Currie Cup, SA Cup and Women’s League shape SA Rugby’s 2026 season

The Currie Cup, scheduled to start in July, will headline South Africa’s domestic rugby calendar in 2026, which also includes the SA Cup, Women’s Super League 1 and the Youth Weeks.

Eight teams will compete in South Africa’s oldest domestic tournament, with the four United Rugby Championship franchises — the Sharks, Western Province, the Bulls and the Lions — assured of their places. They will be joined by four teams that qualify through the SA Cup, which gets underway in March.

Defending Currie Cup champions Griquas will need to qualify via the SA Cup, where 10 teams will contest this year’s edition. They will face stiff competition from the Cheetahs, Boland Kavaliers, Pumas, Griffons, Leopards, Valke, Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles and Eastern Province.

The SA Cup final will be played on 23 May, after which the top four teams will qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division. The remaining sides will compete in the First Division of the domestic competition, which begins on 13 June.

Anticipation is already building for the start of the Women’s Super League 1 on 15 February, with the Bulls Daisies aiming to defend their title. Following the Women Boks’ exploits at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, the spotlight will be firmly on the competition to see whether standards can be raised ahead of another demanding international season.

Springbok Women’s performance coach Swys de Bruin and his assistants will be monitoring the tournament closely as they scout for talent ahead of blockbuster Tests against the USA and New Zealand later in 2026.

2026 SA Rugby competition schedule:

Currie Cup Premier Division

Participating teams: Bulls, Sharks, Western Province, Lions and the top four qualifiers in the SA Cup. Defending champions: Griquas. Opening round: 18 July (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final). Final: 12 September

Currie Cup First Division

Participating teams: The six teams who missed out on the Premier Division at the end of the SA Cup. Defending champions: Griffons. Opening round: 13 June (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final). Final: 25 July

SA Cup

Participating teams: Pumas (defending champions), Boland Kavaliers, Border Bulldogs, Eastern Province, Cheetahs, Griquas, Griffons, Leopards, SWD Eagles, Valke. Opening round: 7 March (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final). Final: 23 May

Women’s Super League 1

Participating teams: Bulls Daisies (defending champions), Boland Dames, Border Ladies, Eastern Province Queens, Free State Women, Golden Lions Women, Sharks Women, Western Province. Opening round: 15 February (single round of matches with a final). Final: 4 April

Women’s Super League 2

Participating teams: Pumas Women (defending champions), Griquas Women, Griffons Women, Leopards Women, Limpopo Blue Bulls Women, SWD Eagirls, Valke Women. Opening round: 4 July (single round of matches with a final). Final: 22 August

Gold Cup

Participating teams: 32 clubs from the 15 provincial unions. Defending champions: Naka Bulls. Opening round: 26 September (knockout format). Final: 24 October.

Women’s Club Championship

Participating teams: 16 clubs from the 15 provincial unions. Defending champions: Kwaru. When: 19 to 26 September (knockout format)

Youth Weeks

U18 Craven Week & U18 Girls Week. Venue:Grey High School, Gqeberha. When: 6 to 11 July. SA Schools matches (boys and girls): 16 July.

U16 Grant Khomo Week and & U16 Girls Week. Where:Kearsney College, Durban. When: 29 June to 3 July.