2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup
| 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 March – 16 May 2026 |
| Champions | Bulls |
| Runners-up | Lions |
The 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup was the first edition of the SA Rugby Under-23 Cup, created for junior player development and senior players returning from injury or who need game time as well as Currie Cup preparation.[1][2]
The first edition final of this tournament was contested by a "Jukskei Derby" between the Lions and Bulls in Johannesburg and the Bulls won 33 to 32.[3]
Teams
| SA Rugby Under-23 Cup teams | |
|---|---|
| Team | Sponsored name |
 Bulls | Vodacom Bulls XV |
 Lions | Lions XV |
 Sharks | Hollywoodbets Sharks U23 |
 Stormers | DHL Stormers XXIII |
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | B | Pts | Qualification | LIO | BUL | STO | SHA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lions XV | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 103 | +78 | 28 | 15 | 5 | 25 | Final | — | 49–31 | 8 May | 57–26 | |
| 2 | Bulls | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 176 | 140 | +36 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 13 | 24–27 | — | 68–26 | 9 May | ||
| 3 | Stormers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 145 | −25 | 19 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 15–24 | 17–36 | — | 41–7 | ||
| 4 | Sharks | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 71 | 160 | −89 | 11 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 7–24 | 21–17 | 10–21 | — |
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2026. Source: SARU
- Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification to the 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup final.
- Plain background (row 3–4) indicates other teams failed to qualified for the 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup final.
Source = springboks.rugby
Fixtures and results
Round 1
| 21 March 2026 | Sharks | 7–24 | Lions XV | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| Try: Ceano Everson Con: Pieter Bergh |
Report | Try: Keagan Smith (2) Marno Grobbelaar Michail Damon Con: Sam Francis (2) |
Referee: Caleb Hibbers |
Round 2
| 27 March 2026 | Bulls | 24–27 | Lions XV | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane | |
| Try: Siphosethu Mnebelele Jean Erasmus Riyaad Bam Con: Viaan Mentoor (3) Pen: Viaan Mentoor |
Report | Try: Rynhardt Jonker Jason Hugo Zian Cilliers Gilermo Mentoe Con: Sam Francis (2) Pen: Sam Francis |
Referee: Excellent Mnkomo |
| 27 March 2026 | Sharks | 10–21 | Stormers | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| Try: Scott Nell Khuti Rasivhaga |
Report | Try: Mfundo Ndhlovu (2) Keke Morabe Con: Imad Khan (2) Dominic Malgas |
Referee: Caleb Hibbers |
Round 3
| 11 April 2026 | Bulls | 68–26 | Stormers | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | |
| Try: Ruan Enslin (2) JJ Theron (2) Shaun Schurmann (2) Neil le Roux Riyaad Bam Akahluwa Boqwana Penalty try Con: Akahluwa Boqwana (4) Ruben Groenewald (2) Ian van der Merwe (2) |
Report | Try: Asad Moos Ezekiel Ngobeni Joshua Boulle Bruce Sherwood Con: Kyle Smith (3) |
Referee: Jonathan Lottering |
Round 4
| 18 April 2026 | Lions XV | 57–26 | Sharks | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | |
| 13:00 | Try: Rynhardt Jonker Jason Hugo Marno Grobbelaar Gilermo Mentoe Morne Venter Exauce Kevani Cecil Parsons Likhona Finca (2) Con: Sam Francis (6) |
Report | Try: Hanu Pieterse Juan Loots Chijindu Okonta Albie Bester Con: Chris Horak (3) |
Referee: Stiaan Marx |
| 18 April 2026 | Stormers | 17–36 | Bulls | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town | |
| 16:00 | Try: Dominic Malgas Keketso Morabe (2) Con: Imad Khan (1) |
Report | Try: Riyaad Bam Neil le Roux Juann Else JJ Theron Penalty try Con: Viaan Mentoor (3) Drop: Ruben Groenewald |
Referee: Juan de Bod |
Round 5
| 25 April 2025 | Lions XV | 49–31 | Bulls | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | |
| 13:00 | Try: Jason Hugo Marno Grobbelaar Exauce Kevani Tshiamala Gilermo Mentoe Michail Damon Morne Venter Hassiem Pead Con: Sam Francis (7) |
Report[4] | Try: Duwan Potgieter Marnus Rademeyer Dieter Schubert Shaun Schurmann JJ Theron Con: Viaan Mentoor (3) |
Referee: Hernus Coetzee |
| 25 April 2025 | Stormers | 41–7 | Sharks | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town | |
| 16:00 | Try: Divan Fuller (4) Jonathan Roche Hacjivah Dayimani Josh Boulle Con: Dominic Malgas (2) Kyle Smith |
Report[4] | Try: Christoff Etzebeth Con: Stefan Moolman |
Referee: Charlwin Daries |
Round 6
| 2 May 2026 | Stormers | 15–24 | Lions XV | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town | |
| 12:00 | Report | Referee: Dylen November |
| 2 May 2026 | Sharks | 21–17 | Bulls | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 12:00 | Try: Deon Slabbert, Sipho Nonyalela Con: Tian Meyer (2) |
Report | Try: Henry Immelman (2), Demitre Erasmus Con: Keagan Johannes |
Referee: Celeb Hibbert |
Round 7
| 8 May 2026 | Lions XV | 43-19 | Stormers | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 13:00 | Try: Morne Venter (4), Dylan Sjoblom, Zian Cilliers, Keagan Smith Con: Matthew Coetzee (4) |
Try: Vernon Paulo, Hencus van Wyk, Penalty try Con: Dominic Malgas |
Referee: Stiaan Marx[5] |
| 9 May 2026 | Bulls | 54-12 | Sharks | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria] | |
| 13:00 | Try: Junior Pokomela (2), Brooklyn Newman (2), Henry Immelman, Juann Else, Neil le Roux, Khutha Mchunu Con: Keagan Johannes (6), Neil le Roux |
Try: Sipho Nonyalela, William Ridl Con: Tian Meyer |
Referee: Zoe Naude[5] |
Grand final
| 15 May 2026 | Lions | 32–33 | Bulls | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 13:00 | Try: Marco Ferreira, Jason Hugo, Likhona Finca, Gilermo Mentoe Con: Matt Coetzee (3) Pen: Matt Coetzee (2) |
Report | Try: Henry Immelman, Ruan Enslin, Alulutho Tsakweni, Brooklyn Newman, Khutha Mchunu Con: Keagan Johannes (4) |
Referee: Paul Mente[6] |
References
- ↑ "New SA Rugby U23 Cup set to strengthen pathway", sarugby.co.za, 14 April 2026
- ↑ "SA Rugby creates new competition for URC franchises". rugby365.com. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "Vodacom Bulls XV crowned inaugural SA Rugby U23 Cup champions". sarugby.co.za. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Lions XV remain unbeaten in SA Rugby U23 Cup | SA Rugby". springboks.rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Match official appointments to 10 May 2026". springboks.rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ↑ "Match official appointments to 17 May 2026 | SA Rugby". springboks.rugby. Retrieved 15 May 2026.