New champion guaranteed as First Division kicks off

PREVIEW: A new name will be engraved on the First Division trophy in the last weekend of July, and all six teams will be eager to get their charge off to a strong start when the competition kicks off on Saturday.

Last year’s champions, the Boland Cavaliers, were promoted to the 2025 Currie Cup competition after finishing in the top four of the recently concluded SA Cup.

This opens the doors for Eastern Province, runners up in 2024 after they were pipped to the crown by the tiniest of margins by the Cavaliers, the Griffons, Falcons, SWD Eagles, Leopards, and Border Bulldogs to bring some silverware home in a few weeks.

All three opening-round matches kick off at 15.00 local time on Saturday when EP welcome the Eagles to Gqeberha, the Griffons host the Falcons in Welkom, and the Bulldogs travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Leopards.

Eastern Province has won three of the last five clashes between the two neighbouring sides, including a 39-26 victory in George in the SA Cup in March, and they will run out at the Madibaz Stadium as the favourites.

The clash between the Griffons and the Falcons could very well determine which teams are near the top of the log after the competition. Looking at the recent results between the teams, a high-scoring affair could be on the cards.

Both sides did well in the SA Cup, with the East Randers edging the Northern Free Staters into sixth place on the standings, mainly courtesy of a 45-40 victory in Kempton Park in April, although the Griffons won their last home match against the Falcons, last year in the SA Cup by 53-40.

The Leopards will bank on recent history repeating itself when they welcome the Border Bulldogs to Olen Park, with the team from North West victorious in their last seven matches since rugby resumed after the pandemic a few years ago.

Border will take some heart from their last two clashes, though, which were decided by margins of three and two points respectively.

Following a single round of matches, the top four sides will clash in the semifinals on the weekend of July 19, with the Final scheduled for the following weekend, when the Currie Cup competition kicks off.

Eastern Province v SWD Eagles

Teams:

Eastern Province: 15 Jayden Bantom, 14 Davian Swanepoel, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Rodney Damons, 10 Oliver Zondo, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 AthiManentsa, 7 Laken Gray, 6 Diego Williams, 5 Hannes Huisamen, 4 Stefan Willemse (captain), 3 Duncan du Buisson, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Zukisa Sali
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Andile Ngonyama, 18 Endinako Kuse, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Ruan Claassen, 21 Wayne Ngubane, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant

SWD Eagles: TBC

Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Lulutho Matomela

Griffons v Falcons

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Chris Hollis, 11 Zamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Richman Gora, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 matthew Gray, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Edwin Nxumalo, 2 Willem van den Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Lungisile Mbiko, 21 Jared Kruger, 22 Fazeel Robertson, 23 Quan Eymann

Falcons: TBC

Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby

Leopards v Border Bulldogs

Teams:

Leopards: TBC

Border Bulldogs: TBC

Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Zoe Naude