The 2023 Currie Cup First Division is the 85th edition of the Currie Cup. As the second-tier of the competition, it runs alongside the 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division. It is sponsored by beer brand Carling Black Label and organised by the South African Rugby Union.
The tournament will be played from February to June in a single round-robin format, following the realignment of the South African domestic rugby union calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere and the United Rugby Championship, which features four South African sides.
The competition ran concurrently with the Mzansi Challenge, which, in addition to the six South African sides, featured four additional international sides; the Welwitschias from Namibia, the Zimbabwe Goshawks, the Simbas from Kenya and the San Clemente Rhinos from the USA. Initially, the Tel Aviv Heat from Israel were due to play. However, after pressure from the South African BDS, SARU withdrew their invitation to the Heat, who were replaced by the Rhinos.[1][2]
Heat accused SARU of discrimination and took the case to World Rugby, who ruled that the withdrawal of the invitation was not discriminatory.[3]
The top South African side in the 2023 Currie Cup First Division will be promoted to the Premier Division for 2024, forming an eight team competition. The 2023 Currie Cup Premier Division began in January and was completed in June.
South Western District Eagles and the Falcons qualified for the Mzansi Challenge final, with the Falcons winning 55-38 and taking their first title since 2006.[4][5]
Boland Cavaliers and the Falcons qualified for the Currie Cup First Division final, with Boland winning 43–21.[6][7]
^Smilk, Carin M. (24 March 2023). "Major Jewish groups urge US rugby team to pull out of South Africa tournament". JNS.org. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^"South African Rugby Union withdraws invitation to Tel Aviv Heat". MSN. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^Gurvis, Jacob. "World Rugby rules South Africa's exclusion of Israel was not discrimination". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^"Currie Cup semifinals and Mzanzi Challenge final confirmed". SuperSport. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
^Adams, Mariette (17 June 2023). "Good Fortune guides Valke to Mzansi glory". The South African. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^Lewis, Craig (20 June 2023). "What time does the Currie Cup final kick off this Saturday?". The South African. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^"The Boland Kavaliers are crowned #CurrieCup First Division champions". Twitter. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
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