Meet the five rising stars to watch in the Currie Cup

SPOTLIGHT: The 2026 edition of the Currie Cup gets underway this weekend with a blockbuster opening round of fixtures across the country.

The first two matches will be played on Friday before the opening round concludes with a double-header on Sunday in Bloemfontein and Wellington.

The scheduling means Round One will not overlap with either the Nations Championship Test between the Springboks and Wales in Durban or the Junior World Championship final between the Baby Boks and France in Georgia.

Regarded as one of the oldest domestic rugby competitions in the world, the Currie Cup will once again allow fans to catch a glimpse of the next generation of South African talent emerging through the ranks.

The Bulls, Sharks, Stormers XXIII, and Lions are all expected to experiment with youthful squads, while still including a handful of experienced campaigners.

Meanwhile, defending champions Griquas, along with the Pumas and the Boland Kavaliers, will field full-strength teams as they look to challenge for the title.

Ahead of the competition, Rugby365 looks at five youngsters who will be eager to stake their claim and announce themselves on the senior stage.

Likhona Finca – Lions

Likhona Finca has been progressing through the Lions’ pathway system for several years and will view this year’s Currie Cup campaign as an opportunity to make a statement.

The former Westville Boys’ High pupil is an elusive back and can play both inside and outside centre and slot in on the wing.

Finca is a powerful ball carrier with blistering pace and sharp footwork, making him a constant threat in open space. He also has the vision to keep attacks alive with offloads and has proven to be a reliable finisher.

Defenders often struggle to contain him once he builds up a head of steam, with his combination of power, acceleration and evasiveness making him a difficult player to stop.

His journey to the Currie Cup has been an impressive one.

Over the years, he’s represented the Junior Springboks, played for the Lions U23 side this year, and had a Varsity Cup stint with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in 2024.

The Eastern Cape-born player has X-factor written all over him, and he proved that during the SA U23 Cup, which the Lions narrowly lost to the Bulls in May.

He showcased immense potential throughout that competition and will be eager to transfer that form into the Currie Cup.

While playing himself into the Lions URC or Champions Cup squad will be the long-term goal, Finca’s immediate focus will be on helping the Lions get over the line in the Currie Cup after coming short in two consecutive finals.

Josh Boulle – Stormers XXIII

The Stormers XXIII, formally known as Western Province, will make their Currie Cup debut this weekend, and there is plenty of excitement surrounding the Cape side.

The youthful squad will be coached by Tom Dawson-Squibb, and one of the players he’ll be relying on throughout the campaign is outside centre Josh Boulle.

Boulle is a full-package centre who’s known for combining his physicality with sheer power, pace, and a strong defensive mindset.

Comfortable attacking the gain line, he is a hard runner with the ability to create opportunities for those around him, while his composure and rugby IQ make him a reliable presence in the backline.

He’s also a former Junior Springbok and has been earmarked as a future leader after captaining the U23 side during this year’s inaugural SA Rugby U23 Cup.

Injuries have stalled the 22-year-old’s progress in recent seasons.

Last year, Boulle broke his leg and endured a lengthy rehabilitation before returning to action earlier this year in a friendly against Major League Rugby outfit Seattle Seawolves.

He was impressive in that clash, carried hard and went on to score a great try, underlining his potential.

With Dan du Plessis having departed for Bordeaux Bègles, the Currie Cup presents Boulle with a golden opportunity to push his case for greater involvement under John Dobson ahead of next season.

Simphiwe Ngobese – Sharks

He is the only forward on this list, and that speaks volumes about the potential of Simphiwe Ngobese.

The versatile Sharks prop has emerged as one of the most highly rated young front-rowers in South Africa, with many in Durban tipping him for a bright future.

Comfortable on both the loosehead and tighthead sides of the scrum, Ngobese is a powerful scrummager who also possesses the mobility and handling skills expected of the modern-day prop.

His footwork, ball-carrying ability and willingness to get involved around the park set him apart from many young players in his position.

While he is yet to make his URC debut, the youngster was part of the Junior Springbok squad that lifted the World Rugby U20 Championship title last year.

He was included in the Sharks’ Champions Cup squad and made his senior debut away to Toulouse.

Ngobese will be aiming to be among the breakout stars of this year’s Currie Cup.

Brooklyn Newman – Bulls

Many tipped Brooklyn Newman for a bright future even during his final year of school at Hoërskool Garsfontein.

The young, energetic, and lively scrumhalf was a key figure for his school and consistently influenced matches.

Since joining the Bulls, Newman has continued to develop, and this year’s Currie Cup campaign presents him with the perfect opportunity to take the next step in his career.

Newman has incredible pace and plays the game at a high tempo. He reads play well, and his ability to link up with his teammates is second to none.

The youngster does the basics well. Quick to the ruck, provides crisp service from the base and has the vision to identify space, making him a constant attacking threat around the fringes.

His kicking has also improved over time, and he’s a player who possesses X-factor.

In fact, he proved it during this year’s SA Rugby U23 Cup, scoring the match-winning try as the Bulls edged the Lions in a dramatic final at Ellis Park.

Newman was included in the Bulls’ Currie Cup squad last season, but 2026 feels like the campaign in which he can truly announce himself to those who haven’t heard of him.

Damian Markus – Griquas

Damian Markus has been named on the bench for Griquas’ opening Currie Cup clash against the Stormers XXIII in Cape Town.

The explosive centre is in line to face his former union just two years after leaving the Cape, having previously featured for Western Province in the Currie Cup before a move to Japan’s Shizuoka BlueRevs.

His stint in Japan was short-lived, however, and Markus returned to South Africa ahead of the 2026 season, where he linked up with Griquas.

Blessed with electric footwork, explosive acceleration and a sharp eye for the gap, Markus is a constant threat with ball in hand. He attacks the gain line with intent and can beat defenders one-on-one and possesses the pace to turn half chances into tries.

While not the biggest midfielder, Markus makes up for it with his speed, skill set and fearless approach, giving him the X-factor to change a game in an instant.

He’ll view the Griquas move as a second chance and look to perform well in the Currie Cup to potentially secure himself another move in the near future.