# 2017 Currie Cup First Division

The 2017 Currie Cup First Division was the second tier of the 2017 Currie Cup competition, an annual South African rugby union competition organised by the South African Rugby Union. It was the 79th edition of the competition and was contested between 25 August and 20 October 2017.
The competition was won by the Griffons, who beat the Leopards 60–36 in the final played on 20 October 2017.

## Competition rules and information

There were eight participating teams in the 2017 Currie Cup First Division. These eight teams played once against each other over the course of the competition, either at home or away. Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored 4 or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by 7 points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams qualified for the semi-finals, which was followed by a final.

## Teams

The teams that participated in the 2017 Currie Cup First Division were:

### Team Listing

| 2017 Currie Cup First Division teams |
| Team | Sponsored Name | Stadium/s | Sponsored Name |
| Boland Cavaliers | Boland Cavaliers | Boland Stadium, Wellington | Boland Stadium |
| Border Bulldogs | Border Bulldogs | Buffalo City Stadium, East London | Buffalo City Stadium |
| Eastern Province Kings | Eastern Province Kings | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
| Falcons | Hino Valke | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | Barnard Stadium |
| Griffons | Down Touch Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | HT Pelatona Projects Stadium |
| Leopards | Leopards | Olën Park, Potchefstroom | Profert Olën Park |
| SWD Eagles | SWD Eagles | Outeniqua Park, George | Outeniqua Park |
| Welwitschias | Windhoek Draught Welwitschias | Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek | Hage Geingob Stadium |

## Standings

The final log for the 2017 Currie Cup First Division was:
2017 Currie Cup First Division log :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Griffons | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 329 | 227 | +102 | 49 | 35 | 7 | 0 | 31 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Falcons | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 240 | 202 | +38 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 26 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Leopards | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 301 | 221 | +80 | 43 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 24 | Semi-finals |
| 4 | Boland Cavaliers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 238 | 196 | +42 | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 24 | Semi-finals |
| 5 | SWD Eagles | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 240 | 230 | +10 | 33 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 22 | |
| 6 | Border Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 203 | 249 | −46 | 28 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 19 | |
| 7 | Welwitschias | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 267 | 313 | −46 | 39 | 47 | 6 | 4 | 14 | |
| 8 | Eastern Province Kings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 174 | 354 | −180 | 28 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |

### Round-by-round

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, each team's cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.
| Team Progression – 2017 Currie Cup Premier Division |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | SF | F |
| Griffons | 5 (2nd) | 10 (1st) | 15 (1st) | 20 (1st) | 25 (1st) | 30 (1st) | 31 (1st) | Won | Won |
| Falcons | 5 (3rd) | 5 (6th) | 10 (4th) | 11 (5th) | 16 (4th) | 21 (3rd) | 26 (2nd) | Lost | — |
| Leopards | 3 (4th) | 8 (2nd) | 13 (2nd) | 18 (2nd) | 23 (2nd) | 24 (2nd) | 24 (3rd) | Won | Lost |
| Boland Cavaliers | 5 (1st) | 6 (5th) | 11 (3rd) | 12 (3rd) | 14 (5th) | 19 (4th) | 24 (4th) | Lost | — |
| SWD Eagles | 3 (4th) | 8 (3rd) | 8 (6th) | 12 (4th) | 17 (3rd) | 17 (5th) | 22 (5th) | — | — |
| Border Bulldogs | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 7 (7th) | 9 (7th) | 14 (6th) | 19 (6th) | — | — |
| Welwitschias | 2 (6th) | 7 (4th) | 8 (5th) | 9 (6th) | 11 (6th) | 12 (7th) | 14 (7th) | — | — |
| Eastern Province Kings | 1 (8th) | 2 (8th) | 2 (8th) | 3 (8th) | 4 (8th) | 4 (8th) | 5 (8th) | — | — |
| Key: | win | draw | loss | bye | |

## Honours

The honour roll for the 2017 Currie Cup First Division was as follows:
2017 Currie Cup First Division :
| Champions: | Griffons |
| Top points scorer: | Jaun Kotzé, Griffons (111) |
| Top try scorer: | Jeandré Rudolph, Leopards (12) |

## Players
### Squads

Boland Cavaliers squad :
| Forwards | Yves Bashiya • Rinus Bothma • Gareth Cilliers • Kenan Cronjé • Francois Esterhuyzen • Zandré Jordaan • Kyle Kruger • Clemen Lewis • Arnout Malherbe • Chris Massyn • Clinton Theron • Linda Thwala • Chadley Wenn • Chaney Willemse • Ludio Williams • Marlyn Williams • Wayne Wilschut • Did not play: • Stefaan Grundlingh • Mac Muller • Ian Oosthuizen • Dylan Pieterse |
| Backs | Logan Basson • Adriaan Carelse • JP Coetzee • Jovelian de Koker • Danwel Demas • Alcino Izaacs • Charlie Mayeza • Freddie Muller • Divan Nel • Edwin Sass • Sergio Torrens • Vian van der Watt • Gerrit van Wyk • Elgar Watts • Valentino Wellman |
| Coach | Randall Modiba |
Border Bulldogs squad :
| Forwards | Phumlani Blaauw • Ludwe Booi • Onke Dubase • Billy Dutton • Johannes Janse van Rensburg • Athenkosi Khethani • Blake Kyd • Lwando Mabenge • Athenkosi Manentsa • Mihlali Mpafi • Siyamthanda Ngande • Nkosi Nofuma • Ayabonga Nomboyo • Lukhanyo Nomzanga • Maliviwe Simanga • Hendri Storm • Soso Xakalashe • Yanga Xakalashe • Did not play: • Josh Kota • Thabiso Mngomezulu • Luzuko Nyabaza |
| Backs | Lunga Dumezweni • Lelethu Gcilitshana • Bangi Kobese • Sonwabiso Mqalo • Siya Ncanywa • Nkululeko Ndlovu • Saneliso Ngoma • Sipho Nofemele • Sino Nyoka • Mbembe Payi • Lundi Ralarala • Sethu Tom • Did not play: • Henrico Koester • Ntando Mfengu • Xolo Mlonyeni |
| Coach | David Dobela |
Eastern Province Kings squad :
| Forwards | Zingisa April • Dewald Barnard • Cody Basson • Reyno du Toit • Renier Erasmus • Wynand Grassmann • Stephan Greeff • Jedwyn Harty • Justin Hollis • JP Jamieson • Josh Kota • Bart le Roux • Anele Lungisa • Dumisani Meslane • Matthew Moore • Freddy Ngoza • SF Nieuwoudt • Luzuko Nyabaza • Nicolas Roebeck • Masixole Screech • Victor Sekekete • Xandré Vos • Diego Williams • Thembelihle Yase • Did not play: • Tango Balekile • Brandon Brown • Bathandwa Cafu • Gerrit Huisamen • Lindokuhle Welemu |
| Backs | Riaan Arends • Alshaun Bock • Simon Bolze • Michael Brink • Luvo Claassen • Ntabeni Dukisa • Ivan-John du Preez • Riaan Esterhuizen • Rowan Gouws • Siyanda Grey • Thabang Holejane • Andile Jho • Harlon Klaasen • Rivan Lemmer • Sonwabo Majola • Michael Makase • Sphu Msutwana • Yamkela Ngam • Jarryd Sage • Curtis Sias • Ruan Stander • Keanu Vers • Lindelwe Zungu • Did not play: • Eben Barnard • Quewin Gawie |
| Coach | Ryan Felix |
Falcons squad :
| Forwards | Jacques Alberts • Henri Boshoff • Jan Enslin • Marnus Erasmus • Shane Kirkwood • Marco Klopper • Ernst Ladendorf • Robey Leibrandt • Thabo Mabuza • Reg Muller • Friedle Olivier • Dwight Pansegrouw • Heinrich Roelfse • Andries Schutte • Martin Sithole • Koos Strauss • Gihard Visagie • Did not play: • Wiehan Hay • Dian Koen • Thabo Mamojele • JP Mostert • Dylan Peterson • Tiaan Weyers |
| Backs | Ruan Allerston • Coert Cronjé • Errol Jaggers • Grant Janke • Don Mlondobozi • Warren Potgieter • Johan Pretorius • Anrich Richter • Christian Rust • Etienne Taljaard • Andries Truter • Andrew van Wyk • Did not play: • Xander Cronjé • Maphutha Dolo • André du Plessis • Keaton Gordon • Cameron Rooi |
| Coach | Rudy Joubert |
Griffons squad :
| Forwards | Gavin Annandale • Cody Basson • PW Botha • Neil Claassen • Andrew du Plessis • Samora Fihlani • Henco Greyling • Ruan Kramer • Erik le Roux • Vincent Maruping • Thato Mavundla • Khwezi Mkhafu • Barend Potgieter • Jean Pretorius • Boela Serfontein • Joe van der Hoogt • Danie van der Merwe • Did not play: • JP Alberts • Rudi Britz • Ruben Fourie • Cornel Jacobs • Werner Kotze • JP Mans • George Marich • Martin Sithole • Hennie Venter • Reinach Venter • Ntokozo Vidima • Jasper Wiese |
| Backs | Ezrick Alexander • Heinrich Bitzi • Shirwin Cupido • Rodney Damons • Selvyn Davids • Alrin Eksteen • Joubert Engelbrecht • Jaun Kotzé • Tertius Maarman • Vuyo Mbotho • Wynand Pienaar • Duan Pretorius • Malcolm-Kerr Till • Louis Venter • Arthur Williams • Warren Williams • Did not play: • Hein Bezuidenhoudt • Carel-Jan Coetzee • Sandile Kubekha • Japie Nel • Nazo Nkala • Robbie Petzer • Sherwin Slater • Leighton van Wyk |
| Coach | Oersond Gorgonzola |
Leopards squad :
| Forwards | Tiaan Bezuidenhout • Dewald Dekker • Francois Jacobs • Juan Language • Muziwandile Mazibuko • Stairs Mhlongo • Loftus Morrison • Marno Redelinghuys • Edmund Rheeder • Jeandré Rudolph • Joe Smith • Marius Stander • Walt Steenkamp • Morné Strydom • HP Swart • Gideon van der Merwe • Dane van der Westhuyzen • Boela Venter • Ruan Venter • Did not play: • Robert Hunt • Schalk Jooste • Mogau Mabokela • Matimu Manganyi • Gopolang Molefe • Jaco Swanepoel • Louis van der Westhuizen • Cameron van Heerden • Nico van Tonder |
| Backs | Dean Gordon • Lungelo Gosa • Schalk Hugo • Wessel Kuhn • Tapiwa Mafura • Henko Marais • Bradley Moolman • Jimmy Mpailane • Justin Newman • Gerhard Nortier • Elden Schoeman • Chriswill September • Ryno Wepener • Gene Willemse • Did not play: • Rowayne Beukman • Duhann Gunter • Eugene Hare • Jaco Hayward • Hendrik Mulder • Akhona Nela • Dylan Schoeman • Willem Steenkamp |
| Coach | Jonathan Mokeuna |
SWD Eagles squad :
| Forwards | Freginald Africa • Marné Coetzee • Juandré Digue • Johann Grundlingh • Kurt Haupt • Wiehan Hay • Thor Halvorsen • Cornell Hess • Luxolo Koza • Teunis Nieuwoudt • Dylan Peterson • Davon Raubenheimer • Anton Smit • Brendon Snyman • Vukile Sofisa • Janneman Stander • Lodewyk Uys • Jan van der Merwe • Jacques Vermaak • SP Wessels • Simon Westraadt • Did not play: • Andisa Ntsila • Basil Short • Peet van der Walt |
| Backs | Martin du Toit • Leighton Eksteen • Wilneth Engelbrecht • Tyler Fisher • TJ Goddard • Kirsten Heyns • Adri Jacobs • Quaid Langeveldt • Marquit September • Dillin Snel • Johan Steyn • Marlou van Niekerk • Marlo Weich • Johnny Welthagen • Did not play: • Justin Bhana • Shadward Fillies • Charles Radebe • Leegan Moos • Luzuko Vulindlu |
| Coach | Rynhardt van As |
Welwitschias squad :
| Forwards | Adriaan Booysen • AJ de Klerk • Riaan de Klerk • Shaun du Preez • Thomasau Forbes • Herman Grobler • Joe Herrmann • Thomas Kali • Munio Kasiringua • Max Katjijeko • Bigman Kaura • Rohan Kitshoff • Ruan Ludick • James Marx • Christo McNish • Obert Nortjé • Andries Rousseau • Des Sethie • Nelius Theron • Mahepisa Tjeriko • Christo van der Merwe • Niël van Vuuren • Denzil van Wyk • Hauta Veii • Roderique Victor • Did not play: • Leneve Damens • André Rademeyer • Winmar Rust • Collen Smith |
| Backs | Darryl de la Harpe • Janré du Toit • JC Greyling • Eugene Jantjies • TC Kisting • Cameron Klassen • Lesley Klim • Theuns Kotzé • David Philander • Mahco Prinsloo • Heinrich Smit • PW Steenkamp • Johann Tromp • Russell van Wyk • Dirk von Weidts • Francois Wiese • Gino Wilson • Did not play: • Ethan Beukes • Nikin Cloete • Justin Nel • Collins Omalu • Aurelio Plato • MP Pretorius • JC Winckler |
| Coach | Lyn Jones |