The match will see the Griffons, the First Division champions, lock horns with the Griquas, the reigning Premier Division champions of the Currie Cup. It’s a meeting of two proud unions with big ambitions and even bigger statements to make.

With the 2026 SA Cup kicking off in just three weeks, both sides will use the game to fine-tune their combinations. But for teams with this kind of pedigree, there’s no such thing as easing into a contest – they’ll be going in all guns blazing.

It promises to be a hard, bruising encounter. The Purple People Eaters are desperate to prove a point after missing out on Premier Division qualification in 2025, while the visitors from Kimberley are determined to build on a superb season that saw them crowned Currie Cup champions and finish as runners-up in the SA Cup.

The Griffons are once again in a rebuilding phase after losing a plethora of key players. In contrast, the Peacock Blues boast a settled squad, with only a few fresh faces added to an already well-oiled machine.

Recruits

One of the recruits in Welkom is former Toyota Cheetahs loose-forward Sergio Moreira, who was part of Portugal’s squad for their historic 2024 Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein. 

The Griquas, meanwhile, have bolstered their ranks with the likes of Damian Markus at centre, Keagan Blanckenberg at hooker, and flyhalf Liam Koen– son of former Springbok backline general Louis Koen.

Sergio Moreira. Photo: Morgan Piek

Griquas lock, and captain Albert Liebenberg, told OFM Sport while the fixture is officially a warm-up, it will be anything but relaxed as both teams look to sharpen up ahead of the SA Cup.

“We’re still basically in prep mode – this is a warm-up game, but we need to sharpen up,” said the Currie Cup winner.

“We’re heading to Welkom, and while Kimberley isn’t the easiest place to play either, at least we’ve had a bit of rain to cool things down. Pre-season was hot with plenty of sun, so we’ve had good exposure to those conditions. 

“That’s also why we’re playing at 15:00 – our SA Cup games are at1 5:00, so we have to get used to that, and there’s no better place to do it than Welkom.”

“It’s a tough bunch – they want to make a statement, and we want to make one too. We want to build. It might be a warm-up game, but we’re treating it like a full-on match because we want to see where we are and how we’re going to perform in the SA Cup.”

Liebenberg said there’s no time to drift into form, with the SA Cup looming large. “In two weeks’ time it’s game week, and then there’s no hiding – it’s full-on. Every team is prepping and stacking their squads because everyone knows if you make the top four, you play in the Currie Cup. 

“That’s every union’s goal. We want to stay there, we want to build, and we’re striving to win the SA Cup and dominate the Currie Cup again.”

Cameron Hufke. Photo: Morgan Piek

“But first it’s one game at a time. The first one now is this warm-up against the Griffons. It’s a test for us and a test for them, and hopefully we can learn and adapt quickly before the SA Cup kicks off on 7 March.”

Friday’s clash between the Griffons and the Griquas at the DTI Stadium in Welkom kicks off at 15:00.

Griffons – TBA

Griquas – 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Tom Nel, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Lungisile Mbiko, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons

Replacements – 16 Keagan Blanckenbeg, 17 Dandré Delport, 18 Corné Lavagna, 19 Ntebeko Shezi, 20 Carel van der Merwe, 21 Jac van der Walt, 22 Phumzile Maqondwana, 23 Bobby Alexander, 24 Liam Koen, 25 Easton Arendse, 26 Cameron Hufke

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg