Steeped in history and tradition, the Currie Cup dates back to 1891 and remains the most prestigious prize in South African domestic rugby.
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The Currie Cup is among the oldest rugby competitions in the world with the first matches played in 1889, but it was only in 1892 that it became officially known as the Currie Cup.
The competition had its humble beginnings as an inter-province competition in 1884, but when the South African Rugby Board was founded in 1889 it decided to organise a national competition that would involve representative teams from all the major unions.
The original participating unions were Western Province, Griqualand West, Transvaal and Eastern Province. The first tournament was held in Kimberley and was won by Western Province.
As a prize they received a silver cup donated by the South African Rugby Board.
The story of how the Currie Cup came to be comes from the first overseas rugby team to tour South Africa in 1891, The British Isles, who carried with them a particularly precious bit of cargo.
Among the bags, boots and balls was a golden cup given to them by Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, the shipping company that transported them to Mzansi.
Sir Donald Currie was clear with his instructions – hand the trophy to the team in South Africa that gives the best game; and after a spirited display where the unbeaten British Lions narrowly won 3-0, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup.
They then handed the trophy over to the South African Rugby Board and it became the floating trophy for the Currie Cup competition.
The inaugural Currie Cup tournament was thus held in 1892 with Western Province earning the honour of holding it aloft as the first official winners.
Fast forward 132 years and the 2024 edition’s final will take place this weekend.
EVERY CURRIE CUP WINNER TO DATE
Lions or Sharks? Who wins the 2024 Currie Cup final?
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