Union priorities define URC success
OPINION: As a fan in the current rugby climate, would you prefer a Currie Cup win or success at a higher level?
Rhetorical question, maybe, depending on who you support.
For Griquas and their supporters, breaking a 55-year drought by winning their first Currie Cup title since 1970 was a massive moment. They competed against the “big four” South African unions participating in the United Rugby Championship and came out on top.
The same counts for the Pumas in 2022, who won their first-ever domestic championship and went on to compete in the Final once more the following season.
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On the flipside of the coin, you have the “big four” who used the Currie Cup as a development tournament and prioritised player development over winning the title.
Sad as it may seem, they don’t have much of a choice with the URC (and Champions Cup in between) played between September and June.
It’s a long season, and players need their required breaks before starting pre-season for the next campaign.
All four of the URC participating franchises took a unique approach each Currie Cup season and had mixed results.
Let’s start with the Lions.
The Johannesburg-based side prioritised to play the bulk of their URC squad in the bid to win the Currie Cup, in which they agonisingly fell short two years consecutively in dramatic fashion.
Currently in the URC, they’re enduring a mixed bag season but are still in play-off position nearly midway through the season.
However, some cracks are starting to show, and one has to wonder how fresh their stars are who did duty during the 2025 Currie Cup season.
The Bulls started off having a well-balanced squad, but systematically had players called up to the Springboks and the URC squad for pre-season, leaving them out of the play-off picture after topping the table for the first two rounds
This, however, gave valuable game time to the likes of Nama Xaba, who wasn’t a regular URC starter, Jeandré Rudolph, who has been a beast since returning to the light blue jersey and Junior Bok sensation Cheswill Jooste, who has been thriving on the wing before his recent injury setback.
The Sharks and Western Province took the approach to play the bulk of their junior players.
Following the departure of Manie Libbok, Stormers fans were concerned whether Jurie Matthee would be able to smoke the proverbial pipe should Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu be injured or on national duty.
Matthee’s time in the blue and white hoops did him the world’s good as he is one of the in-form flyhalves in this season’s URC and the top points scorer in the competition (78).
Hooker Lukhanyo Vokozela stepped up at hooker for the Stormers this past weekend against the Lions, whilst Zachary Porthen’s stocks rose overnight after just four appearances for the Capetonians, ending the year with three Test caps to his name.
Junior Bok prop Oliver Reid also earned his first Stormers cap this season at the tender age of 19 years against Leinster in Round One, and expect plenty more from him to come in the future.
During the 2024 Currie Cup campaign, Paul de Villiers was deemed to be “too small” in stature, and he struggled to initially find his feet.
This season, he is racking up man-of-the-match awards for fun and whispers of a call-up to the Boks are looming beyond the Cape borders.
The Sharks’ Junior Bok champion players had a good hit out during this year’s domestic tournament, and the likes of Matt Romao and Batho Hlekane tasted URC action this season, and more should get an opportunity during the second half of the season.
All in all, risking youngsters during the Currie Cup might not result in a play-off spot, but the tournament remains crucial for their development to the next level, right up to the very top.
