western Province/DHL Stormers XXIII have won the most Currie Cup titles. They have won the competition 34 times.  

Who has won the Currie Cup in the last 20 years? 

The Bulls, Cheetahs, Sharks, Western Province/Stormers XXIII, Lions, Pumas, and Griquas have all won the Currie Cup in the last 20 years. The Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs have dominated the wins, along with the Sharks and Western Province.  

Who won the first Currie Cup? 

The Western Province won the first Currie Cup in 1892.  

Have the Pumas ever won the Currie Cup? 

Yes, the Pumas won their first Currie Cup title in 2022.  

When was the first Currie Cup played? 

The first Currie Cup was played in 1889. But the competition was only named the Currie Cup at the inaugural tournament in 1892.