The Currie Cup began as a humble inter–town competition in 1884 and existed as such until 1889 when the South African Rugby Board was established, who decided to arrange a national competition that

involved teams from all the major unions. The first unions involved were Eastern Province, Transvaal. Western Province and Griqualand West. Western Province won the first tournament that was staged in Kimberley and received a silver cup donated by the South African Rugby Board as a prize. This cup is now on display at the SA Rugby Museum in Cape Town.

With local unions battling for the Currie Cup from 1892. it would take decades before a formal annual competition was established. Western Province dominated the years of occasional tournaments until 1968. when the country's premier provincial tournament kicked off in eamest. In that year; led by the legendary

Frik du Preez. Northern Transvaal mauled neighbours Transvaal 16–3 in the final. This would see a northern Transvaal dominance of the competition that saw them win it 16 times and share it on three occasions.

Since the Currie Cup began as an annual competition. only Western Province has issued a serious challenge to Northern Transvaal's domination. Cape Town experienced boisterous parties in 1982 when Western Province hammered Northern Transvaal 24–7 in the final to start Province's era of Currie Cup domination Players like Calla Schol1z. Faffa Knoeize and wing Neil Burger made sure that the trophy remained securely beneath the shadow of Table Mountain for four years before once again heading back north. At the end of the 1980's. SA rugby fans were treated to two of the most memorable Currie Cup flnal spectacles. In 1989 Carel du Plessis scored a try at the death to draw the match for WP against Northern Transvaal and in 1990. most people were of the opinion that all the men from Pretoria need do to win the final was to stroll onto the field against Natal. The Banana Boys had other ideas as they slipped home 18–12 to claim the title. The 1990's witnessed further improvements by Natal and the rise of Transvaal. but once the Springboks were permitted back onto the international stage. the significance of the Currie Cup started to lose its gloss. Today the Currie Cup tends to lag behind the Super 14 and Tri–Nations in order of importance. but winning it remains a special event for SA's provincial teams. In 2004 the Blue Bulls lifted for a third time in a row and Free State claimed the title for the first time in almost 30 years in 2005. The trophy itself enjoys a significant history and first arrived in SA in 1891 with the British Isles squad – the first foreign team to tour SA. Its donor; Sir Donald Currie. said the trophy must be handed to the team who provided the tourists with the best game and following a spirited display. Griqualand West became the Cup's first holders. The Cup was later donated to the SA Rugby Board and remains today as the holy grail of South African rugby.