2018 Currie Cup First Division

The 2018 Currie Cup First Division was the second tier of the 2018 Currie Cup, the 80th edition of the annual South African rugby union competition organised by the South African Rugby Union. It was played between 24 August and 19 October 2018 and featured seven of the eight teams that played in 2017, following Namibian side Welwitschias' withdrawal.

2018 Currie Cup First Division
Countries	South Africa
Date	24 August – 19 October 2018
Champions	SWD Eagles (3rd title)
Runners-up	Falcons
Matches played	24
Tries scored	223 (average 9.3 per match)
Top point scorer	Anrich Richter (Falcons, 105)
Top try scorer	Etienne Taljaard (Falcons, 13)
← 2017 2019 →

The competition was won by the SWD Eagles, who beat the Falcons 36–27 in the final played on 19 October 2018.

Competition rules and information

There were seven participating teams in the 2018 Currie Cup First Division. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or away. Teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams in the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.^[1]

Financial crisis and withdrawal of Welwitschias

The start of the 2018 Currie Cup First Division was marred by financial problems following the South African Rugby Union's announcement that First Division teams' budgets would be cut by 52%. The Griffons announced that they would reduce player contracts to 8-month contracts^[2] and the Leopards intimated that they might forfeit away matches to save on travel costs.^[3] and there were serious concerns about the participation of teams like the Border Bulldogs and Eastern Province Elephants. Namibian side Welwitschias were informed that they would have to pay the travel costs for teams travelling to games in Windhoek, but — after initial reports indicated that they raised the money with the help of World Rugby^[4] — they could not raise the required funds and announced their withdrawal from the competition.^[5]

Teams

Boland Cavaliers

Border Bulldogs

Eastern Province Elephants

Falcons

Griffons

Leopards

SWD Eagles

Location of teams in the 2018 Currie Cup First Division

The teams that played in the 2018 Currie Cup First Division are:^[6]

2018 Currie Cup First Division teams
Team	Sponsored Name	Stadium/s	Sponsored Name
Boland Cavaliers	Boland Cavaliers	Boland Stadium, Wellington	Boland Stadium
Border Bulldogs	Border Bulldogs	Buffalo City Stadium, East London	Buffalo City Stadium
Eastern Province Elephants	Eastern Province Elephants	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Falcons	Hino Valke	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park	Barnard Stadium
Griffons	Down Touch Griffons	North West Stadium, Welkom	HT Pelatona Projects Stadium
Leopards	Leopards	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom	Fanie du Toit Stadium
SWD Eagles	SWD Eagles	Outeniqua Park, George	Outeniqua Park

Pool stage

Standings

The final log for the 2018 Currie Cup First Division was:^[7]

2018 Currie Cup First Division log

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	SWD Eagles (Q)	6	5	0	1	220	125	+95	31	17	5	1	26	Semifinals
2	Falcons	6	4	0	2	305	199	+106	45	29	5	1	22
3	Leopards	6	4	0	2	201	161	+40	28	22	5	1	22
4	Griffons	6	3	0	3	219	194	+25	34	27	5	2	19
5	Boland Cavaliers	6	3	0	3	195	177	+18	27	26	2	1	15
6	Border Bulldogs	6	2	0	4	141	233	−92	22	36	3	0	11
7	Eastern Province Elephants	6	0	0	6	117	309	−192	17	47	2	1	3

Source: ^[7]
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
(Q) Qualified for the promotion play-off

Round-by-round

The table below shows a team's progression throughout the season. For each round, each team's cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.

Team Progression – 2018 Currie Cup First Division

Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	SF	F
SWD Eagles	1 (4th)	6 (3rd)	11 (2nd)	16 (1st)	16 (2nd)	21 (1st)	26 (1st)	Won	Won
Falcons	5 (2nd)	10 (1st)	10 (3rd)	12 (3rd)	12 (4th)	17 (3rd)	22 (2nd)	Won	Lost
Leopards	4 (3rd)	9 (2nd)	14 (1st)	14 (2nd)	19 (1st)	20 (2nd)	22 (3rd)	Lost	—
Griffons	0 (6th)	2 (5th)	2 (6th)	4 (6th)	9 (6th)	14 (5th)	19 (4th)	Lost	—
Boland Cavaliers	5 (1st)	5 (4th)	6 (4th)	11 (4th)	15 (3rd)	15 (4th)	15 (5th)	—	—
Border Bulldogs	1 (5th)	1 (6th)	6 (5th)	11 (5th)	11 (5th)	11 (6th)	11 (6th)	—	—
Eastern Province Elephants	0 (7th)	0 (7th)	1 (7th)	2 (7th)	2 (7th)	3 (7th)	3 (7th)	—	—
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2018 Currie Cup First Division:^[8]

Round One

The 2018 Currie Cup First Division season kicked off with an away victory for the Leopards in George, beating home side SWD Eagles 27–25 in a close affair. The other two matches of the round was far more comprehensive; the Boland Cavaliers scored ten converted tries in their 70–12 victory over the Eastern Province Elephants in Robertson, with Zandré Jordaan, Tapiwa Tsomondo and Valentino Wellman scoring two each, and the Falcons also scored ten tries in their 66–27 victory over the Border Bulldogs in Kempton Park, where Friedle Olivier and Etienne Taljaard scored braces.^[9]

	24 August 2018	SWD Eagles	25–27	Leopards	Outeniqua Park, George
	18:00	Try: Vukile Sofisa Wayne Wilschut penalty try Con: Leighton Eksteen Pen: Leighton Eksteen Divan Nel	Scoreboard[10]	Try: Boela Venter Gerhard Nortier Tapiwa Mafura Con: Schalk Hugo (2) Gerhard Nortier Pen: Schalk Hugo Gerhard Nortier	Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron

	25 August 2018	Boland Cavaliers	70–12	Eastern Province Elephants	Van Zyl Street Sports Grounds, Robertson
	14:30	Try: Clinton Theron Marlyn Williams Tapiwa Tsomondo (2) Zandré Jordaan (2) Valentino Wellman (2) Gerrit van Wyk Charlie Mayeza Con: Jaywinn Juries (5) Elgar Watts Jacquin Jansen (4)	Scoreboard[11]	Try: Zingisa April Diego Williams Con: Henrique Olivier	Referee: Graham Cooper

	25 August 2018	Falcons	66–27	Border Bulldogs	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	16:00	Try: Andries Schutte Friedle Olivier (2) Shane Kirkwood Thabo Mabuza Ernst Ladendorf Etienne Taljaard (2) Grant Janke Lundi Ralarala Con: Anrich Richter (5) Warren Potgieter (3)	Scoreboard[12]	Try: Mihlali Mpafi Carlisle Jordan Sonwabiso Mqalo Soso Xakalashe Con: Bangi Kobese Dilolo Mapuko Pen: Bangi Kobese	Referee: Ben Crouse

Bye/s: Griffons

Round Two

The Falcons moved to the top of the log after a 56–52 victory over defending champions the Griffons. For the second match in succession, Friedle Olivier and Etienne Taljaard each scored two tries for the Falcons, while a hat-trick from prop Danie van der Merwe was not enough for the team from Welkom. The Leopards kept in touch with the Falcons, securing their second win of the competition after beating the Boland Cavaliers 35–12 in Potchefstroom, while the SWD Eagles outscored the Border Bulldogs 37–22 in East London, with three players – Ruben Schoeman and Marlo Weich for the SWD Eagles and Sonwabiso Mqalo for the Border Bulldogs – getting two tries in the match.^[13]

	31 August 2018	Leopards	35–12	Boland Cavaliers	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	17:00	Try: Marius Stander Bradley Moolman Jimmy Mpailane Gerhard Nortier Akhona Nela Con: DP de Lange Gerhard Nortier (4)	Scoreboard[14]	Try: Clemen Lewis Tapiwa Tsomondo Con: Jacquin Jansen	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

	31 August 2018	Border Bulldogs	22–37	SWD Eagles	Buffalo City Stadium, East London
	18:00	Try: Somila Jho Sonwabiso Mqalo (2) Con: Dilolo Mapuko Aphiwe Stemele Pen: Bangi Kobese	Scoreboard[15]	Try: Alshaun Bock Marlo Weich (2) Ruben Schoeman (2) Con: Divan Nel (3) Pen: Divan Nel (2)	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

	1 September 2018	Griffons	52–56	Falcons	North West Stadium, Welkom
	15:00	Try: Danie van der Merwe (3) Nkululeko Marwana Rodney Damons Neil Stannard Shirwin Cupido Cody Basson Con: Duan Pretorius (6)	Scoreboard[16]	Try: Friedle Olivier (2) Shane Kirkwood Etienne Taljaard (2) Grant Janke Don Mlondobozi penalty try Con: Anrich Richter (5) Errol Jaggers (2)	Referee: Egon Seconds

Bye/s: Eastern Province Elephants

Round Three

A bye for leaders the Falcons saw the Leopards take over top spot in the competition following their 28–21 bonus point victory over the Eastern Province Elephants in Port Elizabeth. Defending champions the Griffons suffered their second loss in a row, being beaten 7–32 by a SWD Eagles side for whom Marlo Weich scored two tries for the second match in a row, moving into second place on the log in the process. The weekend's other match saw the Border Bulldogs beat the Boland Cavaliers 24–17 in Bredasdorp in their first victory of the season.^[17]

	7 September 2018	SWD Eagles	32–7	Griffons	Outeniqua Park, George
	18:00	Try: Wayne Wilschut Vuyo Mbotho Marlo Weich (2) Con: Divan Nel (3) Pen: Divan Nel (2)	Scoreboard[18]	Try: Tertius Maarman Con: Heinrich Bitzi	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	8 September 2018	Boland Cavaliers	17–24	Border Bulldogs	Glaskasteel, Bredasdorp
	14:30	Try: Clemen Lewis Wilneth Engelbrecht Valentino Wellman Con: Quaid Langeveldt	Scoreboard[19]	Try: Athenkosi Khethani Athenkosi Manentsa Foxy Ntleki Sonwabiso Mqalo Con: Dilolo Mapuko (2)	Referee: Quinton Immelman

	8 September 2018	Eastern Province Elephants	21–28	Leopards	Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele
	15:30	Try: Diego Williams Ntabeni Dukisa Sphu Msutwana Con: Ntabeni Dukisa (2) Henrique Olivier	Scoreboard[20]	Try: Louis van der Westhuizen Muziwandile Mazibuko Dean Gordon Tapiwa Mafura Con: Schalk Hugo (4)	Referee: Paul Mente

Bye/s: Falcons

Round Four

A fourth different team moved to the top of the log in as many weeks as the SWD Eagles moved into top spot following a 36–34 victory over the Falcons in a match that saw the teams share 12 tries. The Boland Cavaliers kept up the pressure by also securing a narrow away win, beating the Griffons 48–45 in Welkom, with Charlie Mayeza scoring two tries and Elgar Watts contributing 15 points in the match for the visitors, while a hat-trick for Japie Nel and a brace for Cody Basson was in vain for the home side. The Border Bulldogs emerged victorious in the Eastern Cape derby, with doubles from Sonwabiso Mqalo and Sipho Nofemele helping their team to a 39–26 win over the Eastern Province Elephants.^[21]

	14 September 2018	Border Bulldogs	39–26	Eastern Province Elephants	Buffalo City Stadium, East London
	19:00	Try: Sino Nyoka Sipho Nofemele (2) Sonwabiso Mqalo (2) Bangi Kobese Lutho Adonis Con: Dilolo Mapuko Bangi Kobese	Scoreboard[22]	Try: Zingisa April Ivan-John du Preez JP Jamieson Riaan Arends Con: Henrique Olivier Ruben de Vos (2)	Referee: Archie Sehlako

	15 September 2018	Griffons	45–48	Boland Cavaliers	North West Stadium, Welkom
	15:00	Try: Thato Mavundla Cody Basson (2) Japie Nel (3) Nkululeko Marwana Con: Duan Pretorius (5)	Scoreboard[23]	Try: Tapiwa Tsomondo Zandré Jordaan Elgar Watts Charlie Mayeza (2) Kenan Cronjé Valentino Wellman Con: Elgar Watts (5) Pen: Damian Stevens	Referee: Ben Crouse

	15 September 2018	Falcons	34–36	SWD Eagles	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	15:30	Try: Thabo Mabuza Anrich Richter Etienne Taljaard Lundi Ralarala Don Mlondobozi Andries Truter Con: Anrich Richter (2)	Scoreboard[24]	Try: Ruben Schoeman Marlo Weich Leighton Eksteen Dewald Dekker Kirsten Heyns Ganfried May Con: Divan Nel (3)	Referee: Ricus van der Hoven

Bye/s: Leopards

Round Five

The Leopards returned to the top of the log after beating the Border Bulldogs 47–22, with fullback Gerhard Nortier scoring two tries for the team from Potchefstroom. The Boland Cavaliers moved into third place following a low-scoring 20–7 win over the Falcons in Lambert's Bay, while the Griffons won the match between the two winless teams, beating the Eastern Province Elephants 35–22 with wing Rodney Damons scoring a hat-trick for the winning team.^[25]

	21 September 2018	Leopards	47–22	Border Bulldogs	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	17:00	Try: Louis van der Westhuizen Muziwandile Mazibuko Dean Stokes Marius Stander Evardi Boshoff Gerhard Nortier (2) Con: Schalk Hugo (6)	Scoreboard[26]	Try: Nkosi Nofuma Foxy Ntleki Billy Dutton Con: Dilolo Mapuko (2) Pen: Dilolo Mapuko	Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron

	22 September 2018	Eastern Province Elephants	22–35	Griffons	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
	15:00	Try: Xandré Vos Zingisa April Tristan Blewett Con: Henrique Olivier (2) Pen: Henrique Olivier	Scoreboard[27]	Try: Rodney Damons (3) Shaun McDonald Arthur Williams Con: Duan Pretorius (5)	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	22 September 2018	Boland Cavaliers	20–7	Falcons	Lambert's Bay Sports Grounds, Lambert's Bay
	16:00	Try: Marlyn Williams Valentino Wellman Con: Jacquin Jansen (2) Pen: Ralton October (2)	Scoreboard[28]	Try: Coert Cronjé Con: Anrich Richter	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Bye/s: SWD Eagles

Round Six

The SWD Eagles moved back to the top of the log following a 54–28 victory over the Boland Cavaliers, securing a semifinal spot in the process. Seven different players scored tries for the home side, with fly-half Divan Nel contributing 19 points with the boot, while a brace from loose forward Tapiwa Tsomondo was in vain for the away side. Round Five log leaders the Leopards suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 29–40 to the Griffons in Welkom, but also secured a play-off spot. Three players scored two tries each in the match — Tertius Maarman and Barend Potgieter for the Griffons and Gerhard Nortier for the Leopards — as the Griffons maintained their play-off push by moving up to fifth spot. The biggest victory of the round came in Kempton Park, where the Falcons ran in 15 tries in a 101–29 victory over the Eastern Province Elephants to secure the third semifinal place. Winger Etienne Taljaard scored four tries for the Falcons, with Coert Cronjé, Thabo Mabuza and Friedle Olivier getting two each, while scrumhalf Anrich Richter converted 11 of his side's tries.^[29]

	28 September 2018	Falcons	101–29	Eastern Province Elephants	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	14:00	Try: Marco Klopper Thabo Mabuza (2) Friedle Olivier (2) Etienne Taljaard (4) Lundi Ralarala Coert Cronjé (2) Andrew Volschenk Martin Sithole Andrew van Wyk Con: Anrich Richter (11) Andries Truter (2)	Scoreboard[30]	Try: Anele Lungisa Ruan van Rensburg Michael Makase Ruben de Vos Con: Ruben de Vos (3) Pen: Ruben de Vos	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

	28 September 2018	SWD Eagles	54–28	Boland Cavaliers	Outeniqua Park, George
	18:00	Try: Jacques Vermaak Ruben Schoeman Nicolaas Immelman Marlo Weich Leighton Eksteen Janneman Stander Kirsten Heyns Con: Divan Nel (5) Pen: Divan Nel (3)	Scoreboard[31]	Try: Tapiwa Tsomondo (2) Wayne Smith Con: Elgar Watts Jacquin Jansen Pen: Damian Stevens Elgar Watts (2)	Referee: AJ Jacobs

	29 September 2018	Griffons	40–29	Leopards	North West Stadium, Welkom
	15:00	Try: Tertius Maarman (2) Cody Basson Barend Potgieter (2) Nkululeko Marwana Con: Duan Pretorius (5)	Scoreboard[32]	Try: Robert Hunt HP Swart Gerhard Nortier (2) Con: Schalk Hugo (3) Pen: Schalk Hugo	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Bye/s: Border Bulldogs

Round Seven

In the first match of the weekend, the Falcons leap-frogged the Leopards into second place on the log after winning the match between the teams 41–35, securing a home semifinal against the same opposition. Anrich Richter contributed 18 points for the home team, while a hat-trick for visiting winger Dean Stokes proved futile. The SWD Eagles secured top spot after a 36–7 win over bottom-of-the-log Eastern Province Elephants, with winger Adri Jacobs scoring two tries, and being awarded to penalty tries in the match. The final place in the play-offs was clinched by the Griffons, who beat the Border Bulldogs 40–7 with hooker Anrich Alberts getting a hat-trick, and in the processed moved into fourth spot ahead of the Boland Cavaliers who was not in action in this round.^[33]

	5 October 2018	Leopards	35–41	Falcons	Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
	17:00	Try: Dean Stokes (3) Lungelo Gosa Marius Stander Con: Schalk Hugo (5)	Scoreboard[34]	Try: Friedle Olivier Anrich Richter Etienne Taljaard Grant Janke Lundi Ralarala Con: Anrich Richter (5) Pen: Anrich Richter Drop: Errol Jaggers	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

	5 October 2018	Border Bulldogs	7–40	Griffons	Buffalo City Stadium, East London
	19:00	Try: Billy Dutton Con: Aphiwe Stemele	Scoreboard[35]	Try: Anrich Alberts (3) Duan Pretorius Thato Mavundla Jean Pretorius Nkululeko Marwana Con: Duan Pretorius Pen: Duan Pretorius	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	6 October 2018	Eastern Province Elephants	7–36	SWD Eagles	WJ de Wet Stadium, Despatch
	15:00	Try: Riaan Arends Con: Ruben de Vos	Scoreboard[36]	Try: Adri Jacobs (2) Ruben Schoeman Kirsten Heyns penalty try (2) Con: Divan Nel	Referee: AJ Jacobs

Bye/s: Boland Cavaliers

Play-offs

Title play-offs

Semifinals

Two home victories saw the SWD Eagles and Falcons progress to the final. The Falcons convincingly beat the Leopards in Kempton Park, with four tries from loose forward Martin Sithole and 17 points from scrum-half Anrich Richter helping them to a 59–19 victory. It was a lower-scoring affair in George, where the SWD Eagles won 22–6 against the Griffons, with 17 of the home side's points coming from the boot of fly-half Divan Nel.^[37]

	12 October 2018	Falcons	59–19	Leopards	Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
	15:00	Try: Marco Klopper Anrich Richter Etienne Taljaard Grant Janke Martin Sithole (4) Johan Pretorius Con: Anrich Richter (6) Andries Truter	Scoreboard[38]	Try: Lungelo Gosa Con: Schalk Hugo Pen: Schalk Hugo (3) Drop: Schalk Hugo	Referee: AJ Jacobs

	12 October 2018	SWD Eagles	22–6	Griffons	Outeniqua Park, George
	18:00	Try: Tyler Fisher Con: Divan Nel Pen: Divan Nel (5)	Scoreboard[39]	Pen: Duan Pretorius (2)	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Final

The SWD Eagles won their third Currie Cup First Division title — following on from wins in 2002 and 2007 — by beating the Falcons 36–27 in George, despite being 15–27 down as half-time. Eighth man Wayne Wilschut scored a hat-trick of tries for the home team, with Wynand Grassmann and Marlo Weich getting one each, and Divan Nel kicking 11 points. For the Falcons, Etienne Taljaard scored two more tries to finish as the competition's top try-scorer with 13 tries, while Anrich Richter scored a try and 12 points with the boot to finish as the top points scorer with 105.^[40]

	19 October 2018	SWD Eagles	36–27	Falcons	Outeniqua Park, George
	18:00	Try: Wynand Grassmann Wayne Wilschut (3) Marlo Weich Con: Divan Nel (4) Pen: Divan Nel	Scoreboard[41]	Try: Anrich Richter Etienne Taljaard (2) Con: Anrich Richter (3) Pen: Anrich Richter (2)	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Promotion play-off

This section is transcluded from 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division. (edit | history)

	30 October 2018	Free State Cheetahs	36–5	SWD Eagles	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
	18:00	Try: Penalty try 12' Rabz Maxwane 18' c Tian Schoeman 20' m Louis Fouché 54' c William Small-Smith 63' m, 78' m Con: Louis Fouché 20', 55'	Scoreboard[42]	Try: Vuyo Mbotho 60' m Cards: Vukile Sofisa 11' to 22'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

• Free State Cheetahs remained in the Currie Cup Premier Division for 2019.
• SWD Eagles remained in the Currie Cup First Division for 2019.

Honours

The honour roll for the 2018 Currie Cup First Division was as follows:

2018 Currie Cup First Division
Champions:	SWD Eagles (3rd title)
Top points scorer:	Anrich Richter, Falcons (105)
Top try scorer:	Etienne Taljaard, Falcons (13)

Players

The squads and player appearance and scoring statistics for the 2018 Currie Cup First Division are as follows:

Boland Cavaliers[43]
Name	EPE	LEO	BDR	GRF	GFA	SWD	SF	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Arnout Malherbe	1	1	1	1	16	1	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Clemen Lewis	2	2	2	2		2	—	—		5	2	0	0	0	10
Clinton Theron	3	3	3		3	3	—	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Marlyn Williams	4	4		4	4		—	—		4	2	0	0	0	10
Rinus Bothma	5	5	5	5		5	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Tapiwa Tsomondo	6	6	6	6	6	6	—	—		6	6	0	0	0	30
Ludio Williams	7	7	7		7	7	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Zandré Jordaan	8	8		8	8	8	—	—		5	3	0	0	0	15
Jaywinn Juries	9		21	20			—	—		2	0	5	0	0	10
Elgar Watts	10			10	10	10	—	—		4	1	7	2	0	25
Sergio Torrens	11	15					—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Valentino Wellman	12	12	15	11	11	11	—	—		6	5	0	0	0	25
Gerrit van Wyk	13	13			13	13	—	—		4	1	0	0	0	5
Charlie Mayeza	14	14	14	14	14	14	—	—		6	3	0	0	0	15
Jacquin Jansen	15	10			12	21	—	—		4	0	8	0	0	16
Francois Esterhuyzen	16	16	16	16	2	16	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Stefaan Grundlingh	17	18	17	3	17	18	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Kenan Cronjé	18	19	8	7	5	4	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Freddy Ngoza	19						—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Damian Stevens	20	9	9	9	9	9	—	—		6	0	0	2	0	6
Tyrone Abelse	21		12		21		—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Juandre Joseph	22		20	15			—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Bernado Botha		11	11	22	22		—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Raeez Salie		17	18	17	1	17	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Ralton October		20	22		20	20	—	—		4	0	0	2	0	6
Wayne Smith		21		12		22	—	—		3	1	0	0	0	5
Quaid Langeveldt		22	10	21	15	15	—	—		5	0	1	0	0	2
Brandon Valentyn			4	18	18		—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Wilneth Engelbrecht			13	13		12	—	—		3	1	0	0	0	5
Taine Booysen			19	19	19	19	—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Total										6	27	21	6	0	195
Mac Muller and Andries Viljoen were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Border Bulldogs[44]
Name	GFA	SWD	BOL	EPE	LEO	GRF	SF	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Siyamthanda Ngande	1	1	1	1	1	1	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Mihlali Mpafi	2	2	2	2	2	2	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Lwando Mabenge	3	3	3	3	3	3	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Athenkosi Khethani	4	5	5	5	5		—	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Johannes Janse van Rensburg	5						—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Lukhanyo Nomzanga	6	6	7	6		19	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Onke Dubase	7	7	6	7	7	6	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Athenkosi Manentsa	8	8	8	8	8	8	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Bangi Kobese	9	9	20	20		20	—	—		5	1	2	2	0	15
Aphiwe Stemele	10	21	21	21	21	10	—	—		6	0	2	0	0	4
Carlisle Jordan	11	11					—	—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Somila Mantyoyi	12	12	12	12	12	12	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Foxy Ntleki	13	22	13	13	13	13	—	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Sipho Nofemele	14	14	14	14	14	14	—	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Sonwabiso Mqalo	15	15	15	15	15	15	—	—		6	6	0	0	0	30
Lubabalo Lento	16	16	16	16	16	16	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Thabo Ngcem	17	17		17	17	17	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Ayabonga Nomboyo	18	4	4	4	4	5	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Soso Xakalashe	19	19	19	19	19		—	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Sino Nyoka	20	20	9	9	9	9	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Dilolo Mapuko	21	10	10	10	10	21	—	—		6	0	7	1	0	17
Somila Jho	22	13	11	11	11	11	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Nkosi Nofuma		18	18	18	18	4	—	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Rob Lyons			17				—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Lutho Adonis			22	22			—	—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Billy Dutton					6	7	—	—		2	2	0	0	0	10
Anele Zweni					20		—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Sethu Tom					22	22	—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Mihlali Mosi						18	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Total										6	22	11	3	0	141
Lux Abraham, Lunga Dumezweni, Lelethu Gcilitshana, Blake Kyd, Siya Ncanywa, Mihlali Nchukana, Thokozani Ngodwana, Litha Nkula, Sibongile Novuka, Mbembe Payi, Sesethu Time and Yanga Xakalashe were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Eastern Province Elephants[45]
Name	BOL	LEO	BDR	GRF	GFA	SWD	SF	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Dewald Barnard	1	1	1				—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Josh Kota	2	2	2	16	2	16	—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Johan van Wyk	3	3	3	18	3	3	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Hannes Huisamen	4						—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Gerrit Huisamen	5		4				—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Siphesihle Punguzwa	6	19	19				—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Anele Lungisa	7	18	5	5	5	5	—	—		6	1	0	0	0	5
Zingisa April	8	8	8	8	8	8	—	—		6	3	0	0	0	15
JP Smith	9	9					—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Ruben de Vos	10		21	21	15	21	—	—		5	1	6	1	0	20
Sphu Msutwana	11	11	11	22	11		—	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Sherwin Slater	12	12				13	—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Ivan-John du Preez	13	13	13		13		—	—		4	1	0	0	0	5
Riaan Arends	14	14	22		22	15	—	—		5	2	0	0	0	10
Keanu Vers	15	15	15	15			—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Justin Antonie	16	16					—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Lyle Lombard	17					17	—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Nick Roebeck	18	17	17	17	17	1	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Mncedisi Dlwengu	19		18		18	4	—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Diego Williams	20	6	6	6	19	6	—	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Sonwabo Majola	21	20	9	20	20	9	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Henrique Olivier	22	21	10	10	10	10	—	—		6	0	5	1	0	13
Stephan Greeff		4					—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Giant Mtyanda		5		4	4		—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Jurie van Vuuren		7		7			—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Ntabeni Dukisa		10					—	—		1	1	2	0	0	9
Dwayne Prince		22					—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Quinton Haasbroek			7		7	7	—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Merlynn Pieterse			12	12	12	12	—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Monwabisi Mkhwakhwi			14			14	—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
JP Jamieson			16		16	2	—	—		3	1	0	0	0	5
Sibusiso Ngcokovane			20				—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Xandré Vos				1	1		—	—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Tango Balekile				2			—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Lupumlo Mguca				3			—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Ruan van Rensburg				9	9		—	—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Tristan Blewett				11			—	—		1	1	0	0	0	5
Ulrich Beyers				13			—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Michael Makase				14	14		—	—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Wayven Smith				19	6	19	—	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Simon Bolze					21		—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Siyabonga Moabi						11	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Robert Isaacs						18	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Louis Strydom						20	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Cheswin van Wyk						22	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Total										6	17	13	2	0	117
Lusanda Badiyana, Michael Botha, Brandon Brown, Siyanda Grey, Andile Jho, Rouche Nel, Luzuko Nyabaza, Josiah Twum-Boafo and Alandré van Rooyen were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Falcons[46]
Name	BDR	GRF	SWD	BOL	EPE	LEO	LEO	SWD		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Koos Strauss	1	1	1	1		1	1	1		7	0	0	0	0	0
Jan Enslin	2	2		16	16	16	16	16		7	0	0	0	0	0
Andries Schutte	3	3	3		17	17	17	17		7	1	0	0	0	5
Friedle Olivier	4	4	8	8	8	8	8	8		8	7	0	0	0	35
Shane Kirkwood	5	5	4	4	4	4	4	4		8	2	0	0	0	10
Thabo Mabuza	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6		8	4	0	0	0	20
Ernst Ladendorf	7	7	7	7						4	1	0	0	0	5
Wihan Jacobs	8	8		18	7	7	7	7		7	0	0	0	0	0
Anrich Richter	9	9	9	20	9	9	9	9		8	4	41	3	0	105
Errol Jaggers	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10		8	0	2	0	1	7
Etienne Taljaard	11	11	11		11	11	11	11		7	13	0	0	0	65
Grant Janke	12	12		22	12	12	12	12		7	4	0	0	0	20
Lundi Ralarala	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13		8	4	0	0	0	20
Don Mlondobozi	14	14	14	14		14	14	14		7	2	0	0	0	10
Andries Truter	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15		8	1	3	0	0	11
Marco Klopper	16	16	2	2	2	2	2	2		8	2	0	0	0	10
Heinrich Roelfse	17	17	17	3	3	3	3	3		8	0	0	0	0	0
Andrew Volschenk	18	18			18	18		18		5	1	0	0	0	5
Martin Sithole	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19		8	5	0	0	0	25
Johan Pretorius	20	20	20	9	20	20	20	20		7	1	0	0	0	5
Warren Potgieter	21	21								1	0	3	0	0	6
Coert Cronjé	22	22	22	11	14	22	22	22		7	3	0	0	0	15
Jacques Alberts			5	5	5	5	5	5		6	0	0	0	0	0
Leighton van Wyk			12	12						2	0	0	0	0	0
Robey Leibrandt			16				18			2	0	0	0	0	0
Njabulo Gumede			18		1					2	0	0	0	0	0
Andrew van Wyk			21	21	21	21	21	21		2	1	0	0	0	5
Gihard Visagie				17						1	0	0	0	0	0
Hardus Pretorius					22					1	0	0	0	0	0
penalty try										–	1	–	–	–	7
Total										8	57	46	3	1	391
Henri Boshoff, André du Plessis, Lorenzo Gordon, Ethan Jantjies, Malope Masemola, Sive Mazosiwe, Vian Riekert, Martin Steyn, Eckhard van der Westhuizen and Nazeem Wood were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Griffons[47]
Name	GFA	SWD	BOL	EPE	LEO	BDR	SWD	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Danie van der Merwe	1	1	3	3	3	3	3	—		7	3	0	0	0	15
Anrich Alberts	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	—		7	3	0	0	0	15
Mhleli Dlamini	3	3						—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Gavin Annandale	4	4	4	4		5	4	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Neil Claassen	5	5	5	5	5		6	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Jean Pretorius	6	7	19	20	6	6	19	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
Vincent Maruping	7		7	7	7	7	7	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Cody Basson	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	—		7	4	0	0	0	20
Shirwin Cupido	9	9	9					—		3	1	0	0	0	5
Neil Stannard	10	10	10	10	10	21	10	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
Rodney Damons	11	11		11	14	14	14	—		6	4	0	0	0	20
Duan Pretorius	12	12	15	13	13	10	13	—		7	1	22	3	0	58
Nkululeko Marwana	13	13	14	14	21	13	22	—		7	4	0	0	0	20
Warren Williams	14	14						—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Tertius Maarman	15	15	11	15	11	11	11	—		7	3	0	0	0	15
Maliviwe Simanga	16	16						—		2	0	0	0	0	0
PW Botha	17							—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Rikus Zwart	18	18	18					—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Colin Herbert	19							—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Malcolm-Kerr Till	20							—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Heinrich Bitzi	21	21					21	—		3	0	1	0	0	2
Wynand Pienaar	22	22		21	15	15	15	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Henco Greyling		6						—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Barend Potgieter		17	1	1	1	1	1	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Thato Mavundla		19	6	6	19	19	20	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Boela Abrahams		20	20	9	9	9	9	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Japie Nel			12	12	22			—		3	3	0	0	0	15
Arthur Williams			13	22	12	12	12	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
JP Mans			16	16	16	16	16	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Janu Botha			17					—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Dwayne Wessels			21		20	20		—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Ezrick Alexander			22			22		—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Doctor Booysen				17	17	17	17	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Jeremy Jordaan				18	18			—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Shaun McDonald				19	4	4	18	—		4	1	0	0	0	5
Dennis Visser						18	5	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Total										7	34	23	3	0	225
JP Alberts, Rudi Britz, Selvyn Davids and Ntokozo Vidima were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Leopards[48]
Name	SWD	BOL	EPE	BDR	GRF	GFA	GFA	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Matimu Manganyi	1	1	3	1	1	1	1	—		7	0	0	0	0	0
Marius Stander	2	2	16	16	16	16	16	—		6	3	0	0	0	15
Robert Hunt	3	3	17	3	3	3	3	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
Johan Retief	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	—		7	0	0	0	0	0
Jaco Swanepoel	5	5						—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Siya Mdaka	6	6						—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Boela Venter	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
Edward Haas	8	8	8	8	6	8	8	—		7	0	0	0	0	0
Chriswill September	9	9		9	9	9	9	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Schalk Hugo	10		10	10	10	10	10	—		6	0	21	5	1	60
Dean Stokes	11	11	11	11	11	11		—		6	4	0	0	0	20
Gerhard Nortier	12	10	21	15	12	12	12	—		7	6	5	1	0	43
Bradley Moolman	13	13	22		13	13		—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Jimmy Mpailane	14	14					11	—		3	1	0	0	0	5
Tapiwa Mafura	15	15	15		15	15	15	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Louis van der Westhuizen	16	16	2	2	2	2	2	—		7	2	0	0	0	10
Nelius Theron	17	17	1		17	17	18	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Danny du Plooy	18	18	5	5		5	5	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Muziwandile Mazibuko	19	19	6	6		6	21	—		6	2	0	0	0	10
Eugene Hare	20	20	9				20	—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Akhona Nela	21	12	12	12	21	21	22	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
Evardi Boshoff	22	22	13	13	22	22	13	—		7	1	0	0	0	5
DP de Lange		21						—		1	0	1	0	0	2
Dean Gordon			14	14				—		2	1	0	0	0	5
Stairs Mhlongo			18	18	5	18	19	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
HP Swart			19	19	8	19	6	—		5	1	0	0	0	5
Nkosana Mathaba			20					—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Brendan Strydom				17			17	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Sylvester Hassien				20	20	20		—		3	0	0	0	0	0
Lungelo Gosa				21	14	14	14	—		4	2	0	0	0	10
Divan Fick				22				—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Etienne Oosthuizen					18			—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Ruan Viljoen					19			—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Total										7	29	27	6	1	220
Tiaan Bezuidenhout, Frans Botha, Theodore Ferreira, Ruan Grundlingh, Juan Language, Henko Marais, Percy Mngadi, Justin Newman, Merlynn Pieterse, Joe Smith, Walt Steenkamp, Morné Strydom, Gideon van der Merwe, Dane van der Westhuyzen, Estehan Visagie and Gene Willemse were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

SWD Eagles[49]
Name	LEO	BDR	GRF	GFA	BOL	EPE	GRF	GFA		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Luxolo Koza	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		8	0	0	0	0	0
Jacques Vermaak	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		8	1	0	0	0	5
Vukile Sofisa	3	3	3	3	3		3	3		7	1	0	0	0	5
Anton Smit	4	4	4							3	0	0	0	0	0
Cornell Hess	5	5								2	0	0	0	0	0
Nicolaas Immelman	6		7	7	6	7	7	7		7	1	0	0	0	5
Brenden Esterhuizen	7	19			19	8	20	20		6	0	0	0	0	0
Wayne Wilschut	8	8	8	8	8	19	8	8		8	5	0	0	0	25
Johan Steyn	9	9	9	9	9	20	9	9		8	1	0	0	0	5
Leighton Eksteen	10	15	15	15	15	15	15	15		8	3	1	1	0	20
Adri Jacobs	11					11	22	22		4	2	0	0	0	10
Vuyo Mbotho	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12		8	1	0	0	0	5
Tyler Fisher	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13		8	1	0	0	0	5
Alshaun Bock	14	11	11	11	11	22	11	11		8	1	0	0	0	5
Ganfried May	15	22	22	22	22					5	0	0	0	0	0
Le Roux Baard	16	16	16	19	16	16	16	16		8	0	0	0	0	0
Qhama Hina	17					18				2	0	0	0	0	0
Wynand Grassmann	18	7	5	5	7		5	5		7	1	0	0	0	5
Janneman Stander	19	6	6	6	20	6	6	6		8	1	0	0	0	5
Dillin Snel	20	20	20	20		9				5	0	0	0	0	0
Divan Nel	21	10	10	10	10	10	10	10		8	0	20	14	0	82
Kirsten Heyns	22	21	21	21	21	21	21	21		8	3	0	0	0	15
Marlo Weich		14	14	14	14	14	14	14		7	7	0	0	0	35
Dewald Dekker		17	17	17	17	3	18	18		6	0	0	0	0	0
Ruben Schoeman		18	18	4	4	4	4	4		7	5	0	0	0	25
Johannes Janse van Rensburg			19	18	5	5	19	19		6	0	0	0	0	0
Reinhardt Stears				16						1	0	0	0	0	0
Teunis Nieuwoudt					18	17	17	17		4	0	0	0	0	0
penalty try										–	3	–	–	–	21
Total										8	37	21	15	0	278
Fabian Booysen, JP Duvenage, Aiden Josephs, Leegan Moos, Robbie Petzer, Davon Raubenheimer and Marlou van Niekerk were named in the squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2018 Currie Cup First Division:

2018 Currie Cup First Division referees

Aimee Barrett-Theron • Graham Cooper • Ben Crouse • Quinton Immelman • AJ Jacobs • Cwengile Jadezweni • Ruhan Meiring • Paul Mente • Jaco Peyper • Rasta Rasivhenge • Egon Seconds • Archie Sehlako • Ricus van der Hoven • Marius van der Westhuizen

See also

• 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2018 Rugby Challenge