The decision to adopt a single-round format for the 2024 Carling Currie Cup brings added urgency to every fixture. With just seven rounds in the league phase, there’s minimal room for error — a far cry from previous seasons where teams had 12 or more matches to find form and recover from setbacks. This year’s opening weekend kicks off with a rematch of the 2022 final as the Airlink Pumas host the Suzuki Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday night. On Saturday, the ADT Fidelity Lions face the Hollywoodbets Sharks — a repeat of last year’s dramatic final — followed by a classic north-south derby between DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Cape Town. Sunday sees the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers make their return to the Premier Division as they welcome the reigning champions, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to Wellington.
For the non-URC affiliated unions — Boland, Pumas, and Griquas — this competition offers a crucial platform. Having already competed in the SA Cup, which the Pumas won against Griquas, these teams have had more time to gel. Their continuity and early preparation may give them an edge over URC franchises balancing multiple competitions. That said, development remains a strong theme this season. Early team announcements from URC sides show a commitment to youth. The Sharks, for instance, have named only a few players with recent URC or Currie Cup experience in their matchday squad for the trip to Johannesburg. The Lions, after possibly overstretching their senior players last year, appear to have scaled back, opting instead for a younger group led by experienced hooker Jaco Visagie. The Western Province squad features a blend of experience and rising talent — with players like Scarra Ntubeni and Courtnall Skosan joined by eight Junior Boks and several club-level call-ups hoping to break into the professional ranks.
Among the franchises, the Vodacom Bulls seem the most stacked with experience. Led by former Stormers flanker Nama Xaba, their squad includes Boeta Chamberlain, Junior Pokomela, and Marvin Orie, who returns to Pretoria after stints with the Stormers and Lions. Despite this, their wider group also includes six Junior Boks, indicating a well-balanced approach to development. With names like Orie and Sintu Manjezi in the engine room, the Bulls should enter the clash in Cape Town as slight favourites, especially given WP’s youthful line-up. The Lions vs. Sharks encounter is harder to call, though the Lions’ experience edge may prove decisive. Sharks coach JP Pietersen hinted at their underdog status, noting their aim is “to stay in the fight.” The Sharks, led once again by Nick Hatton, will be wary of another slow start. Last season they lost their opening three games — a misstep they can’t afford in a shortened campaign.
For players hoping to grab attention, the shortened format offers fewer chances to shine. Every match is now effectively a must-win, every performance a shop window. With rivalries like Pumas vs. Griquas gaining traction and new-look squads across the board, the 2024 Currie Cup promises intensity from the first whistle to the last.
CARLING CURRIE CUP FIRST ROUND FIXTURES
Friday: 19:30 – Airlink Pumas vs. Suzuki Griquas (Nelspruit)
Saturday: 15:00 – ADT Fidelity Lions vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks (Johannesburg)
Saturday: 17:10 – DHL Western Province vs. Vodacom Blue Bulls (Cape Town)
Sunday: 15:00 – Sanlam Boland Cavaliers vs. Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Wellington)
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