# 2012 Currie Cup First Division

The 2012 Currie Cup First Division was contested from 30 June to 13 October 2012. The tournament (also known as the Absa Currie Cup First Division for sponsorship reasons) is the second tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.

## Competition
### Regular season and title playoffs

There were 8 participating teams in the 2012 Currie Cup First 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 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 finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

### Promotion playoffs

The top team on the log will also qualify for the promotion/relegation play-offs. That team will play off against the team placed sixth in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier 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

* Leopards and Pumas were relegated to the First Division.

### Team Listing

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Boland Cavaliers | Boland Stadium, Wellington | 7,500 |
| Boland Cavaliers | Boland Park, Worcester | 5,000 |
| Boland Cavaliers | Wesbank Sports Grounds, Malmesbury | 4,500 |
| Border Bulldogs | Buffalo City Stadium, East London | 16,000 |
| Eastern Province Kings | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 48,459 |
| Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | 7,000 |
| Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | 17,000 |
| Leopards | Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom | 15,000 |
| Pumas | Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela | 40,929 |
| SWD Eagles | Outeniqua Park, George | 10,000 |

## Table

2012 Currie Cup First Division Table :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Eastern Province Kings (C) | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 515 | 246 | +269 | 64 | 27 | 10 | 0 | 62 | Promotion Play-Offs Semi-finals |
| 2 | Pumas | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 525 | 365 | +160 | 64 | 46 | 9 | 1 | 50 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | Griffons | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 476 | 491 | −15 | 65 | 70 | 10 | 2 | 48 | Semi-finals |
| 4 | Leopards | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 511 | 449 | +62 | 66 | 51 | 10 | 2 | 44 | Semi-finals |
| 5 | SWD Eagles | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 473 | 445 | +28 | 60 | 56 | 8 | 1 | 43 | |
| 6 | Boland Cavaliers | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 466 | 487 | −21 | 63 | 67 | 8 | 6 | 30 | |
| 7 | Falcons | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 393 | 598 | −205 | 56 | 82 | 7 | 2 | 23 | |
| 8 | Border Bulldogs | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 315 | 593 | −278 | 41 | 80 | 6 | 5 | 11 | |

## Fixtures and results

All times are South African (GMT+2).

### Title Play-Off Games
#### Semi-finals
#### Final

* 2012 Absa Currie Cup First Division Champions
* Eastern Province Kings
* Second title

## 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.