How to Determine a Final Winner

At Newlands on Saturday, there are three finals – Under-19, Under-21 and Currie Cup.  It is important to know how winners are determined in the event of a draw in any one of these finals.

It would be simplest if each final were determined in the allotted playing time without extra time. In fact in Under-19 rugby no extra time is allowed. In the Under-19 final, the match itself must provide the winner; otherwise the cup is shared.

In Currie Cup and Under-21 there is no sharing. There is extra time and as a last resort log position determines the winner, which in the Currie Cup final would be Western Province.

In the past there were shared cups as in 1932 and 1934 when Western Province and Border shared, 1971 when Northern Transvaal and Transvaal shared, 1979 Western Province and Northern Transvaal, 1989 Western Province and Northern Transvaal, and 2006 Blue Bulls and Free State. On the last four occasions (1971 – 2006), they were drawn finals. Now there has to be just one winner.

We have the regulations as written by SARU.

2 TO DETERMINE A WINNER IN FINAL MATCHES

2.2 FINAL MATCHES WHERE THE TEAMS PLAY AGAINST ALL THE OPPONENTS DURING THE POOL MATCHES (excluding Under-19 rugby and Under-16 Girls)

If scores are level after the scheduled time, the winner will be determined as follows:

2.2.1 the team scoring the most points within a twenty (20) minute extra time (ten (10) minutes each way with a one (1) minute break); and if still level

2.2.2 the team with the higher log position after the pool matches in that competition during the current season shall be the winner.

2.5 FINAL MATCHES IN UNDER-19 RUGBY WHERE THE TEAMS DO NOT Play AGAINST ALL THE OPPONENTS DURING THE POOL MATCHES

If scores are level after the scheduled time, the winner will be determined as follows:

2.5.1 the team that scored the most tries in the match; and if still level
2.5.2 the team that scored the most points in the first half; and if still level
2.5.3 the team that scored the most points in the second half; and if still level
2.5.4 in the event of a final the teams share the cup.

It is important to know what applies, as the Newlands semifinal showed.