# 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 74th season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from 11 August to 27 October 2012. The tournament (known as the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division for sponsorship reasons) is the top tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition.

## Competition
### Regular season and title play offs

There were 6 participating teams in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once 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 losing a match by 7 points or less. Teams were to be ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top 4 teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finish first will have home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second will have home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals will play each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

### Relegation play offs

The bottom team on the log will also qualify for the promotion/relegation play-offs. That team will play off against the team placed first in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division over two legs. The winner over these two ties (determined via team tables, with all Currie Cup ranking regulations in effect) will qualify for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division, while the losing team will qualify for the 2013 Currie Cup First Division.

## Teams
### Changes from 2011

* The Pumas and Leopards were relegated to the 2012 Currie Cup First Division.

### Team Listing

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | 51,762 |
| Free State Cheetahs | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 40,911 |
| Golden Lions | Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg | 62,567 |
| Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley | 18,000 |
| Sharks | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 55,000 |
| Western Province | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 51,900 |

## Table

2012 Currie Cup Premier Division Table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sharks | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 292 | 233 | +59 | 32 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 35 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Golden Lions | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 285 | 279 | +6 | 24 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 28 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Western Province | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 272 | 226 | +46 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 25 | Semi-finals |
| 4 | Blue Bulls | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 280 | 291 | −11 | 19 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 22 | Semi-finals |
| 5 | Griquas | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 250 | 313 | −63 | 28 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 20 | |
| 6 | Free State Cheetahs | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 268 | 305 | −37 | 26 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 18 | Relegation Play-Offs |

## Fixtures and results

All times are South African (GMT+2).

### Title Play-Off Games
#### Semi-finals
#### Final
## Promotion/Relegation Games
### Tables

2012 Currie Cup Promotion Relegation Games Table :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Free State Cheetahs (P) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 20 | +49 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | Eastern Province Kings (F) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 69 | −49 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Results

* Free State Cheetahs remain in the Premier Division for 2013.
* Eastern Province Kings remain in the First Division for 2013.

## Awards

| Month | Coach | Player |
| August | John Plumtree, Sharks | Louis Fouché, Blue Bulls |
| September | Johan Ackermann, Golden Lions | Elton Jantjies, Golden Lions |
| October | John Plumtree, Sharks | Cobus Reinach, Sharks |