# 2021 Currie Cup First Division

The 2021 Currie Cup First Division was the 83rd edition of the Currie Cup. As the second-tier of the competition, it ran alongside the 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division. It was sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.
The First Division was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the 2021 season was the first time any of the First Division teams had played competitively since the 2019 edition of the tournament, barring the Eastern Province Elephants who participated in the 2021 Preparation series. The Jaguares XV, who took part and won the 2019 Currie Cup First Division, did not take part in the 2021 edition of the tournament.

## Teams

The seven competing teams were:

## Regular season
### Standings

2021 Currie Cup First Division standings :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leopards | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 205 | 127 | +78 | 31 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 26 | semifinals |
| 2 | Griffons | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 178 | 74 | +104 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 25 | semifinals |
| 3 | Falcons | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 198 | 184 | +14 | 27 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 18 | semifinals |
| 4 | Boland Cavaliers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 165 | 181 | −16 | 23 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 16 | semifinals |
| 5 | Eastern Province Elephants | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 130 | 200 | −70 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| 6 | Border Bulldogs | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 154 | 234 | −80 | 19 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| 7 | SWD Eagles | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 107 | 137 | −30 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
* 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.
* 1 2 Cancelled fixture: Match declared a draw, Leopards awarded four match points.
* 1 2 Cancelled fixture: Match declared a draw, Griffons awarded four match points.

### 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.
| 2020–21 Currie Cup team progression |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Semi | Final |
| Boland Cavaliers | 0 (5th) | 5 (4th) | 5 (5th) | 10 (3rd) | 15 (3rd) | 16 (3rd) | 16 (4th) | Lost | DNQ |
| Border Bulldogs | 0 (6th) | 0 (7th) | 0 (7th) | 5 (6th) | 6 (6th) | 11 (5th) | 11 (6th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| EP Elephants | 1 (4th) | 1 (5th) | 6 (4th) | 6 (5th) | 6 (7th) | 11 (6th) | 11 (5th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Falcons | 5 (1st) | 5 (3rd) | 10 (3rd) | 10 (4th) | 12 (4th) | 13 (4th) | 18 (3rd) | Lost | DNQ |
| Griffons | 5 (3rd) | 10 (1st) | 14 (1st) | 19 (1st) | 20 (1st) | 20 (2nd) | 25 (2nd) | Won | Lost |
| Leopards | 5 (2nd) | 9 (2nd) | 11 (2nd) | 11 (2nd) | 16 (2nd) | 21 (1st) | 26 (1st) | Won | Won |
| SWD Eagles | 0 (7th) | 0 (6th) | 0 (6th) | 1 (7th) | 6 (5th) | 6 (7th) | 6 (7th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | No match | Bye |

### Matches

The following matches were played in the round-robin stage of the 2021 Currie Cup First Division.

#### Round 1

* Bye/s: Boland Cavaliers

#### Round 2

* Bye/s: Falcons

#### Round 3

* Bye/s: Border Bulldogs

#### Round 4

* Bye/s: Leopards

#### Round 5

* Bye/s: Eastern Province Elephants

#### Round 6

* Bye/s: Griffons

#### Round 7

* Bye/s: SWD Eagles

## Players

The respective team squads for the 2021 Currie Cup First Division were:
Boland Cavaliers squad :
| Forwards | Robin Adams Bomba Bakeni Emile Booysen Taine Booysen Charl Castleman Nicholas Duhwa Albert du Plessis Jacobus du Plessis Wynand du Plessis Kelvin Fikster Ameer Hendricks Kayden Kiewit Che Klaasen Dian Koen Wayrin Losper Godwin Mangenje Thurlow Marsh Damian May Keenan Opperman Angelo Rossouw Bulelani Sali Marlyn Williams |
| Backs | Deon Carstens Curtley Cedras Lucian Cupido Jovelian de Koker Lincolin Eksteen Wilneth Engelbrecht Michaine Fick Bjorkan Hendricks Niven Langdown John Lourens Dylan Maart Cleve Malgas Andre Manuel Garrick Mattheus Taigh Schoor Lubelo Scott Gavern Skippers Charlton Stevens Gerrit van Wyk Andries Viljoen |
| Coach | Randall Modiba |
Border Bulldogs squad :
| Forwards | Siyanda Am Mkhonto Caku-Caku Ntsikomzi Daka Onke Dubase Billy Dutton Xolani Jacobs Asekho Marubelela Vuyisani Mavuso Siba Mnkani Yamkela Mzozoyana Masonwabe Ngcem Miyelani Ngobeni Ayabonga Nomboyo Lwando Nteta Thabo Ntunja Edwin Nxumalo Hlomla Payi Yakha Qinela |
| Backs | Lutho Adonis Migcobo Bovu Jeandre Christian Lelethu Gcilitshana Lungelo Gosa Bangi Kobese Somila Mamtyoyi Lwandile Mapuko Vuyo Mbotho Sonwabiso Mqalo Litha Nkula Mihlali Nobomvu Sipho Nofemele Foxy Ntleki Anathi Shenxane Sicelo Tole Siphelele Zono Anele Zweni |
| Coach | Tiger Mangweni |
Eastern Province Elephants squad :
| Forwards | Zingisa April Thembiso Befile Temba Boltina Mncedisi Dlwengu Duan du Plessis Ntsika Fisanti Cebo Gidane Gerrit Huisamen Hannes Huisamen Athenkosi Khethani Arnold Kleyn Mbeko Kota Lyle Lombard Anele Lungisa Rob Lyons Marzuq Maarman Athi Manentsa Lumko Mbane Lupumlo Mguca Giant Mtyanda Siya Nzuzo Bevin Prinsloo Ronald Scheckle Delare Schoeman Robin Stevens Luigy van Jaarsveld CJ Velleman Ashley Viviers Diego Williams |
| Backs | Josh Allderman Riaan Arendse Karlo Aspeling Luvo Claasen Curtley Deysel Richman Gora Lennox Holster Ethan Jantjies Dylan Le Roux Lwandile Menze Siya Moabi Dayle Nel Odwa Ntlokwana Qeutyne Oerson Xolela Payi Keegan Schaefer Keagan September Sherwin Slater Davian Swanepoel Sacha Toring Wian van der Sandt Chevandré van Schoor |
| Coach | Peter de Villiers |
Falcons squad :
| Forwards | Herman Agenbag Jacques Alberts Tango Balekile Kabous Bezuidenhout Reuben du Plooy Armand Grobler Denzel Hill Qhama Hina Ethan Jeffrey Luxolo Koza Dehan Kruger Lihle Lolwane Siya Luwace Siya Masuku Raynardt Nel Freddy Ngoza Dwayne Pienaar Luaan Pieterse Pierre Rabie Zander van der Merwe Andrew Volschenk |
| Backs | Ezrich Alexander Coert Cronjé Rodney Damons Jack Hart Ruben Liebenberg Franco Pienaar Johan Pretorius Lundi Ralarala Godfrey Ramaboea Anrich Richter Edwin Sass Andrew van Wyk Joshua Vermeulen Valentino Wellman |
| Coach | JP Immelman |
Griffons squad :
| Forwards | Anrich Alberts Michael Benadie Christo Bezuidenhout Doctor Booysen Kenan Cronjé Stephan de Jager Dandré Delport Hannes Janse van Rensburg Thato Mavundla Khwezi Mkhafu Neo Mohapi Bandisa Ndlovu Japie Nel Wikus Nieuwenhuis Wandre Nortje Jean Pretorius Lindokuhle Welemu Ludio Williams Soso Xakalashi |
| Backs | Gaza Davids Noegh Hayward Morné Joubert Jaywinn Juries Cornel Korff Bolla Matthys Athi Mayinje Duan Pretorius Domenic Smit Neil Stannard Aphiwe Stemele Duncan van Vuuren Gurshin Wehr Arthur Williams Charles Williams Ethan Williams |
| Coach | Jacques Juries |
Leopards squad :
| Forwards | Heinz Bertram Reuben du Plessis Gustav du Rand Andries Fouché Rocky Groenewald Robey Leibrandt Senzo Mabuza JP Mans Victor Maruping Vincent Maruping Riaan May Siya Mdaka Komape Moloto Phil Mpofu Keanu Prinsloo Johan Retief Edmund Rheeder Hanno Snyman HP Swart Sampie Swiegers Nelius Theron Joe van der Hoogt George van der Westhuizen Chris Vermaak |
| Backs | Tjaart Benadie Shirwin Cupido Lincoln Daniels Willem du Plessis Bernu Engelbrecht Keagan Fortune Riaan Genis Andre Grobler Eugene Hare Sylvester Hassien Duren Hoffman Allistair Mumba Charl Pretorius Hardus Pretorius Andries Truter Dean Stokes Chuiner van Rooyen Danrich Visagie Warren Williams |
| Coach | André Pretorius |
SWD Eagles squad :
| Forwards | Pieter Ferreira Keanu Hendricks Duke Jantjies Francois Kemp Lehan Kiewit Stephen Leonard Heinrich Leukes Dean Malherbe Nkosikhona Masuku Nkosi Nofuma Anvor Prins Denver Prins Heinrich Roelfse Terrance Siyaya Deon Slabbert Marquin Smart Ian Thompson Jordan van Dyk Armando Wienand |
| Backs | Shane Ball Truimph Baloyi Carlton Coeries JP Duvenhage Darryn Fortuin Tiaan Fourie Kirsten Heyns Eldrid James Adri Jacobs Luciano Jones Winslin Klaasen Lazner Nxele Ralton October Jason Olivier Earl Rouls Marquit September Sergio Stalmeester Ruan van Rensburg |
| Coach | Eddie Myners |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the competition:
2021 Currie Cup First Division referees :
* Aimee Barrett-Theron
* Griffin Colby
* Morné Ferreira
* Stephan Geldenhuys
* Phumzilo Mbewu
* Ruhan Meiring
* Paul Mente
* Rasta Rasivhenge