Bulls, Lions, and Boland make early Currie Cup statement

With just a single round-robin before the semi-finals, momentum is everything in the shortened 2025 Currie Cup. The Lions and Vodacom Bulls wasted no time asserting themselves, while Boland Cavaliers delivered the shock of the weekend with a dramatic victory over the Cheetahs.

The Pumas kicked things off in Nelspruit on Friday night, outclassing an ill-disciplined Griquas side 49-28 in a high-scoring affair at Mbombela Stadium.

In Johannesburg, the Lions—smarting from last season’s late heartbreak in the final—obliterated defending champions Sharks 46-5. Their clinical performance was a statement of intent, built on relentless forward power and sharp finishing.

The Bulls sent an equally strong message in Cape Town with a 48-23 bonus-point win over Western Province. Ill-discipline hurt the hosts badly, with three first-half yellow cards gifting the Bulls the upper hand.

On Sunday, all eyes were on Wellington, where Premier Division newcomers Boland Cavaliers stunned the Free State Cheetahs. In a breathless encounter, Donavan Don crossed in the 88th minute to secure a dramatic 37-35 win that had the home crowd on its feet.

Round 2 preview:

The Cheetahs will try to bounce back at home against the Pumas on Friday night in Bloemfontein. Saturday’s action sees WP hosting the Lions at Ellis Park, followed by the Bulls welcoming the Sharks to Loftus. On Sunday, Griquas and Boland clash in Kimberley to close out the round.

Lions edge Wallabies in Melbourne thriller

The British & Irish Lions sealed the series with a 29-26 comeback victory over the Wallabies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. In front of over 90,000 fans, Australia surged ahead 23-5 before the Lions fought back with tries from Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry, Huw Jones, and Tadhg Beirne. Hugo Keenan’s late 79th-minute try completed the turnaround and secured a famous 2-0 series win.

Maro Itoje’s leadership and Finn Russell’s tactical kicking were crucial as Andy Farrell’s side overcame both the Wallabies’ physical pack and the pressure of a hostile crowd. The result puts the Lions in the box seat for a potential clean sweep when the series wraps up in Sydney next weekend.

Selected Schools results