Watch VideoSecond-round Currie Cup action headlined by Cheetahs-Sharks XV clash in Bloem

Boland’s try-scoring machine Xavier Mitchell will hope to get onto the scoresheet against the Stormers XXIII. The Currie Cup Premier Divisionshifts into the second round this weekend when four more intriguing games will be staged, while the First Division champions for 2026 will be crowned on Friday evening when hosts SWD Eagles face Valke in George. The action starts in the Premier Division with a top-of-the-table clash on Friday afternoon between the Cheetahs and the Sharks XV in Bloemfontein, which kicks off at 5pm at the Toyota Stadium.

There are two Premier Division fixtures on Saturday – between the Lions and Pumas at Ellis Park (3pm), followed by Griquas’ home game in Kimberley against the Bulls XV (5.05pm). The second round will conclude on Sunday in Wellington, where the Boland Kavaliers are playing at home for a second weekend in a row, this time against neighbours theStormers XXIIIat the Boland Stadium. The Western Cape derby starts at 3pm, and like the other three Premier Division encounters, will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Friday night’s battle in Bloem sees the Cheetahs host the Sharks XV. Although it’s still early days, the two sides top the standings after the opening round, which saw KwaZulu-Natalians beat the Pumas 26-24, while the Free Staters edged the Lions 29-27. Heading into this meeting, the team from Durban hold a 3-2 advantage in the last five games between the two, with the Cheetahs edging a close encounter 7-5 in Durban when the two teams previously met in August last year.

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The Cheetahs are topping the early log as they have scored more points than the Sharks, and with Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk now pulling the strings in the No 9 jersey, they will be hoping to continue their early momentum. In Saturday’s early match, the Lions will be aiming to bounce back immediately from their two-point loss last weekend in Bloemfontein when they host the Pumas in Johannesburg. The Lions have a 4-1 head-to-head advantage in this meeting, with their only loss to the team from Mpumalanga happening three years ago when the Pumas won in Nelspruit.

Last year’s encounter between the sides, also played at Mbombela Stadium, ended in a one-point 36-35 win for the Gautengers. Saturday’s second game is in Kimberley, where Griquas and the Bulls XV will be hoping to open their 2026 account after both sides lost on the road last weekend.

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