Last Currie Cup spot confirmed as attention shifts to SA Cup semifinals

WRAP: Boland Kavaliers outplayed the EP Elephants 85-29 in the final round-robin match of the 2026 SA Cup competition, at the Boland Rugby Stadium, in Wellington.

The result secured Boland the fourth and final spot on the SA Cup table, ensuring Currie Cup qualification for the 2026 season at the expense of Heyneke Meyer’s SWD, who defeated the Leopards in the other clash.

The home side led comfortably at the break 38-17, with Xavier Mitchell scoring four tries in the opening 40 minutes on the occasion of his 50th Boland Kavaliers cap.

Mitchell would cross the whitewash three more times in the second half, taking his try-scoring record for the match to seven.

In total, the Kavaliers ran in 13 tries to four in a match that saw the home side run rampant en route to an emphatic 51-point victory.

Mitchell, along with Sauliegh Arendse, made their 50th appearance for the Wellington side.

The Kavaliers broke down the EP Elephants’ defence with ease, despite the visitors making some telling tackles.

On attack, EP were just as clinical with former Kavaliers and Wellington native Garth April pulling the strings like a seasoned puppet master.

EP’s tries came via a brace from Mpho Ntsane, and a try apiece from Lwandile Mapuko and Jac van der Walt, with April influencing most of those tries.

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The second half belonged to the Kavaliers, with the men from Wellington making light work of the would-be defenders of the EP Elephants and running in tries at regular intervals.

Mitchell stole the show with seven five-pointers, marking his 50th Boland cap in style.

Jayden Bantom, playing against his former team, helped keep the scoreboard ticking over with replacement flyhalf Thurlon Williams picking up in the second half.

Bantom and Williams each succeeded with five of their attempts.

It was an all-round clinical and disciplined performance with the home side ticking all the right boxes to claim the much-needed five log points.

On Friday, the Cheetahs broke Griquas’ unbeaten record, and kept their Currie Cup qualification alive with a narrow 32-31 victory, whilst Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas continued their fine form with a 61-12 win over the Griffons.

Saturday saw plenty of action with a resurgent SWD Eagles thrashing the Leopards by 69-19 in George, whilst Border ended the season winless after going down by 12-50 against the Valke.

Griquas will welcome Boland at Suzuki Stadium this weekend, whilst the Pumas host the Cheetahs in Mbombela in the two semifinal clashes.

Dates and kick-off times are yet to be confirmed.

*See all scores and scorers below!

Friday, May 8

Cheetahs 32-31 Griquas 31

Scorers

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Rewan Kruger, Cohen Jasper, Munier Hartzenberg, Louis van der Westhuizen
Cons: Jaco van der Walt 2, Cohen Jasper
Pens: Van der Walt 2

For Griquas:
Tries: Dylan Maart, Damian Markus, Tiaan Lange, Connor Mahoney, Carel van der Merwe
Cons: George Whitehead 3

Pumas 61-12 Griffons 12

Scorers

For the Pumas:
Tries: Tino Swanepoel 3, Sango Xamlashe 2, Jay‑Cee Nel, De Wet Marais, Conor van Eeden, Clinton Swart
Cons: Clinton Swart 5, Danrich Visagie 3

For the Griffons:
Tries: Armand Maritz, Penalty try does not require a conversion

Boland Kavaliers 85-29 EP Elephants

Scorers

For Boland:
Tries: Xavier Michell 7, Chris Smit 2, Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Duren Hoffman, Kwanda Dimaza
Cons: Jayden Bantom 5, Thurlon Williams 5

For EP:
Tries: Mpho Ntsane 2, Lwandile Mapuko, Jac van der Walt
Cons: Garth April 3
Pen: April

SWD Eagles 69-19 Leopards

Scorers

For SWD:
Tries: Ulrich Wahl 3, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Hendrik Stemmet, Rosco Syster, Tiaan Fourie, Janus Venter, Tiaan Drotskie, Kyle Cyster, Nico Leonard
Cons: Fred Zeilinga 7, Abner van Reenen

For the Leopards:
Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi 2, Ghudian van Reenen
Cons: Jandre Burger 2

Border Bulldogs 12-50 Valke

Scorers

For Border:
Tries: Sokhana Mpemba, Lonwabo Rawana
Cons: Isiphe Mbini

For the Valke:
Tries: Abulele Ndabambi 4, Sergio Stalmeester, Mbembe Payi, Mosolwa Mafuma, Dirk Lourens
Cons: Sergio Stalmeester 5

Image credit: @BolandRugby