SA Cup, Round One - Teams and Predictions
ROUND ONE PREVIEW: There is plenty to play for in the 2026 edition of the SA Cup, but more so for Griquas, who need to secure qualification at the culmination of the tournament to defend their 2025 Currie Cup title.
The third instalment of the tournament promises to offer an early indicator of who will be in the hunt for the coveted top four positions that secure a place in this year’s Currie Cup.
The competition kicks off on Friday, March 6, with three fixtures scheduled for the evening, followed by two matches on Saturday.
Griquas lifted the inaugural title in 2024, but their reign was cut short as the Pumas dethroned them in a pulsating Final in Nelspruit last season.
As in previous years, the top four teams on the log at the end of the league phase will earn their passage to the Currie Cup, while the remaining six unions will contest the First Division.
After Griquas’ maiden triumph in 2024, the Pumas secured their first SA Cup crown in 2025 with a commanding victory in the Final at Mbombela Stadium.
The two finalists – along with the Cheetahs and the Boland Cavaliers – qualified for the Currie Cup last season, joining the four United Rugby Championship franchises.
The Pumas just missed out on the Currie Cup play-offs, but the Cheetahs, Boland Cavaliers and the eventual champions, Griquas, all occupied the top half of the log in 2025.
This year, the spotlight will also fall on the resurgent Boland Cavaliers, as well as the revitalised SWD Eagles, now under the guidance of former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who is back at Outeniqua Park, intending to reshape the union’s trajectory.
Eastern Province and the Falcons will open the 2026 season at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
EP – coached by former Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee – will look to build on a 2025 campaign that saw them win four of their nine matches and push opponents close in several of their defeats.
JP Immelman’s Falcons, meanwhile, will be targeting an improved finish after ending fifth in last year’s SA Cup, two points shy of Boland in fourth and just missing out on a place in the Currie Cup.
The defending champions, Pumas, begin their title defence in George, where they face the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park.
Although the Pumas have once again lost several regulars to other unions, their recruitment remains sharp, and several seasoned campaigners still anchor their squad.
The clash sets up an intriguing coaching duel between the experienced Jimmy Stonehouse and Meyer, who starts his second tenure with SWD.
Last year’s opening‑round encounter ended 75–7 in favour of the Pumas, but with Meyer now steering the Eagles and an influx of fresh talent, a far tighter contest is expected.
On Friday, the Cheetahs – now under former Springbok utility back Frans Steyn host Boland Cavaliers in Bloemfontein.
The sides finished second and third respectively last season, and this fixture is a reverse of their 2025 opener, where Boland – again under the coaching of Hawies Fourie – stunned the Cheetahs 45–29 in Wellington. Both teams are again considered strong contenders for semifinal places.
Saturday’s fixtures see Griquas welcome the Leopards to Kimberley, while the Griffons host the Border Bulldogs in Welkom.
Griquas dominated the corresponding fixture last year with a 66–7 triumph in Potchefstroom, where Riaan van Straten will take the Leopards’ reins this year, and as reigning Currie Cup champions, Pieter Bergh’s side will be aiming for another strong start.
Border, with Dumisani Mhani as head coach, travels up to the Northern Free State looking to improve on their 2025 opening‑round defeat to Jacques Juries’s Griffons.
The Bulldogs struggled to gain traction last season, losing all nine games, and will be desperate to set a new tone in 2026.
*See all the teams and predictions below!
Friday, March 6
Eastern Province v Falcons
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Eastern Province by 12 points
Teams:
Eastern Province: 15 Lwandile Mapuko, 14 Rodney Damons, 13 Christiaan Potgieter, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Garth April, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Damon Royle, 7 Athenkosi Khethani, 6 Laken Gray, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Joshua Paris, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Siyakubonga Nzuzo
Replacements: 16 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 17 Hlomla Zodani, 18 Duncan du Buisson, 19 Armand Grobler, 20 Francois Bester, 21 Richman Gora, 22 Maxwell Klaasen, 23 Liyema Matyolweni
Falcons: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Adrian Joubert, 13 Theuns Pretorius, 12 Zeilinga Strydom, 11 Ezrick Alexander, 10 Sergio Stalmeester, 9 Luciano Elias, 8 Abulele Ndabambi, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Zander van der Merwe, 5 Cayno February, 4 Mihlali Stamper (captain), 3 Blaine Golden, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit
Replacements: 16 Sikholise Nanto, 17 Ethan Jeffery, 18 Thabo Ntunja, 19 Dirco Lourens, 20 Zingisa April, 21 Kelvin Kanenungo, 22 Wernich Aucamp, 23 Musa Tshabalala
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant referees: SARU appointed
TMO: SARU appointed
SWD Eagles v Pumas
(Outeniqua Park, George – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Pumas by 12 points
Teams
SWD Eagles: 15 Andell Loubser, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 Niel Beukes, 12 Carlton Banies, 11 Keanu Vers, 10 Abner van Reenen (captain), 9 Xavier Swartbooi, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Carel du Preez (captain), 6 HD Stemmet, 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Matthew Gray, 3 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Nathan Meilhon
Replacements: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Ntokozo Hlophe, 18 Christo Swanepoel, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Gideon van Wyk, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Tiaan Pretorius
Pumas: 15 Andrew Kota, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Dalvon Blood, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 7 Andre Goedhals, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers (captain), 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Kudzwai Dube
Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Miyelani Ngobeni, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Jaycee Nel, 23 Darre Adonis
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: SARU appointed
TMO: SARU appointed
Cheetahs v Boland Cavaliers
(Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Cheetahs by five points
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackerman, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Carl Wegener, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Matome Manyama
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Cohen Jasper, 23 Clayton Blommetjies
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh, 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Dewald Maritz
Replacements: 16 Joshua Eras, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Andrew Beerwinkel, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Erik Lambrecht, 23 Thurlon Williams
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant referees: Tiaan Engelbrecht, DJ Hefer
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Saturday, March 7
Griquas v Leopards
(Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Griquas by 18 points
Teams
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Connor Mahoney, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Liam Koen, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Keagan Blanckenberg, 17 Corne Lavanga, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Lungi Mbiko, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Tom Nel
Leopards: 15 Jandre Burger, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Indiphile Tyeda, 12 Bryan Breda, 11 Naiden Jaarts, 10 Shaun Baxter, 9 Daimon O’Connell (vice-captain), 8 Adri Kermis, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Armin Posthumus, 5 Mnncedisi Dlwengu, 4 Stephen Taylor, 3 Werner Geldenhuys, 2 Jason Alexander (captain), Tatenda Chayayi
Replacements: 16 Alistair O’Brien, 17 Spehekale Dube, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Babalo Makana, 20 Divan Pieters, 21 Hlumelo Ndudula, 22 Noegh Hayward, 23 Hennie Otto
Referee: Aimee Barrett‑Theron
Assistant referees: SARU appointed
TMO: SARU appointed
Griffons v Border Bulldogs
(Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Griffons by 15 points
Teams
Griffons: 15 Quan Eymann, 14 Chadrack Tsimanga, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Izzy Novuka, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Jared Kruger, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 Sergio Moreira, 4 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 3 Hlumza Nondonga, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Chyle van Zyl, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Tsepo Kalayamodimo, 19 Jack Steyn, 20 Camagu Dlisani, 21 Rian Olivier, 22 Daylon Myners, 23 Clive Kruger
Border Bulldogs:15 Avuyile Mabece, 14 Lwazi Monakali, 13 Sphamandla Soti, 12 Lhumelo Zitha, 11 Sakheile Dingile, 10 Mbasa Nkonki, 9 Hlumelo Pantyo, 8 Sokuphmla Xakalashe, 7 Hlomla Payi, 6 Luvumo Makata, 5 Likho Ndiyalwa, 4 Caleb Radcliffe, 3 Sivuyise Mabece, 2 Sokhana Mpemba, 1 Sibusiso Lali
Replacements: 16 Bunono Jamani, 17 Siyamthanda Marele, 18 Mbasa Babele, 19 Kamva Tetani, 20 Esethu Zenani, 21 Oyisa Balekile, 22 Khanyisa Joni, 23 Lutho Mene
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: SARU appointed
TMO: SARU appointed
