Four teams will advance to the Currie Cup final on Sunday. The defending champions Griquas will host the Lions in Kimberley, and the Chiefs will host the Pumas in Bloemfontein for two tense semi-finals.
The first match will start in Kimberley at 13:00, and the meeting in Bloemfontein is scheduled for 15:30. Both matches will be broadcast on SuperSport.
The lineup of semi-finalists includes the most consistent teams in the tournament. Griquas and Chiefs gained the advantage of home ground by finishing first and second in the table, while the Lions and Pumas secured their playoff spots in the final week of the league stage.
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Griquas enter the playoffs as clear favorites due to a dominant campaign, winning six out of seven matches. The team scored 271 points and demonstrated the best point differential in the championship—+128. Peter Berg's team finished the league stage brilliantly, defeating the Pumas 38:14 and the Boland Cavaliers 48:17, underscoring their status as a team to beat.
Their opponents are the Lions, who have themselves gained momentum under coach Mzivakha Nkosi. A convincing victory over the Stormers XXIII in Johannesburg with a score of 36:12 secured the Lions fourth place and continued their impressive recent run of wins in the playoffs. Having reached the final in 2024 and 2025, they have established themselves as one of the most dangerous teams in the Currie Cup playoffs.
The teams previously met in Kimberley during the league stage, where Griquas won 31:19. Although this result gives confidence to the hosts, knockout rugby has a completely different intensity.
Griquas also possess the best defensive statistics in the championship, conceding only 143 points. However, the Lions have significant attacking potential, scoring 32 touchdowns—the third-highest figure in the championship, behind Chiefs with 37 and Griquas with 40.
The second semi-final in Bloemfontein proved to be more unpredictable. Chiefs, coached by former Springbok Frans Steyn, finished second after winning five out of seven league matches, earning the right to host the Pumas at Toyota Stadium. Nevertheless, they enter the playoffs after a painful defeat to the Pumas 52:26 in Nelspruit last week.
The Pumas, in turn, scored eight touchdowns in that convincing victory, warning the Chiefs before the rematch just seven days later. The Free Staters will strive to avoid repeating history.
Despite last week's setback, Chiefs are among the most experienced playoff teams in the championship. They have regularly participated in the semi-finals for the last five seasons and won the title in 2023, beating the Pumas 25:17 in Bloemfontein.
Pumas, on the other hand, have acquired a reputation as knockout specialists. They won semi-finals in 2022 and 2023 and reached two consecutive finals during that period, including their historic triumph in 2022 when they defeated Griquas in Kimberley to win the Currie Cup.
However, recent head-to-head history gives Chiefs reason for optimism. Before the Pumas' victory last week, the Free Staters had won four of the previous five matches between these two teams.