# 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 83rd 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 tournament returned to its usual dates, following being played from November to January in 2020/21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament also returned to its usual length of 14 rounds followed by finals, following a shortened 7 round competition in 2020/21.
The First Division of the Currie Cup also returned in 2021, having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

## Teams

The seven competing teams were:

## Regular season
### Standings

2021 Currie Cup Premier Division standings :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulls | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 334 | 260 | +74 | 46 | 30 | 8 | 1 | 49 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Sharks | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 288 | 223 | +65 | 38 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 40 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Griquas | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 343 | 324 | +19 | 39 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 35 | Semifinals |
| 4 | Western Province | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 386 | 380 | +6 | 46 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 35 | Semifinals |
| 5 | Pumas | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 274 | 256 | +18 | 33 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 34 | |
| 6 | Free State Cheetahs | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 297 | 336 | −39 | 39 | 41 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
| 7 | Golden Lions | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 270 | 413 | −143 | 37 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 24 | |
* 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.
* ↑ Seven fixtures were cancelled where the match was declared a draw with both teams awarded four tournament points, bar the Free State Cheetahs match with the Blue Bulls, where only the Blue Bulls were awarded 4 tournament points, and the Pumas match with the Sharks, where only the Pumas were awarded 4 tournament 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.
| 2021 Currie Cup team progression |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | Semi | Final |
| Blue Bulls | 1 (4th) | 6 (3rd) | 10 (3rd) | 10 (5th) | 14 (4th) | 18 (3rd) | 23 (2nd) | 28 (1st) | 29 (2nd) | 34 (1st) | 39 (1st) | 44 (1st) | 44 (1st) | 49 (1st) | Won | Won |
| Free State Cheetahs | 0 (5th) | 0 (7th) | 0 (7th) | 4 (7th) | 8 (7th) | 13 (6th) | 14 (6th) | 14 (7th) | 16 (7th) | 19 (7th) | 21 (7th) | 26 (6th) | 26 (6th) | 28 (6th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Golden Lions | 0 (7th) | 5 (6th) | 5 (6th) | 9 (6th) | 13 (5th) | 14 (5th) | 14 (7th) | 16 (6th) | 21 (5th) | 24 (5th) | 24 (6th) | 24 (7th) | 24 (7th) | 24 (7th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Griquas | 0 (6th) | 5 (5th) | 6 (5th) | 10 (4th) | 14 (3rd) | 19 (2nd) | 19 (3rd) | 24 (3rd) | 26 (3rd) | 26 (3rd) | 26 (4th) | 28 (5th) | 33 (3rd) | 35 (3rd) | Lost | DNQ |
| Pumas | 5 (1st) | 6 (2nd) | 10 (2nd) | 11 (2nd) | 15 (1st) | 15 (4th) | 15 (5th) | 20 (4th) | 20 (6th) | 24 (4th) | 27 (3rd) | 28 (4th) | 32 (4th) | 34 (5th) | DNQ | DNQ |
| Sharks | 5 (3rd) | 5 (4th) | 7 (4th) | 11 (3rd) | 15 (2nd) | 19 (1st) | 24 (1st) | 25 (2nd) | 30 (1st) | 30 (2nd) | 35 (2nd) | 35 (2nd) | 40 (2nd) | 40 (2nd) | Won | Lost |
| Western Province | 5 (2nd) | 7 (1st) | 11 (1st) | 12 (1st) | 12 (6th) | 12 (7th) | 17 (4th) | 17 (5th) | 22 (4th) | 22 (6th) | 25 (5th) | 30 (3rd) | 30 (5th) | 35 (4th) | Lost | DNQ |
| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | No match | Bye |

### Matches

Listed below are all matches for the double round-robin, played for the 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division.

#### Round 1

* Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

#### Round 2

* Bye/s: Sharks

#### Round 3

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

#### Round 4

* Bye/s: Bulls

#### Round 5

* Bye/s: Western Province

#### Round 6

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round 7

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round 8

* Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

#### Round 9

* Bye/s: Pumas

#### Round 10

* Bye/s: Western Province

#### Round 11

* Bye/s: Griquas

#### Round 12

* Bye/s: Sharks

#### Round 13

* Bye/s: Bulls

#### Round 14

* Bye/s: Golden Lions

## Play-offs
### Final

The Bulls became the first team in the 130-year history of the Currie Cup competition to lift the trophy twice in the same year having beaten the Sharks in the final of last season’s competition that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic to January 2021. The Blue Bulls led 19–3 at halftime and also went on to record the biggest margin of victory ever in a Currie Cup final, beating their 39–9 win over Western Province in 1980. The Bulls managed 44 points in this final which is their highest ever points tally in a Currie Cup final beating their previous highest 42 in the 42–33 win against the Free State Cheetahs in 2004.
| Blue Bulls | Sharks |
Bulls: :
| FB | 15 | David Kriel | |
| RW | 14 | Cornal Hendricks | |
| OC | 13 | Lionel Mapoe | |
| IC | 12 | Harold Vorster | |
| LW | 11 | Madosh Tambwe | |
| FH | 10 | Chris Smith | |
| SH | 9 | Zak Burger | 71' |
| N8 | 8 | Elrigh Louw | |
| BF | 7 | Arno Botha | 71' |
| OF | 6 | Marcell Coetzee (c) | |
| RL | 5 | Ruan Nortjé | |
| LL | 4 | Janko Swanepoel | 63' |
| TP | 3 | Mornay Smith | 61' |
| HK | 2 | Joe van Zyl | 61' |
| LP | 1 | Gerhard Steenekamp | 61' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Jan-Hendrik Wessels | 61' |
| PR | 17 | Simphiwe Matanzima | 61' |
| PR | 18 | Jacques van Rooyen | 61' |
| BR | 19 | Jacques du Plessis | 63' |
| BR | 20 | WJ Steenkamp | 71' |
| SH | 21 | Keagan Johannes | 71' |
| OB | 22 | Ruan Combrinck | |
| OB | 23 | Stravino Jacobs | |
| Coach: |||
| Jake White ||||
Sharks: :
| FB | 15 | Curwin Bosch | | |
| RW | 14 | Yaw Penxe | | |
| OC | 13 | Werner Kok | 78' | |
| IC | 12 | Jeremy Ward | | |
| LW | 11 | Thaakir Abrahams | | |
| FH | 10 | Lionel Cronjé | | 67' |
| SH | 9 | Sanele Nohamba | | |
| N8 | 8 | Phepsi Buthelezi (c) | | |
| BF | 7 | Henco Venter | | 61' |
| OF | 6 | Dylan Richardson | | |
| RL | 5 | Gerbrandt Grobler | | 57' |
| LL | 4 | Le Roux Roets | | |
| TP | 3 | Thomas du Toit | | 66' |
| HK | 2 | Kerron van Vuuren | | 67' |
| LP | 1 | Khwezi Mona | | 57' |
| Substitutes: |||
| HK | 16 | Dan Jooste | | 67' |
| PR | 17 | Ntuthuko Mchunu | | 57' |
| PR | 18 | Khutha Mchunu | | 66' |
| BR | 19 | Thembelani Bholi | | 61' |
| LK | 20 | Reniel Hugo | | 57' |
| SH | 21 | Lucky Dlepu | | |
| CE | 22 | Murray Koster | | |
| OB | 23 | Anthony Volmink | | 67' |
| Coach: |||
| Sean Everitt ||||
* Assistant Referees:
* AJ Jacobs
* Aimee Barrett-Theron
* Television match official:
* Stuart Berry

## Players
### Player statistics

Top 10 point scorers :
| No | Player | Team | Points |
| 1 | George Whitehead | Griquas | 165 |
| 2 | Tim Swiel | Western Province | 150 |
| 3 | Eddie Fouché | Pumas | 107 |
| 4 | Johan Goosen | Bulls | 99 |
| 5 | Ruan Pienaar | Free State Cheetahs | 97 |
| 6 | Jordan Hendrikse | Golden Lions | 73 |
| 7 | Curwin Bosch | Sharks | 67 |
| 8 | Chris Smith | Bulls | 51 |
| 9 | Evan Roos | Western Province | 40 |
| 9 | Simon Westraadt | Pumas | 40 |
Top 5 try scorers :
| No | Player | Team | Tries |
| 1 | Evan Roos | Western Province | 8 |
| 1 | Simon Westraadt | Pumas | 8 |
| 3 | Eduan Keyter | Griquas | 7 |
| 3 | JJ Kotze | Western Province | 7 |
| 3 | Kerron van Vuuren | Sharks | 7 |

### Team rosters

The respective team squads for the 2021 Currie Cup Premier Division are:
Blue Bulls squad :
| Forwards | Henco Beukes Jaco Bezuidenhout Arno Botha Nizaam Carr Llewelyn Classen Marcell Coetzee Louis Conradie Tiaan de Klerk Ruan Delport Mhleli Dlamini Dewald Donald Jacques du Plessis Schalk Erasmus Werner Fourie Lizo Gqoboka Johan Grobbelaar Robert Hunt Francois Klopper Jaco Labuschagne Elrigh Louw Eduan Lubbe Reinhardt Ludwig Simphiwe Matanzima Louis Meiring Ruan Nortjé Nolan Pienaar Theuns Reynolds Raynard Roets JJ Scheepers Mornay Smith Gerhard Steenekamp Walt Steenkamp WJ Steenkamp Janko Swanepoel Uzile Tele Sidney Tobias Muller Uys Jacques van Rooyen Griffith van Wyk Joe van Zyl Adolph Visser Jan-Hendrik Wessels |
| Backs | Gio Aplon Kurt-Lee Arendse Niel Beukes Jandre Burger Zak Burger David Coetzer Ruan Combrinck FC du Plessis Tiaan Fourie Stedman Gans Johan Goosen Cornal Hendricks Stravino Jacobs Marco Jansen van Vuren Sebastian Jobb Keagan Johannes Dawid Kellerman David Kriel Richard Kriel Kefentse Mahlo Lionel Mapoe Kabelo Mokoena Johan Mulder Sibongile Novuka Chris Smith Madosh Tambwe Louritz van der Schyff Ivan van Zyl Harold Vorster Sango Xamlashe |
| Coach | Jake White |
Free State Cheetahs squad :
| Forwards | Wilmar Arnoldi Rynier Bernardo Aranos Coetzee George Cronjé Aidon Davis Cameron Dawson Jean Droste Schalk Ferreira Chris Massyn Oupa Mohojé Mihlali Mosi Andisa Ntsila Junior Pokomela Jacques Potgieter Lohan Potgieter Derik Pretorius Jeandré Rudolph Victor Sekekete Alulutho Tshakweni Marnus van der Merwe Louis van der Westhuizen Conraad van Vuuren Gideon van Wyk Hencus van Wyk Janus Venter Reinier Viljoen |
| Backs | Dian Badenhorst Craig Barry Clayton Blommetjies Zenedine Booysen Evardi Boshoff Lesley Botha David Brits Branden de Kock Robert Ebersohn Reinhardt Fortuin Malcolm Jaer Cohen Jasper Siya Masuku Tian Meyer Howard Mnisi Marcell Muller Ruan Pienaar Duncan Saal Chris Smit Rosko Specman François Steyn Brandon Thomson |
| Coach | Hawies Fourie |
Golden Lions squad :
| Forwards | Herman Agenbag Willem Alberts Kabous Bezuidenhout PJ Botha Justin Brandon Morné Brandon Ebot Buma Jarod Cairns Ruan Dreyer Jannie du Plessis Izan Esterhuizen Chergin Fillies Keagan Glade Travis Gordon Francke Horn Jaco Kriel Len Massyn Nathan McBeth Banele Mthenjane Oupa Mthiyane Lunga Ncube Lindo Ncusane Reinhard Nothnagel Asenathi Ntlabakanye FP Pelser MJ Pelser Carlü Sadie Sibusiso Sangweni Ruben Schoeman Sibusiso Shongwe Sti Sithole Roelof Smit Mark Snyman PJ Steenkamp Ruhan Straeuli Emmanuel Tshituka Vincent Tshituka Wilhelm van der Sluys Dameon Venter Jaco Visagie Edward Ronald White |
| Backs | Ross Cronjé Aidynn Cupido Boldwin Hansen Jordan Hendrikse Elton Jantjies Dan Kriel Gianni Lombard Duncan Matthews Rabz Maxwane James Mollentze Burger Odendaal Stean Pienaar Mannie Rass Divan Rossouw Luke Rossouw Ngia Selengbe Wandisile Simelane Courtnall Skosan Dillon Smit Tiaan Swanepoel Boitumelo Tsatsane Jamba Ulengo Morné van den Berg Henco van Wyk EW Viljoen André Warner Kurt Webster Fred Zeilinga |
| Coach | Ivan van Rooyen |
Griquas squad :
| Forwards | Andrew Beerwinkel Henco Beukes Janu Botha Luyolo Dapula Erich de Jager Carl Els Andrew Kuhn Jeandré Leonard Cameron Lindsay HJ Luus Madot Mabokela Johan Momsen Nqoba Mxoli Sibabalo Qoma Andries Schutte Hanru Sirgel Adré Smith Ruan Steenkamp Janco Uys Gideon van der Merwe Tiaan van der Merwe Ewald van der Westhuizen Alandré van Rooyen Tijde Visser Stefan Willemse Mzwanele Zito |
| Backs | Ederies Arendse Masixole Banda Theo Boshoff Enver Brandt Ashlon Davids Tinus de Beer Zander du Plessis Johnathan Francke Michal Haznar Christopher Hollis Daniel Kasende Eduan Keyter Harlon Klaasen Jay-Cee Nel Raegan Oranje André Swarts Stefan Ungerer James Verity-Amm George Whitehead |
| Coach | Scott Mathie |
Pumas squad :
| Forwards | Christo Bezuidenhout Llewelyn Classen Marné Coetzee Kwanda Dimaza Willie Engelbrecht Corné Fourie Etienne Janeke Pieter Jansen van Vuren Shane Kirkwood Francois Kleinhans Ruan Kramer Darrien Landsberg AJ le Roux Daniel Maartens Khwezi Mafu Phumzile Maqondwana Dewald Maritz Morgan Naudé Niel Otto Ewart Potgieter Ig Prinsloo Eduan Swart Brandon Valentyn HP van Schoor Simon Westraadt Jaco Willemse |
| Backs | Tiaan Botes Erich Cronjé Sebastian de Klerk Eddie Fouché Ruwellyn Isbell Japie Kleinhans Gerrie Labuschagné Tapiwa Mafura Niel Marais Neil Maritz Ali Mgijima Matt More Luther Obi Chriswill September Ginter Smuts Giovan Snyman Jade Stighling Etienne Taljaard Wayne van der Bank Alwayno Visagie Devon Williams |
| Coach | Jimmy Stonehouse |
Sharks squad :
| Forwards | Lourens Adriaanse Hyron Andrews Thembelani Bholi Phepsi Buthelezi Thomas du Toit Gerbrandt Grobler Mpilo Gumede Wiehahn Herbst Reniel Hugo Hanro Jacobs Dan Jooste Siya Kolisi Michael Kumbirai Jeandre Labuschagne Mzamo Majola Fez Mbatha Khutha Mchunu Ntuthuko Mchunu Khwezi Mona Ox Nché Sikhumbuzo Notshe Dylan Richardson Le Roux Roets 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 Lionel Cronjé Caleb Dingaan Lucky Dlepu Aphelele Fassi Jaden Hendrikse Rynhardt Jonker Werner Kok Murray Koster Manie Libbok Marius Louw Makazole Mapimpi Sbu Nkosi Sanele Nohamba Yaw Penxe Marnus Potgieter Anthony Volmink Jeremy Ward Grant Williams Cameron Wright |
| Coach | Sean Everitt |
Western Province squad :
| Forwards | Jason Alexander Juarno Augustus Justin Basson Dian Bleuler Kwenzo Blose Hacjivah Dayimani Johan du Toit Neethling Fouché Deon Fourie JJ Kotze Leon Lyons De Wet Marais Lee-Marvin Mazibuko David Meihuizen Simon Miller Salmaan Moerat Scarra Ntubeni Marvin Orie Niel Otto Evan Roos Sazi Sandi JD Schickerling Chad Solomon Marcel Theunissen Ernst van Rhyn Andre-Hugo Venter Reinach Venter Ali Vermaak Nama Xaba |
| Backs | Thomas Bursey Angelo Davids Juan de Jongh Paul de Wet Dan du Plessis Warrick Gelant Lyle Hendricks Tristan Leyds Godlen Masimla Sacha Mngomezulu Ruhan Nel Sihle Njezula Sergeal Petersen Rikus Pretorius Seabelo Senatla Chris Schreuder Cornel Smit Tim Swiel Edwill van der Merwe Abner van Reenen Sibabalwe Xamlashe Leolin Zas |
| Coach | John Dobson |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the competition:
2021 Currie Cup Premier Division referees :
* Aimee Barrett-Theron
* Stuart Berry
* Griffin Colby
* Morné Ferreira
* AJ Jacobs
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Paul Mente
* Rasta Rasivhenge
* Marius van der Westhuizen

## Champions Match

On 6 October, the South African Rugby Union announced that fans would get a chance to vote and select their own Currie Cup Select XV. The invitational side played Kenya who used the match a preparation ahead of their international matches in November 2021. The selected Currie Cup XV side was announced on 4 November.
* 6 November 2021 13:00 SAST (UTC+2)
| Currie Cup Select XV | 85–17 | Kenya |
| Try: Smit Hugo (2) Erasmus Botha Johannes (2) Coetzee Gans Maqondwana (2) Xaba Theunissen Con: Thomson (5) Whitehead (5) | Report | Try: Kubu Tanga Con: Kubu (2) Pen: Kubu (1) |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Team details :
| FB | 15 | Sibongile Novuka |
| RW | 14 | Werner Kok |
| OC | 13 | Chris Smit |
| IC | 12 | Howard Mnisi |
| LW | 11 | Stravino Jacobs |
| FH | 10 | Brandon Thomson |
| SH | 9 | Keagan Johannes |
| N8 | 8 | Arno Botha |
| BF | 7 | Phumzile Maqondwana (c) |
| OF | 6 | Nama Xaba |
| RL | 5 | Reniel Hugo |
| LL | 4 | PJ Steenkamp |
| TP | 3 | Aranos Coetzee |
| HK | 2 | Schalk Erasmus |
| LP | 1 | Simphiwe Matanzima |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Joe van Zyl |
| PR | 17 | Gerhard Steenekamp |
| PR | 18 | Mhleli Dlamini |
| LK | 19 | Reinhardt Ludwig |
| FL | 20 | Marcel Theunissen |
| SH | 21 | Paul de Wet |
| FH | 22 | George Whitehead |
| CE | 23 | Stedman Gans |
| Coach: ||
| Jake White ||
| FB | 15 | Darwin Mukidza |
| RW | 14 | Jacob Ojee |
| OC | 13 | Vincent Onyala |
| IC | 12 | John Okoth |
| LW | 11 | Brian Tanga |
| FH | 10 | John Kubu |
| SH | 9 | Samwel Asati |
| N8 | 8 | Stephen Sakari |
| OF | 7 | Dan Sikuta (c) |
| BF | 6 | Joshua Chisanga |
| RL | 5 | Thomas Okeyo |
| LL | 4 | Malcolm Onsando |
| TP | 3 | Patrick Oyugi |
| HK | 2 | Eugene Sifuna |
| LP | 1 | Ian Njenga |
| Replacements: ||
| HK | 16 | Bonface Ochieng |
| PR | 17 | Andrew Siminyu |
| PR | 18 | Melvin Thairu |
| LK | 19 | Bethwel Anami |
| FL | 20 | Fidel Oloo |
| SH | 21 | Barry Robinson |
| WG | 22 | Derrick Ashihundu |
| FB | 23 | Andrew Matoka |
| Coach: ||
| Paul Odera ||
* Assistant referees:
* Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
* Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
* Television match official:
* Stuart Berry (South Africa)