About
The Pumas were crowned champions of the SA Rugby U21 Shield after they beat Eastern Province in a pulsating final in Middelburg on 30 September. In 2023, the participating teams were divided into two sections - South, comprising Boland, Border, Eastern Province and SWD; and North, featuring the Griffons - the 2022 champions - Griquas, Pumas and Valke. Teams in the South Section played three home and three away matches and in the North a single round. At the conclusion of the league phase, the two teams with the highest number of log points contested semi-finals within their sections, and the two winners played in the final.
The history
| Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sanlam Boland U21
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 112 | 77 | 28 | 17 | 16 |
| 2 |
Border U21
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 154 | 86 | 68 | 23 | 12 | 13 |
| 3 |
Limpopo U21
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 135 | 116 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 13 |
| 4 |
Eastern Province U21
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 134 | 127 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 13 |
| 5 |
Griffons U21
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 158 | 108 | 50 | 25 | 16 | 11 |
| 6 |
Valke U21
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 132 | 206 | -74 | 20 | 32 | 9 |
| 7 |
Griquas U21
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 75 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 5 |
| 8 |
SWD U21
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 218 | -152 | 9 | 34 | 4 |
| 9 |
Pumas U21
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 81 | -12 | 11 | 11 | 3 |
Limpopo U21
05 Oct | HTS Tom Naudé, Polokwane
13:00
Griquas U21
SWD U21
05 Oct | Outeniqua Park, George
14:00
Sanlam Boland U21
Eastern Province U21
05 Oct | Harmony Park Sport Field, Klipfontein
14:00
Border U21
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
SA teams look to build momentum in Vodacom URCSouth Africa’s four Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams will look to gain momentum in the cross-hemisphere spectacle this weekend in their second round of matches, as the Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls attempt to build on their home victories last week, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers will be seeking their first wins of the season.
African Rainbow Community Gold Cup
Semi-final spots up for grabs as Gold Cup heats upCollege Rovers, Helderberg and Northam Rhinos stormed to big wins in the African Rainbow Community Gold Cup Round of 16, and will host quarter-finals this coming weekend, with matches taking place in Durban, Strand, Setaria and Pretoria.
News
Nienaber on life at the top of a “beautiful competition”Leinster Rugby coach Jacques Nienaber has dubbed the Vodacom United Rugby Championship a “beautiful competition” as he surveys the scene from the top of the table.
News
Springboks’ depth growing thanks to Vodacom URCThe incredible depth in South African rugby at Test level is the envy of the rugby world, and Emirates Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen believes the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is helping to develop this.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Local joy for two South African sidesThe opening weekend of Vodacom United Rugby Championship action for the four South African franchises delivered a mixed bag of results, with the two home teams bagging victories in Gauteng, while the coastal sides suffered defeats on the road in Wales and Ireland.
