# 2022 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2022 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 84th edition of the top tier of the Currie Cup, the premier domestic rugby union competition in South Africa. It was sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.
The tournament was played from January to June in 2022, following the realignment of the South African domestic rugby union calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere and the United Rugby Championship, which features four South African sides.
The competition again featured seven sides, with SA Rugby rejecting a proposal from the Eastern Province Elephants to join the competition immediately, however the winner of the 2022 Currie Cup First Division would be promoted to the Premier Division for 2023, forming an eight team competition. The 2022 Currie Cup First Division began later in the year.

## Teams

The seven competing teams are:

## Regular season
### Standings

2022 Currie Cup Premier Division standings :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Free State Cheetahs | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 403 | 250 | +153 | 54 | 30 | 7 | 1 | 48 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Blue Bulls | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 398 | 306 | +92 | 56 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 47 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Griquas | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 383 | 345 | +38 | 48 | 42 | 6 | 2 | 36 | Semifinals |
| 4 | Pumas | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 334 | 293 | +41 | 43 | 32 | 6 | 3 | 29 | Semifinals |
| 5 | Sharks | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 255 | 284 | −29 | 26 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 27 | |
| 6 | Western Province | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 294 | 381 | −87 | 36 | 52 | 3 | 4 | 19 | |
| 7 | Golden Lions | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 278 | 486 | −208 | 35 | 66 | 5 | 2 | 15 | |
Tournament points in the standings were awarded to teams as follows:
* 4 points for a win.
* 2 points for a draw.
* 1 bonus point for a loss in a match by seven points or under.
* 1 bonus point for scoring four tries or more.
Teams were ranked in the standings firstly by tournament points then by: (a) points difference from all matches (points scored less points conceded); (b) tries difference from all matches (tries scored less tries conceded); (c) points difference from the matches between the tied teams; (d) points scored in all matches; (e) tries scored in all matches; and, if needed, (f) a coin toss.

### Round-by-round

The table below shows the progression of all teams throughout the Currie Cup season. Each team's tournament points on the standings log is shown for each round, with the overall log position in brackets.
| 2022 Currie Cup team progression |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | Semi | Final |
| Blue Bulls | 5 (1st) | 10 (1st) | 10 (1st) | 10 (3rd) | 15 (3rd) | 20 (2nd) | 25 (2nd) | 30 (1st) | 32 (1st) | 37 (1st) | 42 (1st) | 47 (1st) | 47 (1st) | 47 (2nd) | Lost | DNQ |
| Free State Cheetahs | 4 (3rd) | 4 (4th) | 9 (2nd) | 13 (2nd) | 18 (1st) | 22 (1st) | 26 (1st) | 26 (2nd) | 31 (2nd) | 36 (2nd) | 41 (2nd) | 41 (2nd) | 43 (2nd) | 48 (1st) | Lost | DNQ |
| Golden Lions | 1 (4th) | 1 (7th) | 1 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 3 (7th) | 3 (7th) | 5 (7th) | 10 (7th) | 15 (7th) | 15 (7th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Griquas | 0 (6th) | 1 (6th) | 5 (4th) | 9 (4th) | 10 (4th) | 15 (4th) | 15 (4th) | 16 (4th) | 20 (4th) | 21 (4th) | 21 (4th) | 26 (3rd) | 31 (3rd) | 36 (3rd) | Won | Lost |
| Pumas | 0 (7th) | 5 (2nd) | 5 (5th) | 5 (6th) | 5 (6th) | 5 (6th) | 10 (5th) | 15 (5th) | 15 (5th) | 19 (5th) | 20 (5th) | 22 (5th) | 27 (4th) | 29 (4th) | Won | Won |
| Sharks | 0 (5th) | 4 (5th) | 9 (3rd) | 14 (1st) | 18 (2nd) | 18 (3rd) | 18 (3rd) | 22 (3rd) | 24 (3rd) | 24 (3rd) | 24 (3rd) | 24 (4th) | 26 (5th) | 27 (5th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Western Province | 5 (2nd) | 5 (3rd) | 5 (6th) | 6 (5th) | 6 (5th) | 7 (5th) | 7 (6th) | 8 (6th) | 9 (6th) | 9 (6th) | 13 (6th) | 13 (6th) | 15 (6th) | 19 (6th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | No match | Bye |

### Matches

Listed below are all matches for the double round-robin, played for the 2022 Currie Cup Premier Division.

#### Round 1

* Bye/s: Sharks

#### Round 2

* Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

#### Round 3

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

#### Round 4

* Bye/s: Blue Bulls

#### Round 5

* Bye/s: Western Province

#### Round 6

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round 7

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round 8

* Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

#### Round 9

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round 10

* Bye/s: Western Province

#### Round 11

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round 12

* Bye/s: Sharks

#### Round 13

* Bye/s: Blue Bulls

#### Round 14

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

## Play-offs
### Final

| Griquas | Pumas |
Griquas: :
| FB | 15 | George Whitehead | |
| RW | 14 | Munier Hartzenberg | |
| OC | 13 | Sango Xamlashe (c) | |
| IC | 12 | Rynhardt Jonker | |
| LW | 11 | Luther Obi | |
| FH | 10 | Zander du Plessis | 51' |
| SH | 9 | Stefan Ungerer | 40' |
| N8 | 8 | Sibabalo Qoma | |
| BF | 7 | Hanru Sirgel | |
| OF | 6 | Werner Gouws | 51' |
| RL | 5 | Derik Pretorius | |
| LL | 4 | Cameron Lindsay | 40' |
| TP | 3 | Janu Botha | 51' |
| HK | 2 | Janco Uys | 68' |
| LP | 1 | Kudzwai Dube | 51' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Simon Westraadt | 68' |
| PR | 17 | Edward Davids | 51' |
| PR | 18 | Andries Schutte | 51' |
| LK | 19 | Johan Retief | 40' |
| BR | 20 | Michael Amiras | 51' |
| SH | 21 | Johan Mulder | 40' |
| FH | 22 | Theo Boshoff | 51' |
| CE | 23 | Christopher Hollis | |
| Coach: |||
| Pieter Bergh ||||
Pumas: :
| FB | 15 | Devon Williams | |
| RW | 14 | Tapiwa Mafura | |
| OC | 13 | Sebastian de Klerk | 77' |
| IC | 12 | Eddie Fouché | 69' |
| LW | 11 | Jade Stighling | |
| FH | 10 | Tinus de Beer | |
| SH | 9 | Chriswill September | 62' |
| N8 | 8 | Andre Fouché | |
| BF | 7 | Willie Engelbrecht (c) | |
| OF | 6 | Daniel Maartens | 68' |
| RL | 5 | Shane Kirkwood | 68' |
| LL | 4 | Deon Slabbert | |
| TP | 3 | Ig Prinsloo | 58' |
| HK | 2 | Eduan Swart | 58' |
| LP | 1 | Corné Fourie | 66' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Llewelyn Classen | 58' |
| PR | 17 | Dewald Maritz | 66' |
| PR | 18 | Simon Raw | 58' |
| BR | 19 | Kwanda Dimaza | 68' |
| BR | 20 | Francois Kleinhans | 68' |
| SH | 21 | Giovan Snyman | 62' |
| CE | 22 | Ali Mgijima | 69' |
| CE | 23 | Alwayno Visagie | 77' |
| Coach: |||
| Jimmy Stonehouse ||||
* Assistant Referees:
* Morné Ferreira
* Griffin Colby
* Television match official:
* Quinton Immelman

## Players
### Team rosters

The respective team squads for the 2022 Currie Cup Premier Division are:
Blue Bulls squad :
| Forwards | Eric Basson Arno Botha Cyle Brink Marcell Coetzee Ruan Delport Cebo Dlamini Mhleli Dlamini Bismarck du Plessis Jacques du Plessis Schalk Erasmus Werner Gouws Lizo Gqoboka Johan Grobbelaar Cameron Hanekom Robert Hunt Francois Klopper Jaco Labuschagne Sebastian Lombard Elrigh Louw Reinhardt Ludwig Sintu Manjezi Simphiwe Matanzima Tielman Nieuwoudt Ruan Nortjé Willie Potgieter Raynard Roets Kowie Roos Stephan Smit Mornay Smith Gerhard Steenekamp Walt Steenkamp WJ Steenkamp Janko Swanepoel Sidney Tobias Muller Uys Jacques van Rooyen Joe van Zyl Ruan Vermaak Jan-Hendrik Wessels |
| Backs | Diego Appollis Kurt-Lee Arendse Niel Beukes Zak Burger FC du Plessis Tiaan Fourie Stedman Gans Johan Goosen Cornal Hendricks Stravino Jacobs Marco Jansen van Vuren Keagan Johannes David Kriel Richard Kriel Tharquinn Manuel Lionel Mapoe Kabelo Mokoena Canan Moodie Juan Mostert Quewin Nortje Sibongile Novuka Embrose Papier Chris Smith Morné Steyn Madosh Tambwe Bernard van der Linde James Verity-Amm Harold Vorster |
| Coach | Gert Smal |
Free State Cheetahs squad :
| Forwards | Wilmar Arnoldi Ockie Barnard Rynier Bernardo Aranos Coetzee Marné Coetzee George Cronjé Aidon Davis Dandrè Delport Cameron Dawson Schalk Ferreira Oupa Mohojé Sergio Moreira Mihlali Mosi Nqoba Mxoli Buhle Nojekwa Andisa Ntsila Jeandré Rudolph Victor Sekekete Alulutho Tshakweni Gideon van der Merwe Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Conraad van Vuuren Janus Venter Reinier Viljoen |
| Backs | Craig Barry Clayton Blommetjies Zenedine Booysen Evardi Boshoff Enver Brandt David Brits Branden de Kock Robert Ebersohn Reinhardt Fortuin Daniel Kasende Rewan Kruger Malcolm Jaer Cohen Jasper John Lourens Siya Masuku Howard Mnisi Juan-Dee Olivier Ruan Pienaar Duncan Saal Chris Smit Rosko Specman François Steyn Brandon Thomson |
| Coach | Hawies Fourie |
Golden Lions squad :
| Forwards | Kabous Bezuidenhout PJ Botha Morné Brandon Ebot Buma Jarod Cairns Simon Dionisio Ruan Dreyer Jannie du Plessis Jacque-Louis du Toit Izan Esterhuizen Chergin Fillies Henk Gouws Francke Horn Pieter Jansen van Vuren Kayden Kiewit Banele Mthenjane Oupa Mthiyane Morgan Naudé Lunga Ncube Lindo Ncusane Sasko Ndlovu Reinhard Nothnagel Asenathi Ntlabakanye Darnell Osuagwu MJ Pelser Heiko Pohlman Carlü Sadie Sibusiso Sangweni Ruben Schoeman Sibusiso Shongwe Sti Sithole Okuhle Siyeni Cal Smid JP Smith Mark Snyman PJ Steenkamp Emmanuel Tshituka Vincent Tshituka Connor van Buuren Dameon Venter Ruan Venter Jaco Visagie Junior White |
| Backs | Tyler Bocks Jurich Claasens Aidynn Cupido Boldwin Hansen Jordan Hendrikse Quan Horn Vaughen Isaacs Josh Jonas Gianni Lombard Rabz Maxwane James Mollentze Matt More Ilunga Mukendi Sanele Nohamba Burger Odendaal Stean Pienaar Mannie Rass Divan Rossouw Luke Rossouw Ngia Selengbe Wandisile Simelane Ginter Smuts Nico Steyn Zeilinga Strydom Tiaan Swanepoel James Tedder Morné van den Berg Edwill van der Merwe Henco van Wyk EW Viljoen André Warner Fred Zeilinga |
| Coach | Mzwakhe Nkosi |
Griquas squad :
| Forwards | Michael Amiras Andrew Beerwinkel Janu Botha Luyolo Dapula Edward Davids Kudzwai Dube Gustav du Rand Carl Els Justin Forwood Werner Gouws Andrew Kuhn Jeandré Leonard Cameron Lindsay HJ Luus Niel Otto Derik Pretorius Sibabalo Qoma Johan Retief Andries Schutte Hanru Sirgel Ruan Steenkamp Janco Uys Tiaan van der Merwe Alandré van Rooyen Simon Westraadt Jaco Willemse Mzwanele Zito |
| Backs | Masixole Banda Theo Boshoff Ashlon Davids Zander du Plessis Johnathan Francke Munier Hartzenberg Christopher Hollis Rynhardt Jonker Jan-Louis la Grange Johan Mulder Jay-Cee Nel Prince Nkabinde Nathan Nkutu Luther Obi Raegan Oranje André Swarts Stefan Ungerer George Whitehead Sango Xamlashe |
| Coach | Pieter Bergh |
Pumas squad :
| Forwards | Tango Balekile Llewellyn Classen Kwanda Dimaza Willie Engelbrecht Andre Fouché Corné Fourie Njabulo Gumede Etienne Janeke Shane Kirkwood Francois Kleinhans Ruan Kramer Darrien Landsberg Anele Lungisa Daniel Maartens Khwezi Mafu Phumzile Maqondwana Dewald Maritz Malembe Mpofu Ig Prinsloo Simon Raw Deon Slabbert Eduan Swart Brandon Valentyn Boela Venter |
| Backs | Diego Appollis Tiaan Botes Tinus de Beer Sebastian de Klerk Lucky Dlepu Eddie Fouché Herschelle Goodman Morné Joubert Japie Kleinhans Tapiwa Mafura Ali Mgijima Lundi Msenge Sihle Njezula Robbie Petzer Chriswill September Giovan Snyman Jade Stighling Etienne Taljaard Andries Viljoen Alwayno Visagie Devon Williams |
| Coach | Jimmy Stonehouse |
Sharks squad :
| Forwards | Lourens Adriaanse Jason Alexander Hyron Andrews Thembelani Bholi Dian Bleuler Phepsi Buthelezi Thomas du Toit Ntsika Fisanti Keagan Glade Blaine Golden Gerbrandt Grobler Mpilo Gumede Nick Hatton Wiehahn Herbst Reniel Hugo Hanro Jacobs Dan Jooste Siya Kolisi Jeandre Labuschagne Jacques Marais Tinotenda Mavesere Fez Mbatha Bongi Mbonambi Khutha Mchunu Ntuthuko Mchunu Thabza Mdletshe Munashe Mhere Percy Mngadi Gopolang Molefe Khwezi Mona Josh Moon Ox Nché Siya Ningiza Olajuwon Noah Sikhumbuzo Notshe Corne Rahl Braam Reyneke Dylan Richardson Le Roux Roets Kyle Theron Emile van Heerden Ruben van Heerden George van Niekerk Kerron van Vuuren Ian van Wyk Henco Venter James Venter Ntokozo Vidima |
| Backs | Thaakir Abrahams Lukhanyo Am Curwin Bosch Jordan Chait Boeta Chamberlain Bradley Davids Joaquín Díaz Bonilla Caleb Dingaan Christian Els Aphelele Fassi Ethan Fisher Nevaldo Fleurs Jaden Hendrikse Gerado Jaars Onke Jiba Eduan Keyter Werner Kok Lloyd Koster Murray Koster Duran Krummeck Marius Louw Seun Maduna Makazole Mapimpi Josh Miller Zee Mkhabela Sbu Nkosi Sanele Nohamba Daimon O'Connell Yaw Penxe Marnus Potgieter Inny Radebe Jean Smith Anthony Volmink Jeremy Ward Grant Williams Cameron Wright Sivi Zondani |
| Coach | Etienne Fynn |
Western Province squad :
| Forwards | Keagen Blanckenberg Kwenzo Blose Mitchell Carstens Hacjivah Dayimani Dylan de Leeuw Ben-Jason Dixon Connor Evans Neethling Fouché Deon Fourie Jacques Goosen Hannes Gous JJ Kotze Christian Lamprecht Ruan Laubscher Hilton Lobberts Leon Lyons Lee-Marvin Mazibuko David Meihuizen Simon Miller Keke Morabe Siya Ngubelanga Romeo Ntumba Shaine Orderson Junior Pokomela Sazi Sandi Roelof Smit Adré Smith Chad Solomon Jarrod Taylor Marcel Theunissen Ernst van Rhyn HP van Schoor Jacques van Zyl Andre-Hugo Venter Ali Vermaak Lukhanyo Vokozela Corné Weilbach Nama Xaba |
| Backs | Bobby Alexander Thomas Bursey Angelo Davids Juan de Jongh Ricardo Duarttee Paschal Ekeji Ethan James Tristan Leyds André Manuel Godlen Masimla Mambo Mkhize Sacha Mngomezulu Sergeal Petersen Rikus Pretorius Jonathan Roche Seabelo Senatla Chris Schreuder Cornel Smit Tim Swiel Ebenezer Tshimanga Mario Wilson Kade Wolhuter Leolin Zas Mnombo Zwelendaba |
| Coach | Jerome Paarwater |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the competition:
2022 Currie Cup Premier Division referees :
* Aimee Barrett-Theron
* Griffin Colby
* Morné Ferreira
* Stephan Geldenhuys
* AJ Jacobs
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Paul Mente
* Jaco Peyper
* Rasta Rasivhenge
* Marius van der Westhuizen

## Champions Match

* 2 July 2022 19:00
| Carling Champions team | 31–27 | Italy A |
| Try: Daniel Kasende Siya Masuku Keagan Johannes Nama Xaba Dan Jooste Con: Siya Masuku (3) | Report | Try: Gesi Simone Cannone Lorenzo Di Bartolomeo Tommaso Con: Carna Carlo (3) Pen: Carna Carlo (2) |
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha