Extra time
Today 124 years ago Griquas become 1st Currie Cup holders─── 11:19 Mon, 20 Jul 2015
The 1891 Griquas team. Photo: Facebook
Today is Currie Cup day! Or at least on this day 124 years ago, on July 20, 1891, Griqualand West produced the performance that allowed them to become the first holders of the trophy. And here they are - and here 'she' is.
The Currie Rugby Football Challenge Cup as it is formally known was donated to South African rugby by Sir Donald Currie of the Union Castle Shipping Lines company.
It was brought to South Africa by the 1891 British touring team and was to be awarded to the first team who defeated the tourists.
None did, instead, the honour of receiving the trophy went to Griqualand West who on Monday 20 July 1981 in Kimberley gave them the strongest opposition although they could not defeat the visitors.
The British Team led by Maclagan defeated Griquas by 3 - 0. The referee on this occasion was Percy Ross-Frames, the founding President of the former South African Rugby Football Board.
The Griquas team contained six players from the Pirates RFC, a similar number from the Kimberley RFC, two from De Beers RFC and one from Beaconsfield RFC.
As Currie decreed, Griquas in turn presented the trophy to the newly established SA Rugby Football Board for use in an inter-provincial competition and in doing so contributed an artefact that became an integral part of South African rugby history and heritage.
This trophy is still used as South Africa’s premier provincial competition and is on display with us - except on finals day when it is needed elsewhere!
- The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum
