Valke and Griffons battle for Currie Cup silverware while Premier Division begins with a bang

An explosive start to the 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division is set for this coming weekend, with several exciting matchups taking place from Friday to Sunday, while the Valke will host the NovaVit Griffons in the Carling Currie Cup First Division final in Kempton Park on Saturday.

Silverware will be on the line at the Barnard Stadium from 3pm on Saturday afternoon, when the Valke and NovaVit Griffons will cross swords in the First Division final.

Both teams will be hoping to finish their season with a bang. The last clash between them was in the opening round of the competition last month, when the Valke beat the Griffons by 36-26 in Welkom, while the men from the East Rand also won their SA Cup clash against the Northern Free Staters by 45-40 in Kempton Park in April.

A high-scoring clash could be on the cards as the Griffons, who won four on the bounce against the Valke between 2021 and 2024, will hope to turn the tables this time around.

Kicking off the Premier Division action this year is a replay of the recent SA Cup final between traditional rivals the Airlink Pumas and Suzuki Griquas on Friday night in Nelspruit.

On Saturday afternoon, the defending champions, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, take on the Fidelity ADT Lions in a repeat of their dramatic 2024 final in Johannesburg, where action starts from 3pm.

The early afternoon fixture at Ellis Park will be followed by a North-South derby in Cape Town between DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Bulls, from 5.10pm, at DHL Stadium.

The weekend’s first round action concludes on Sunday afternoon in Wellington, where the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, who won promotion to the Premier Division via the SA Cup, tackle the Toyota Cheetahs in their opening fixture at 3pm.

The Carling Currie Cup is where the next generation of Springbok stars are unearthed as playing opportunities are afforded to the best local talent and in the coming months, several members of the triumphant Junior Springbok squad, who won the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, will make the step-up to senior provincial rugby.

Due to a much-needed break after their successful campaign in Italy, the Junior Bok players will however only return to action in their provincial colours form next week, when fans will be able to see the talented youngsters in action in South Africa’s oldest senior domestic competition.

It’s not only the current crop of SA U20s who will be in action, as the provincial unions are set to unleash fresh talent from across the country, showcasing the rich talent and potential brewing within their respective squads.

For Carling Black Label, this tournament represents more than sponsorship – it's an investment in further fermenting the foundation of the South African rugby excellence, with the partnership continuing the decades-long association between SAB and SA Rugby.

This demonstrates Carling Black Label's commitment to South African sport and community development through rugby excellence, according to Kerryn Greenleaf, Carling Black Label Brand Director.

“This champion brand continues to sponsor the Currie Cup because this domestic tournament gives Carling Black Label the opportunity to share its brand purpose with South African rugby fans,” said Greenleaf.

“We use their passion for the game to help recognize and reward the champion within themselves, and to showcase that the Carling Currie Cup is truly where ‘Champions are Made’. Like crafting the international award-winning beer, developing rugby champions requires the right ingredients, patience, and passion.”

All the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division matches will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Rugby channel.

Airlink Pumas starting XV: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lindi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis; 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude; 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Ntsika Fisante; 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Heinz Bertram; 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwau, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Russwell Fredericks, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Stephan Coetzee.

Suzuki Griquas starting XV: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Gurswin Wehr; 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams; 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Jac van der Walt; 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu; 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons. Replacements: 16 Gustav du Randt, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 2w Taylor Sefoor, 23 Connor Mahoney.

Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, Jarod cairns; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets; 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Layton horn, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Kelly Mpeku.

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Khuthi Rasivhaga; 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nick Hatton (capt), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Sphephelo Mbonambi; 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg; 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Kuhle Mthimkhulu, 20 Thomas Dyer, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Drico Marx, 23 Chijindu Okonta.

DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Quewin Nortje; 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos; 8 De Wet Marais, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Zain Davids (capt); 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves; 3 Cabous Eloff, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Carlo van Greunen, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Sako Makata, 23 Tristan Leyds.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger; 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (capt); 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi; 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Shaun Schurmann, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Dylan de Leeuw, 21 Steven Nel, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Marco Ferreira.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting XV: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Donavan Don; 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September; 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini; 5 Marlyn Williams (capt), 4 Michael Benadie; 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Thurlow Marsh, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Xavier Mitchell.

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 ⁠Cohen Jasper, 14 ⁠Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 ⁠Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 ⁠Ali Mgijima, 11 ⁠Banie Britz; 10 ⁠Ethan Wentzel, 9 ⁠Rewan Kruger; 8 ⁠Neels Volschenk, 7 ⁠Pierre-Raymond Uys, 6 ⁠Gideon van der Merwe; 5 ⁠Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 ⁠Pieter Jansen van Vuren; 3 ⁠Frankie Dos Reis, 2 ⁠Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Hencus van Wyk. Replacements: 16 ⁠Vernon Paulo, 17 ⁠Cameron Dawson, 18 ⁠Ben Pitout, 19 ⁠Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 ⁠Daniel Maartens, 21 ⁠Jandre Nel, 22 ⁠Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 ⁠Clayton Blommetjies.

Fixtures

Carling Currie Cup First Division Final

Valke v NovaVit Griffons - Saturday @ Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park (3pm)

Referee: Lulutho Matomela

Broadcast: SuperSport Variety 3 (channel 208)

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division

Airlink Pumas v Suzuki Griquas - Friday @ Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (7pm)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Fidelity ADT Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV - Saturday @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg (3pm)

Referee: Dylen November

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

DHL Western Province v Vodacom Bulls - Saturday @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town (5.10pm)

Referee: Sean Muller

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Toyota Cheetahs - Sunday @ Sanlam Boland Stadium, Wellington (3pm)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby