Currie Cup: Four hat-tricks and SWD Eagles title as Cheetahs and Boland stay perfect

Four hat-tricks, a first Currie Cup First Division title in six years for the SWD Eagles and statement wins for the Cheetahs and Boland Cavaliers headlined a high-scoring second round of South Africa’s 2026 domestic campaign.

The Cheetahs and Boland Cavaliers both made it two wins from two in the Premier Division to sit top of the table, while Prince Nkabinde, Bobby Alexander, Gurswin Wehr and Jayden Bantom all crossed three times over a remarkable weekend.

There was silverware in George on Friday night as the SWD Eagles beat the Valke 41-21 at Outeniqua Park to lift the Currie Cup First Division trophy for the first time since 2018.

The Eagles led 19-14 at half-time of a closely contested final, before taking control after the break. The hosts’ pack asserted themselves, their defence tightened and they finished ruthlessly to outscore the East Rand side by six tries to three on a frosty evening.

Cheetahs pull clear after interval

In the Premier Division, the Cheetahs delivered another bonus-point performance, beating the Sharks XV 43-21 in Bloemfontein on Friday to stay top of the standings.

Locked at 14-14 at half-time, the Free State side surged clear in the second period, with wing Prince Nkabinde completing a hat-trick and Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk crossing twice.

Nkabinde struck after just two minutes, with Jaco van der Walt adding the conversion, before Sharks centre Janco Purchase replied. De Klerk then sniped over to restore the hosts’ lead, only for Simphiwe Ngobese to level the match midway through the first half.

After the break, the Cheetahs seized momentum when Juan Venter finished a move initiated by De Klerk. Sharks wing Marnus Potgieter briefly nudged the visitors in front, but Nkabinde’s second try swung the contest decisively the other way.

The winger completed his treble in the 65th minute as the Cheetahs dominated territory and possession in the closing stages. Replacement Daniel Maartens and De Klerk added late tries to seal a comfortable 43-21 win.

Cheetahs 43 (14) Sharks XV 21 (14) Cheetahs – Tries: Prince Nkabinde (3), Faf de Klerk (2), Juan Venter, Daniel Maartens. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (4). Sharks XV – Tries: Janco Purchase, Simphiwe Ngobese, Marnus Potgieter. Conversions: Tim Swiel (3).

Lions and Griquas reignite campaigns

At Ellis Park on Saturday, the Lions responded to their opening-round defeat with a 52-29 victory over the Pumas, running in seven tries to four to claim their first win of the season.

The Pumas started strongly and went ahead through a Danrich Visagie penalty, but the Lions hit back as centre Likhona Finca crossed for their opening try and flanker Jarod Cairns powered over for the first of his two.

Tries from lock JJ Scheepers and flanker De Wet Marais kept the Pumas in touch, trimming the Lions’ lead to 21-17 at the interval.

A pivotal moment came when Pumas wing Dalvon Blood was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, with the Lions awarded a penalty try. Lions prop Morgan Naude was then sin-binned for repeated infringements, but the Johannesburg side took command after the break.

Cairns grabbed his second try before full-back Latica Nela and centre Rynhardt Jonker scored in quick succession to put the game beyond reach. Replacement scrum-half Conor van Eden briefly revived Pumas hopes with a well-constructed score, but Sam Francis’ accurate goal-kicking and a second try from Nela completed a comprehensive win.

Late yellow cards for Thabo Ndimande and Troy Delport underlined the Pumas’ fading discipline.

Lions 52 (21) Pumas 29 (17) Lions – Tries: Likhona Finca, Jarod Cairns (2), Latica Nela (2), Rynhardt Jonker, Penalty Try. Conversions: Sam Francis (6). Penalty goal: Francis. Pumas – Tries: JJ Scheepers, De Wet Marais, Conor van Eden, Dalvon Blood. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (3). Penalty goals: Visagie (2).

In Kimberley, defending champions Griquas shook off their round-one defeat by overwhelming the Bulls XV 56-26, scoring eight tries in the process.

The visitors struck inside the first minute through centre PA van Niekerk, but Griquas quickly settled and produced the attacking rugby that defined last year’s title run. Scrum-half Bobby Alexander, winning his 50th cap for the union, scored the first of his three tries, with wing Gurswin Wehr also crossing as the hosts took control.

Bulls wing Hakeem Kunene and full-back Devon Williams ensured the Pretoria side stayed in touch, yet Alexander’s second try and a powerful finish from tighthead prop IG Prinsloo handed Griquas a 28-19 lead at the break.

The home side dominated the second half. Flanker Lourens Oosthuizen scored from a quick tap before Alexander completed his hat-trick. Bulls wing Riyaad Bam replied, but Wehr then added two more tries to secure his own treble. Fly-half George Whitehead converted all eight Griquas tries.

Griquas 56 (28) Bulls XV 26 (19) Griquas – Tries: Bobby Alexander (3), Gurswin Wehr (3), IG Prinsloo, Lourens Oosthuizen. Conversions: George Whitehead (8). Bulls XV – Tries: PA van Niekerk, Hakeem Kunene, Devon Williams, Riyaad Bam. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2), Viaan Mentoor.

Bantom stars as Boland brush aside Stormers XXIII

On Sunday in Wellington, the Boland Cavaliers underlined their strong start with a 41-3 defeat of the Stormers XXIII, following up their opening win over the Bulls XV with another statement performance.

Wing Jayden Bantom produced the standout individual display of the weekend, contributing 26 points through three tries, four conversions and a penalty as Boland dominated their Cape Town neighbours.

The Cavaliers raced into a 10-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes thanks to tries from Domenic Smit and Xavier Mitchell. Although the Stormers XXIII enjoyed more of the ball as the half wore on, they could only muster a Dominic Malgas penalty, while Bantom landed a penalty of his own to give the hosts a 13-3 advantage at the break.

Soon after half-time, Joshua Eras finished from a well-organised driving maul to extend the lead, and from there Boland were in complete control. Bantom crossed three times in the second period to secure the bonus point and cap a commanding team and personal performance.

Boland Cavaliers 41 (13) Stormers XXIII 3 (3) Boland – Tries: Domenic Smit, Xavier Mitchell, Joshua Eras, Jayden Bantom (3). Conversions: Bantom (4). Penalty goal: Bantom. Stormers XXIII – Penalty goal: Dominic Malgas.

Standings and next fixtures

After two rounds, the Cheetahs lead the Premier Division on 10 points from two bonus-point victories, with the also-unbeaten Boland Cavaliers one point back on nine.

They are followed by the Lions on 7 points, Griquas on 6, Sharks XV on 5, Stormers XXIII on 4, Pumas on 3 and Bulls XV on 1.

Next weekend’s action begins on Friday when Griquas host the Cheetahs in Kimberley. On Saturday, the Stormers XXIII face the Sharks XV in Cape Town before the Lions meet the Bulls XV at Ellis Park. The round concludes on Sunday with the Boland Cavaliers at home to the Pumas in Wellington.