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The Absa Currie Cup waxes and wanes in importance for rugby players
and supporters. During the apartheid era, nobody wanted to play South Africa, so
the nation's rugby fans consoled themselves by avidly following local games.
Since the Springboks re-entered the international rugby fold in 1992, punters
tend to spend more money on international games like Super 14 Rugby and the
Rugby World Cup, probably because of the hype surrounding international sport.
For players and supporters left out in the cold pre-1992, the Currie Cup is a
place to get in on the ground floor and learn the ropes, whether hoping to be
chosen as a player or hoping to make informed decisions when gambling on rugby
fixtures.
The Absa Currie Cup is one one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world
- the competition first kicked off in 1899 and since the 1960's has become an
annual event much beloved by both South African punters and bookies. When the
season starts, the local pubs and bars are filled with genial betters watching
the game on big screen television sets.
The sparkling gold Currie Cup trophy was donated by Sir Donald Currie, owner
of Union-Castle Lines, when the first British touring rugby team arrived to play
the 'Seth Efricans'. Sir Donald said the best South African team should receive
his magnificent trophy. The winner was Griqualand West who later donated the cup
to the South African Rugby Board and the modern-day Currie Cup was born.
The first winner of the official Currie Cup competition was Western Province.
Fourteen teams splt into two pools contest the Cup each yuear and the current
holders are the Cheetahs.
The Currie Cup teams:
Griquas - Northern Cape
Leopards - North West
Natal Sharks - KwaZulu-Natal
Pumas - Mpumalanga
Border Bulldogs - Eastern Cape
Mighty Elephants - Western Cape
Free State Cheetahs - Central and Western Free State
Griffons - Eastern Free State
Boland Cavaliers - Northern Cape
Eagles - Eastern Cape
Western Province - Cape Town metropolitan area
Falcons - Eastern Gauteng
Golden Lions - Western Gauteng and Johannesburg
Blue Bulls - Include players from Pretoria, parts of Eastern Gauteng and
Limpopo Province
Statistics:
Between 1889 and the early 1930s, Western Province pretty much stole the
Currie Cup show. For a while after that it appeared that Western Province and
Transvaal (Gauteng) teams were a safe bet but in the 1990s Kwa-Zulu Natal
started giving the the two old dogs a run for their trying money. Then, in 2005,
a dark horse stole the show - the Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup.
Belying the animal's reputation as 'built for speed and not staying power', the
Cheetahs went on to win the 2006 and 2007 Currie Cups.
Check back here for all the latest Currie Cup Rugby betting news and information.
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