SA Cup log leaders, Suzuki Griquas, the defending champion Airlink Pumas, the Toyota Cheetahs, Valke and Eastern Province were on the winning side in the penultimate league round this weekend, with six teams still in with a shout of making the playoffs.
The top four teams on the final log will contest next weekend’s semi-finals – with the teams finishing first and second enjoying home-ground advantage – while the top four will also qualify for the 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.
The final round kicks off on Friday evening in Bloemfontein, where the Toyota Cheetahs host Suzuki Griquas at Toyota Stadium (18h00).
With just three points separating the third-placed Cheetahs from the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (fourth) and the Dotsure SWD Eagles (fifth), this is a must-win encounter for the Free Staters. It will be a daunting task, though, with Griquas having won the last six official meetings between the two sides.
Friday’s second fixture sees defending champion Pumas host the Griffons at Mbombela Stadium from 19h00. The Mpumalanga outfit has lost only two of their eight matches this season and, with home-ground advantage, must be considered favourites to secure hosting rights for the second semi-final next week.
The Pumas currently occupy second place on the log with 33 points – a sizeable 20-point cushion over the Welkom-based Griffons, in eighth.
Attention then shifts to Saturday’s three fixtures, with the clash between the Kavaliers and Eastern Province carrying significant implications. Boland travelled to Gqeberha last year needing a win to secure a top-four finish – and did just that.
This coming Saturday, they find themselves in a similar position, hosting EP in a match where victory, preferably with a bonus point, will see Boland cement their semi-final berth.
The Eagles are level on points with Boland (27) but sit fifth on the log due to an inferior points difference. Having claimed five wins from their eight matches so far – compared to the Leopards’ single victory – momentum appears to be firmly with the Eagles, who will be hunting a bonus-point win against their opponents from North West at Outeniqua Park.
The Valke still have a mathematical chance of breaking into the top four, but the East Rand side will need a full five-point victory against Border and must hope that results elsewhere go in their favour. That encounter will kick off at 15h30 at Police Park in East London.
Match information:
Toyota Cheetahs vs Suzuki Griquas
Date: Friday, 8 May
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 18h00
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby
Airlink Pumas vs Griffons
Date: Friday, 8 May
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 19h00
Referee: Paul Mente
Dotsure SWD Eagles vs Leopards
Date: Saturday, 9 May
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Juan de Bod
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers vs Eastern Province
Date: Saturday, 9 May
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 15h00 AJ Jacobs
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Broadcast: SuperSport 951
Border Bulldogs vs Valke
Date: Saturday, 9 May
Venue: Police Park, East London
Kick-off: 15h30
Referee: Caleb Hibbert