# 2014 Currie Cup First Division

The 2014 Currie Cup First Division was contested between 29 August and 17 October 2014. The tournament (also known as the Absa Currie Cup First Division for sponsorship reasons) was the second tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.

## Competition

There were six participating teams in the 2014 Currie Cup First Division. A proposed expansion of the Premier Division to eight teams was initially rejected, but was then subsequently approved on 13 February 2014. This meant that the First Division was reduced to six teams for 2014.

### Regular season and title playoffs

The six teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away. The first series of fixtures were played as part of the 2014 Currie Cup qualification competition, with all results carried forward to the First Division except for the match against the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division qualifier. A second set of fixtures then followed between the remaining six teams.
Each team 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 points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top 4 teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semifinals, 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

All the teams qualified for the 2015 Currie Cup qualification series, since Griquas, a non-entrenched team, finished in the bottom two of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division.

## Teams

The six participating teams were:
2014 Currie Cup First Division teams :
| Team | Sponsored Name | Stadium/s | Sponsored Name |
| Boland Cavaliers | Regent Boland Cavaliers | Boland Stadium, Wellington | Boland Stadium |
| Border Bulldogs | Border Bulldogs | Buffalo City Stadium, East London | Buffalo City Stadium |
| Falcons | Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | Barnard Stadium |
| Griffons | Down Touch Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom | North West Stadium |
| Leopards | Leopards | Olën Park, Potchefstroom | Profert Olën Park |
| SWD Eagles | SWD Eagles | Outeniqua Park, George | Outeniqua Park |

## Log

The final log of the round-robin stage of the 2014 Currie Cup First Division was:
2014 Currie Cup First Division log :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leopards | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 514 | 254 | +260 | 75 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 42 | Semi-finals |
| 2 | Griffons | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 314 | 330 | −16 | 41 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 32 | Semi-finals |
| 3 | SWD Eagles | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 296 | 317 | −21 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 30 | Semi-finals |
| 4 | Falcons | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 303 | 323 | −20 | 40 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 26 | Semi-finals |
| 5 | Boland Cavaliers | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 275 | 278 | −3 | 36 | 37 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| 6 | Border Bulldogs | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 211 | 411 | −200 | 27 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
The teams' playing records from the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series brought forward to the First Division are as follows:
Playing records brought forward :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Leopards | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 324 | 108 | +216 | 47 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| 2 | Griffons | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 159 | 170 | −11 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| 3 | SWD Eagles | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 188 | −37 | 21 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | Boland Cavaliers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 135 | +2 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 5 | Falcons | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 168 | 183 | −15 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 6 | Border Bulldogs | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 113 | 268 | −155 | 15 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 2 |

## Fixtures and results

All the results from the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament were carried forward into the First Division season. The results against the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division qualifier were discarded.

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

Following the match between the Leopards and the Falcons, the former lodged a complaint with the South African Rugby Union regarding the eligibility of Falcons fly-half Clinton Swart. The Leopards argued that Swart was only eligible for the final two matches of the Currie Cup First Division competition and therefore not eligible to play in the semi-finals. However, SARU Judicial Officer Rob Stelzner SC, ruled that Swart fulfilled the eligibility criteria and rejected the complaint.

#### Final
## Honours

* 2014 Absa Currie Cup First Division Champions
* Griffons 2nd title

## Players
### Player statistics

The following table contains points which have been scored in the 2014 Currie Cup First Division and excludes points scored in the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series:
All point scorers :
| No | Player | Team | T | C | P | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Elric van Vuuren | SWD Eagles | 1 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 88 |
| 2 | Jaun Kotzé | Falcons | 0 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 59 |
| 3 | Louis Strydom | Griffons | 0 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 56 |
| 4 | André Pretorius | Leopards | 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 49 |
| 5 | Masixole Banda | Border Bulldogs | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
| 5 | Eric Zana | Boland Cavaliers | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 38 |
| 7 | Franna du Toit | Griffons | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| 8 | Tertius Maarman | Griffons | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Rhyno Smith | Leopards | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 10 | Boela Abrahams | Griffons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| 11 | Johan Deysel | Leopards | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 11 | Dirk Dippenaar | Falcons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 11 | Kyle Hendricks | Falcons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 11 | Sylvian Mahuza | Leopards | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 11 | Norman Nelson | Griffons | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 16 | Alshaun Bock | SWD Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Danwel Demas | Boland Cavaliers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Morné Hugo | Boland Cavaliers | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Adri Jacobs | Leopards | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Dwayne Kelly | SWD Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Hoffmann Maritz | Leopards | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Bruce Muller | Falcons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Wynand Pienaar | Griffons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Anrich Richter | Falcons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Rynardt van Wyk | Border Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Jacques Verwey | Falcons | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 27 | Chris Ehlers | Griffons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Morné Hanekom | Leopards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Zandré Jordaan | Boland Cavaliers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Strand Kruger | Boland Cavaliers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Richard Lawson | Boland Cavaliers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Makazole Mapimpi | Border Bulldogs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Vuyo Mbotho | Griffons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Aubrey McDonald | Griffons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Lithabile Mgwadleka | Border Bulldogs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | JP Mostert | Falcons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Japie Nel | Griffons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Lundi Ralarala | Border Bulldogs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Daniel Roberts | SWD Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Brian Skosana | SWD Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Dillon Smit | Leopards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | HP Swart | Leopards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | George Tossel | Leopards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Clinton Wagman | SWD Eagles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Rhyk Welgemoed | Leopards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 27 | Cheswin Williams | Boland Cavaliers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 47 | Junior Bester | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Deon Carney | Leopards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Coert Cronjé | Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Jovelian de Koker | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Christo du Plessis | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Martin du Toit | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Leighton Eksteen | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Roy Godfrey | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Hansie Graaff | Border Bulldogs | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Shane Kirkwood | Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Clemen Lewis | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Earl Lewis | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Mihlali Mpafi | Border Bulldogs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Lindani Ndlela | Border Bulldogs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Friedle Olivier | Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Buran Parks | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Ulrich Pretorius | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Christian Rust | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Ashwin Scott | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Frans Sisita | Griffons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Nicky Steyn | Griffons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Sergio Torrens | Leopards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Albert Trytsman | Boland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Joe van der Hoogt | Griffons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Andrew van Tonder | Falcons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Jacques Vermaak | Leopards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 47 | Mzwanele Zito | SWD Eagles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 74 | Clinton Swart | Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| – | penalty try | Falcons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| – | penalty try | Leopards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points. ||||||||

### Squad Lists

The teams released the following squad lists:
Boland Cavaliers
Forwards
* Keenan Abrahams
* Gavin Annandale
* Yves Bashiya
* Ryno Coetzee
* Ashton Constant
* Martin Dreyer
* Kelvin Fikster
* Jason Fraser
* Francois Hanekom
* Zandré Jordaan
* Hanno Kitshoff
* Strand Kruger
* Clemen Lewis
* Dumisani Meslane
* Khwezi Mkhafu
* Ulrich Pretorius
* Franzel September
* Chaney Willemse
* Did not play:
* SP Wessels
Backs
* Christopher Bosch
* Jovelian de Koker
* Danwel Demas
* Sino Ganto
* Marnus Hugo
* Morné Hugo
* Richard Lawson
* Earl Lewis
* Christian Rust
* Edwin Sass
* Duwayne Smart
* Albert Trytsman
* Chevandré van Schoor
* Cheswin Williams
* Eric Zana
* Did not play:
* Ryno Conradie
* Arno Fortuin
* Harlon Klaasen
* Nathaniel Manuel
* Tiaan Ramat
Coach
* Abé Davids / Dewey Swartbooi
Border Bulldogs
Forwards
* Ludwe Booi
* Onke Dubase
* Martin Ferreira
* Anthonie Gronum
* Simon Kerrod
* Blake Kyd
* Wayne Lemley
* Athenkosi Manentsa
* Siya Mdaka
* Mihlali Mpafi
* Buhle Mxunyelwa
* Nkosi Nofuma
* Lukhanyo Nomzanga
* Wandile Putuma
* Bryce Rennie
* Rynardt van Wyk
* Lindokuhle Welemu
* Yanga Xakalashe
* Did not play:
* Cheslin Goeda
* Johannes Jonker
* Naythan Knoetze
* Gareth Krause
* Sibulele Nanto
* Siyamthanda Ngande
* Ayabonga Nomboyo
* Anele Sibeko
Backs
* Masixole Banda
* Hansie Graaff
* Ruan Jacobs
* Ntando Kebe
* Bangi Kobese
* Michael Makase
* Makazole Mapimpi
* Lithabile Mgwadleka
* Thembani Mkokeli
* Lindani Ndlela
* Mario Noordman
* Lundi Ralarala
* Joe Seerane
* Oliver Zono
* Did not play:
* Niell Jacobs
* Skhangele Mateza
* Sipho Nofemele
* Siya Pati
* Lolo Waka
Coach
* André Human
Falcons
Forwards
* Jacques Alberts
* Devlin Hope
* JP Jonck
* Shane Kirkwood
* Ernst Ladendorf
* JP Mostert
* Dean Muir
* Bruce Muller
* Thulani Ngidi
* Friedle Olivier
* Nico Pretorius
* Brian Shabangu
* Dandré van der Westhuizen
* Andrew van Tonder
* Jacques Verwey
* Marlyn Williams
* Did not play:
* Gerhard Engelbrecht
* Vince Gwavu
* KK Kgame
* Riaan Matthee
* De Wet Meyer
* Chris Richardson
* Andries Schutte
* Peet Vorster
Backs
* Coert Cronjé
* Dirk Dippenaar
* Cecil Dumond
* Wayne Gardner
* Kyle Hendricks
* Jaun Kotzé
* Sino Nyoka
* Willie Odendaal
* Jaco Oosthuizen
* Arno Poley
* Dewald Pretorius
* Anrich Richter
* Jaco Snyman
* Clinton Swart
* Andrew van Wyk
* Did not play:
* Lukhanyo Am
* Riaan Arends
* Ryan Carmichael
* Angus Cleophas
* Grant Janke
* Sandile Ngcobo
* Etienne Taljaard
* Lenience Tambwera
* Waylon Thompson
Coach
* Johan du Toit
Griffons
Forwards
* Gerard Baard
* PW Botha
* Jan Breedt
* Rudi Britz
* Wikus Davis
* Chris Ehlers
* Dirk Grobbelaar
* Boetie Groenewald
* Elandré Huggett
* Armandt Koster
* Erik le Roux
* Heinrich Roelfse
* Frans Sisita
* Martin Sithole
* Hannes Snyman
* Nicky Steyn
* Joe van der Hoogt
* Danie van der Merwe
* Vaatjie van der Merwe
* Did not play:
* Mlungisi Bali
* Niell Jordaan
* AJ le Roux
* Henru Liebenberg
* Werner Lourens
* Mayizukiswe Ntshoko
* Kevin Stevens
Backs
* Boela Abrahams
* Franna du Toit
* Werner Griesel
* Colin Herbert
* Tertius Maarman
* Vuyo Mbotho
* Aubrey McDonald
* Japie Nel
* Norman Nelson
* Ossie Nortjé
* Wynand Pienaar
* Louis Strydom
* Vink van der Walt
* Did not play:
* Pieter-Steyn de Wet
* Joubert Engelbrecht
* Sheldon Erasmus
* Cameron Jacobs
* Bren Marais
* Shaun Prins
Coach
* Oersond Gorgonzola
Leopards
Forwards
* Stoof Bezuidenhout
* Molotsi Bouwer
* Deon Carney
* Marius Fourie
* Morné Hanekom
* John-Roy Jenkinson
* Danie Jordaan
* Juan Language
* JC Oberholzer
* Francois Robertse
* Joe Smith
* HP Swart
* PJ Uys
* Schalk van Heerden
* Ruan Venter
* Jacques Vermaak
* Rhyk Welgemoed
* Johan Wessels
* Did not play:
* Jaco Buys
* Stompie de Wet
* Arno Ebersohn
* Robert Kruger
* Armandt Liebenberg
* Mash Mafela
* Edgar Marutlulle
* Stairs Mhlongo
* Lucky Ngcamu
* SJ Niemand
* Siya November
* Henri Scharneck
* Brendon Snyman
* Akker van der Merwe
* Elardus Venter
Backs
* Rowayne Beukman
* Lucian Cupido
* Kobus de Kock
* Johan Deysel
* Warren Gilbert
* Adri Jacobs
* Sylvian Mahuza
* Hoffmann Maritz
* Luther Obi
* André Pretorius
* Dillon Smit
* Rhyno Smith
* Sergio Torrens
* George Tossel
* Vian van der Watt
* Percy Williams
* Did not play:
* Justin Botha
* Adriaan Engelbrecht
* Tshotsho Mbovane
* Leon Meyer
* Gerhard Nortier
* Wynand Olivier
* SW Oosthuizen
* Jaap Pienaar
* Chriswill September
* Pieter Smith
* Malherbe Swart
* Malan van der Merwe
Coach
* Robert du Preez
SWD Eagles
Forwards
* Junior Bester
* Ashley Buys
* Layle Delo
* Christo du Plessis
* Dexter Fahey
* Roy Godfrey
* Marcel Groenewald
* Lyndon Hartnick
* Kurt Haupt
* Grant Kemp
* Wayne Khan
* Grant le Roux
* Schalk Oelofse
* Davon Raubenheimer
* Shaun Raubenheimer
* Janneman Stander
* Peet van der Walt
* Mzwanele Zito
* Did not play:
* Hannes Franklin
* Raoul Larson
Backs
* Alshaun Bock
* Martin du Toit
* Mzo Dyantyi
* Leighton Eksteen
* Dwayne Kelly
* Hentzwill Pedro
* Daniel Roberts
* Ashwin Scott
* Brian Skosana
* Gerrit Smith
* Elric van Vuuren
* Luzuko Vulindlu
* Clinton Wagman
* Did not play:
* Karlo Aspeling
* Jarryd Buys
* Danie Faasen
* Anver Venter
Coach
* Bevin Fortuin