Page "Currie Cup" Paragraph 8

When the first overseas team to tour South Africa stepped ashore in 1891 they carried with them a particularly precious bit of cargo.

Among the bags, boots and balls was a golden cup given to the British Isles squad by Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, the shipping company that transported them to the southern tip of Africa.

The gold trophy was donated by Sir Donald Currie in 1891 before the arrival of the touring British Isles team.

Sir Donald was clear with his instructions — hand this trophy over to the team in South Africa that gives you the best game and after a spirited display, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup.

To this day the trophy remains the holy grail of South African rugby.

They then donated the trophy to the rugby board, and it became the prize for the Currie Cup competition.

The inaugural Currie Cup tournament was held in 1892 with Western Province as the first winners.