The race for places in the Currie Cup Premier Division begins this weekend as the third edition of the SA Cup kicks off across the country.
Ten teams will again battle through the league phase, with the top four securing qualification for this year’s Premier Division, while the rest will contest the First Division.
The tournament gets underway on Friday with three fixtures before two more matches on Saturday.
The defending champion Pumas begin their title defence in George when they face the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park.
The Pumas dethroned Griquas in last season’s final in Nelspruit to claim their first SA Cup crown. Despite losing several regulars ahead of the new campaign, the Mpumalanga outfit still boast a core of experienced players as they look to start strongly again.
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The clash in George will also see an intriguing coaching duel between long-serving Pumas mentor Jimmy Stonehouse and former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who has returned for a second stint with the Eagles as he looks to reshape the union’s trajectory.
Elsewhere on Friday, Eastern Province host the Valke at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
EP, coached by former Springbok boss Allister Coetzee and assisted by Matt Proudfoot, will look to build on a 2025 campaign that produced four wins from nine matches.
The Valke, under JP Immelman, finished fifth last season – just two points shy of the top four – and will again be targeting a Currie Cup Premier Division place.
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In Bloemfontein, the Cheetahs host the Boland Cavaliers in what could prove one of the weekend’s headline clashes.
Coached by former Springbok utility back Frans Steyn, the Cheetahs finished second in last year’s SA Cup, while Boland – still guided by Hawies Fourie –ended third. The fixture is a repeat of last season’s opener when Boland stunned the Cheetahs 45-29 in Wellington.
Saturday’s action sees Griquas welcome the Leopards to Kimberley, while the Griffons host the Border Bulldogs in Welkom.
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Griquas, coached by Pieter Bergh, will be eager to start strongly after finishing last season as Currie Cup champions. They dominated the corresponding fixture against the Leopards last year with a 66-7 win.
Border, meanwhile, will be desperate for a fresh start under head coach Dumisani Mhani after losing all nine matches in the 2025 campaign.
SA Cup Round 1 fixtures
Friday, 6 March
Eastern Province vs Valke (5pm)
SWD Eagles vs Pumas (6pm)
Cheetahs vs Boland Cavaliers (6pm)
Saturday, 7 March
Griquas vs Leopards (3pm)
Griffons vs Border Bulldogs (3pm)
The post Heyneke in focus as SA Cup gets going appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The race for places in the Currie Cup Premier Division begins this weekend as the third edition of the SA Cup kicks off across the country.
The post Heyneke in focus as SA Cup gets going appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
