KIMBERLEY – The Suzuki Griquas face the Leopards in their first SA Cup clash of the year on Saturday 7 March at 15:00 at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley.
This promises to be an exciting and physical encounter with added meaning. The game will be played in support of the Ekapa Mine employees who recently and suddenly lost their jobs.
“As a union, we understand the deep impact this has on families and on our Kimberley community,” the Griqualand West Rugby Union said on its Facebook page.
Griquas encourage all supporters attending the match to please bring donations for these affected families to the stadium gates. Contributions such as non-perishable food, household essentials, toiletries, as well as dog and cat food, are requested.
“Every small act of generosity will help support affected families during this difficult time,” Griquas said.
All affected Ekapa Mine employees and their direct family members (spouse and children) are invited to attend the match free of charge.
- (Dial 081 345 8921 for more information – Griquas has the official employee list and will assist with allocations).
Griquas aim for SA Cup, Currie Cup
The Suzuki Griquas are the current holders of the Currie Cup as well as the first champions of the SA Cup in 2024. For the 2026 edition, the format remains unchanged with the competition kicking off this week for a single round of matches between the ten provincial teams. The final will be staged on 23 May.
ALSO READ: Griquas crowned Currie Cup champions for 2025: A 55-year wait ends
The top four teams at the end of the SA Cup league phase will again qualify for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division, where they will be joined by the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Fidelity ADT Lions and DHL Western Province. The other six teams from the SA Cup will then contest the annual Carling Currie Cup First Division.
During a press meeting this week, head coach Pieter Bergh said Albert Liebenberg will be the captain for the SA Cup this year.
Despite player departures, the team remains motivated, with new and strong players emerging. As Currie Cup champions, they aim to win both the SA Cup and Currie Cup again.
- Get tickets for the SA Cup match on TicketPro or at the stadium.
Frances Baard Rugby Cup kicks off
The Frances Baard Rugby Cup 2026 kicked off over the past weekend with six clubs in the Frances Baard Region competing in double rounds.
The semi-finals are scheduled for May, and the finals for June.
The results of the weekend’s clashes are:
- Hartswater beat Universal RFC by 41 – 17;
- Kimberley Rugby Club (KRC) 1 (Sables) beat KRC 2 (Duikers) by 50 – 17; and
- Jacobsdal beat Rooikatte by 43 – 31.
The KRC Sables are currently on top of the log, followed by Hartswater and Jacobsdal.
This weekend, Universal meet KRC1; Rooikatte compete against KRC2, while Hartswater and Jacobsdal will face each other.
ALSO READ: Tragic end to 158-year diamond mining era: Five miners lost, Ekapa faces liquidation
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