# 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 82nd 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 competition was won by the Bulls, who beat the Sharks 26–19 after extra time in the final played at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria on 30 January 2021.
Traditionally played in winter, the Currie Cup began later than usual in the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and extended into summer. The tournament was scheduled to start in late August, subject to government approval, but no rugby was allowed to be played in South Africa between mid March and late September 2020.
To satisfy commercial partners, a combined Currie Cup and domestic Super Rugby Unlocked tournament was created for the seven Premier Division teams. It was played over 16 weeks with all regular season matches counting towards one combined log of the team's standings. The Super Rugby Unlocked competition began in October and was played as a seven-week round-robin. All tournament points were then carried forward to the Currie Cup Premier Division, played from November 2020 to January 2021 and incorporating a return round-robin of matches followed by cup playoffs.
There was no First Division of the Currie Cup played in 2020. It was provisionally scheduled to be played in June and July, but was cancelled due to financial stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Teams

The seven competing teams were:

## Regular season
### Format

The Currie Cup Premier Division competition began with a seven-week round-robin stage. Each team started with the log points from the final position of their union in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition that was played over the preceding seven weeks. The top four teams on the combined standings log at the end of the regular season qualified for the semifinals, which was followed by a final.
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 three tries more than the opponent.
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.

### Standings

Combined log of the regular season Currie Cup and Super Rugby Unlocked matches:
2020–21 Currie Cup standings :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulls | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 305 | 216 | +89 | 32 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 39 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Western Province | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 272 | 216 | +56 | 32 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 37 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Sharks | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 274 | 244 | +30 | 31 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 35 | Semifinals |
| 4 | Golden Lions | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 275 | 221 | +54 | 29 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 34 | Semifinals |
| 5 | Free State Cheetahs | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 285 | 275 | +10 | 30 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 31 | |
| 6 | Pumas | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 265 | 351 | −86 | 34 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 17 | |
| 7 | Griquas | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 211 | 364 | −153 | 24 | 47 | 0 | 6 | 8 | |

### 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.
All teams started with the log points carried over from their union's final position in the Super Rugby Unlocked competition.
| 2020–21 Currie Cup team progression |
| Team | SR | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | RM | R7 | Semi | Final |
| Blue Bulls | 23 (1st) | 27 (1st) | 32 (1st) | 33 (1st) | 35 (1st) | 35 (1st) | 35 (1st) | 39 (1st) | 39 (1st) | Won | Won |
| Western Province | 19 (2nd) | 20 (3rd) | 21 (3rd) | 26 (3rd) | 26 (4th) | 31 (2nd) | 35 (2nd) | 35 (2nd) | 37 (2nd) | Lost | N/A |
| Sharks | 19 (3rd) | 24 (2nd) | 24 (2nd) | 28 (2nd) | 28 (4th) | 28 (4th) | 33 (4th) | 33 (4th) | 35 (3rd) | Won | Lost |
| Golden Lions | 12 (5th) | 16 (5th) | 20 (4th) | 25 (4th) | 29 (3rd) | 29 (3rd) | 33 (3rd) | 34 (3rd) | 34 (4th) | Lost | N/A |
| Cheetahs | 17 (4th) | 17 (4th) | 17 (5th) | 17 (5th) | 21 (5th) | 26 (5th) | 27 (5th) | 27 (5th) | 31 (5th) | N/A | N/A |
| Pumas | 7 (6th) | 7 (6th) | 11 (6th) | 11 (6th) | 12 (6th) | 12 (6th) | 12 (6th) | 12 (6th) | 17 (6th) | N/A | N/A |
| Griquas | 3 (7th) | 4 (7th) | 5 (7th) | 5 (7th) | 7 (7th) | 7 (7th) | 7 (7th) | 7 (7th) | 8 (7th) | N/A | N/A |
| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | No match | Bye | SR = Super Rugby Unlocked points, RM = Rescheduled match |

### Matches

For the first half of the provincial season, a round-robin of matches was played for Super Rugby Unlocked honours, with all tournament points carried forward to the Premier Division of the Currie Cup.
Listed below are all matches for the return round-robin, played for the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division.

#### Round 1

* Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

#### Round 2

* Bye/s: Sharks

#### Round 3

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round 4

* Bye/s: Western Province

#### Round 5

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round 6

* Bye/s: Bulls

#### Round 7

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

## Play-offs

The play-off matches were rescheduled for a week later than previously planned to observe COVID-19 isolation protocols and maintain tournament integrity for the competing teams.

### Final

| Blue Bulls | Sharks |
Bulls: :
| FB | 15 | David Kriel | |
| RW | 14 | Kurt-Lee Arendse | |
| OC | 13 | Marco Jansen van Vuren | |
| IC | 12 | Cornal Hendricks | |
| LW | 11 | Stravino Jacobs | |
| FH | 10 | Morné Steyn | 74' |
| SH | 9 | Ivan van Zyl | 59' |
| N8 | 8 | Duane Vermeulen (c) | |
| BF | 7 | Elrigh Louw | 55' |
| OF | 6 | Marco van Staden | |
| RL | 5 | Ruan Nortjé | |
| LL | 4 | Sintu Manjezi | 59' |
| TP | 3 | Trevor Nyakane | 59' |
| HK | 2 | Johan Grobbelaar | 90' |
| LP | 1 | Lizo Gqoboka | 59' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Schalk Erasmus | 90' |
| PR | 17 | Jacques van Rooyen | 59' |
| PR | 18 | Mornay Smith | 59' |
| LK | 19 | Jan Uys | 59' |
| BR | 20 | Arno Botha | 55' |
| SH | 21 | Embrose Papier | 59' |
| FH | 22 | Chris Smith | 74' |
| OB | 23 | Marnus Potgieter | |
| Coach: |||
| Jake White ||||
Sharks: :
| FB | 15 | Aphelele Fassi | |
| RW | 14 | Sbu Nkosi | |
| OC | 13 | Lukhanyo Am (c) | |
| IC | 12 | Marius Louw | 80' |
| LW | 11 | Yaw Penxe | |
| FH | 10 | Curwin Bosch | |
| SH | 9 | Jaden Hendrikse | 80' |
| N8 | 8 | Sikhumbuzo Notshe | |
| BF | 7 | Henco Venter | |
| OF | 6 | Dylan Richardson | 64' |
| RL | 5 | Ruben van Heerden | 64' |
| LL | 4 | JJ van der Mescht | |
| TP | 3 | Thomas du Toit | 88' |
| HK | 2 | Fez Mbatha | 51' |
| LP | 1 | Ox Nché | 79' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Dan Jooste | 51' |
| PR | 17 | Mzamo Majola | 79' |
| PR | 18 | Michael Kumbirai | 88' |
| LK | 19 | Hyron Andrews | 64' |
| FL | 20 | Thembelani Bholi | 64' |
| SH | 21 | Sanele Nohamba | 80' |
| CE | 22 | Jeremy Ward | 80' |
| FB | 23 | Manie Libbok | |
| Coach: |||
| Sean Everitt ||||
* Assistant Referees:
* AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
* Griffin Colby (South Africa)
* Television match official:
* Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

## Players
### Player statistics

Top point scorers :
| No | Player | Team | Points |
| 1 | Curwin Bosch | Sharks | 84 |
| 2 | François Steyn | Free State Cheetahs | 76 |
| 3 | Tiaan Swanepoel | Golden Lions | 63 |
| 4 | Morné Steyn | Bulls | 62 |
| 5 | Tim Swiel | Western Province | 53 |
| 6 | Elton Jantjies | Golden Lions | 42 |
Top try scorers :
| No | Player | Team | Tries |
| 1 | Eduan Keyter | Griquas | 4 |
| 2 | Willie Engelbrecht | Pumas | 3 |
| 2 | Daniel Maartens | Pumas | 3 |
| 2 | Bongi Mbonambi | Western Province | 3 |
| 2 | Sbu Nkosi | Sharks | 3 |
| 2 | Yaw Penxe | Sharks | 3 |

### Team rosters

The respective team squads for the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division were:
Blue Bulls squad :
| Forwards | Tim Agaba Arno Botha Nizaam Carr Corniel Els Schalk Erasmus Lizo Gqoboka Johan Grobbelaar Elrigh Louw Sintu Manjezi Ruan Nortjé Trevor Nyakane Mornay Smith Gerhard Steenekamp Walt Steenkamp WJ Steenkamp Janko Swanepoel Jan Uys Muller Uys Marcel van der Merwe Jacques van Rooyen Marco van Staden Joe van Zyl Divan Venter Duane Vermeulen Jan-Hendrik Wessels |
| Backs | Gio Aplon Kurt-Lee Arendse Stedman Gans Cornal Hendricks Travis Ismaiel Stravino Jacobs Marco Jansen van Vuren Keagan Johannes Dawid Kellerman David Kriel Kabelo Mokoena Jay-Cee Nel Embrose Papier Marnus Potgieter Chris Smith Morné Steyn Jade Stighling Clinton Swart Ivan van Zyl |
| Coach | Jake White |
Free State Cheetahs squad :
| Forwards | Wilmar Arnoldi Aranos Coetzee George Cronjé Aidon Davis Cameron Dawson Erich de Jager Jacques du Toit Ian Groenewald Reniel Hugo Charles Marais Chris Massyn Khutha Mchunu Oupa Mohojé Andisa Ntsila Junior Pokomela Jeandré Rudolph Victor Sekekete Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Conraad van Vuuren Hencus van Wyk Boan Venter Reinach Venter Carl Wegner |
| Backs | Craig Barry Clayton Blommetjies Adriaan Carelse Carel-Jan Coetzee Ruben de Haas Reinhardt Fortuin Malcolm Jaer Rewan Kruger Tian Meyer Howard Mnisi Ruan Pienaar Duncan Saal Tian Schoeman William Small-Smith Chris Smit Rhyno Smith Rosko Specman François Steyn Dries Swanepoel |
| Coach | Hawies Fourie |
Griquas squad :
| Forwards | Andrew Beerwinkel Ewan Coetzee CJ Conradie Fred Eksteen Carl Els Monde Hadebe John-Roy Jenkinson Niell Jordaan Zandré Jordaan Cameron Lindsay HJ Luus Madot Mabokela Khwezi Mkhafu Johan Momsen Nqoba Mxoli Bandisa Ndlovu NJ Oosthuizen Shaine Orderson Sibabalo Qoma Adré Smith Gideon van der Merwe Ewald van der Westhuizen Alandré van Rooyen CJ Velleman Tijde Visser Wendal Wehr Stefan Willemse Mzwanele Zito |
| Backs | Ederies Arendse Masixole Banda Bjorn Basson Enver Brandt Zak Burger Ashlon Davids Tinus de Beer Earll Douwrie Johnathan Francke Daniel Kasende Eduan Keyter Berton Klaasen Harlon Klaasen Theo Maree Christiaan Meyer Raegan Oranje André Swarts James Verity-Amm George Whitehead |
| Coach | Scott Mathie |
Golden Lions squad :
| Forwards | Willem Alberts PJ Botha Jan-Henning Campher Hacjivah Dayimani Ruan Dreyer Jannie du Plessis Wiehahn Herbst Francke Horn Jaco Kriel Len Massyn Nathan McBeth Reinhard Nothnagel Marvin Orie Asenathi Ntlabakanye MJ Pelser Carlü Sadie Marnus Schoeman Ruben Schoeman Sti Sithole Roelof Smit Dylan Smith Vincent Tshituka Wilhelm van der Sluys Dameon Venter Jaco Visagie |
| Backs | Ross Cronjé Elton Jantjies Dan Kriel Gianni Lombard Rabz Maxwane James Mollentze Burger Odendaal Stean Pienaar Mannie Rass Divan Rossouw Wandisile Simelane Courtnall Skosan Dillon Smit Tiaan Swanepoel Jamba Ulengo Morné van den Berg EW Viljoen André Warner |
| Coach | Ivan van Rooyen |
Pumas squad :
| Forwards | Heath Backhouse Marné Coetzee Stephan de Jager Kwanda Dimaza Willie Engelbrecht Wikus Groenewald Liam Hendricks Pieter Jansen van Vuren Marko Janse van Rensburg Francois Kleinhans Ruan Kramer Darrien Landsberg AJ le Roux Daniel Maartens Phumzile Maqondwana Dewald Maritz Morgan Naudé Ewart Potgieter Ig Prinsloo Le Roux Roets Hanru Sirgel Eduan Swart Brandon Valentyn HP van Schoor Simon Westraadt |
| Backs | Dian Badenhorst Theo Boshoff Tiaan Botes Erich Cronjé Sebastian de Klerk Eddie Fouché Ruwellyn Isbell Morné Joubert Japie Kleinhans Tapiwa Mafura Niel Marais Neil Maritz Ali Mgijima Ryan Nell Luther Obi Chriswill September Ginter Smuts Giovan Snyman Etienne Taljaard Wayne van der Bank Alwayno Visagie Devon Williams |
| Coach | Jimmy Stonehouse |
Sharks squad :
| Forwards | Hyron Andrews Thembelani Bholi Phepsi Buthelezi Zain Davids Thomas du Toit Andrew Evans Aston Fortuin Celimpilo Gumede Hanru Jacobs Dan Jooste Michael Kumbirai Cleopas Kundiona Mzamo Majola Fez Mbatha John-Hubert Meyer Khwezi Mona Ox Nché Sikhumbuzo Notshe Dylan Richardson Evan Roos Jordan Sesink-Clee JJ van der Mescht Emile van Heerden Ruben van Heerden Kerron van Vuuren Henco Venter James Venter |
| Backs | Thaakir Abrahams Lukhanyo Am Curwin Bosch Jordan Chait Boeta Chamberlain Caleb Dingaan Muller du Plessis Aphelele Fassi Jaden Hendrikse Werner Kok Murray Koster Manie Libbok Marius Louw Sbu Nkosi Sanele Nohamba Yaw Penxe JP Pietersen Madosh Tambwe Anthony Volmink Jeremy Ward Grant Williams Cameron Wright |
| Coach | Sean Everitt |
Western Province squad :
| Forwards | Juarno Augustus Kwenzo Blose Jaco Coetzee Ben-Jason Dixon Johan du Toit Pieter-Steph du Toit Neethling Fouché Steven Kitshoff Siya Kolisi JJ Kotze Leon Lyons Frans Malherbe Lee-Marvin Mazibuko Bongi Mbonambi David Meihuizen Salmaan Moerat Scarra Ntubeni Sazi Sandi JD Schickerling Chad Solomon Marcel Theunissen Ernst van Rhyn Chris van Zyl Ali Vermaak Nama Xaba |
| Backs | Angelo Davids Paul de Wet Dan du Plessis Warrick Gelant Michal Haznar Lyle Hendricks Herschel Jantjies Tristan Leyds Godlen Masimla Matt More Ruhan Nel Sihle Njezula Sergeal Petersen Rikus Pretorius Seabelo Senatla Christopher Schreuder Cornel Smit Tim Swiel Edwill van der Merwe Abner van Reenen Damian Willemse Kade Wolhuter Leolin Zas Mnombo Zwelendaba |
| Coach | John Dobson |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the competition:
2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division referees :
* Aimee Barrett-Theron
* Stuart Berry
* Griffin Colby
* AJ Jacobs
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Paul Mente
* Jaco Peyper
* Rasta Rasivhenge
* Marius van der Westhuizen