Currie Cup Final 2026: Griquas vs Pumas Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips

The 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division comes down to one final match this weekend, with the Suzuki Griquas taking on the Airlink Pumas in Kimberley.

The defending champions have home advantage after finishing top of the league phase, but the Pumas have already shown they can cause problems on the road. With the Currie Cup trophy on the line, this should be a proper South African rugby battle.

Griquas vs Pumas Match Details

Match: Suzuki Griquas vs Airlink Pumas

Competition: 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Final

Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026

Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley

Kick-off: 15:00 SAST

TV: SuperSport

The Griquas finished the seven-match league phase at the top of the table on 31 points. The Pumas finished third on 22 points.

The final will also be a repeat of the 2022 Currie Cup decider, when the Pumas beat the Griquas 26-19 to claim their first Premier Division title.

Griquas’ Road to the Final

The Griquas have been the standout team in the competition.

They opened their campaign with a 25-19 defeat against the Stormers XXIII in Cape Town. Since then, however, Pieter Bergh’s side has been extremely difficult to stop.

They responded with wins over the Bulls XV, Cheetahs and Lions before continuing their impressive run through the latter stages of the league campaign.

One of their biggest statements came against the Pumas in Mbombela. The Griquas travelled to Mpumalanga and returned home with a convincing 38-14 victory.

They finished the league phase with six consecutive wins and went into the playoffs as the team to beat.

Their semi-final was even more impressive.

The Griquas hammered the Fidelity ADT Lions 52-12 in Kimberley, scoring seven tries in a dominant performance. They led comfortably and never allowed the Lions back into the contest.

That result also means the champions have plenty of momentum heading into the final.

Pumas’ Road to the Final

The Pumas had a more difficult route.

They finished third after winning four of their seven league matches. However, their season really came alive towards the business end of the competition.

They produced one of the results of the tournament when they smashed the Cheetahs 52-26 in Mbombela in the final round. That victory secured their place in the top four and set up another meeting with the Cheetahs in the semi-finals.

The semi-final in Bloemfontein was a completely different story.

The Pumas found themselves in a tight contest against a Cheetahs team playing at home. The sides were locked at 24-24 before Pumas flyhalf Clinton Swart kicked a crucial penalty in the 70th minute.

That gave the Pumas a 27-24 victory and booked their place in the final.

It was exactly the sort of win you want in a knockout competition. They stayed in the fight and found a way to get over the line.

Currie Cup Final Betting Markets

There are several betting markets worth looking at for the final.

Match Winner

The Griquas are the obvious favourites after finishing top of the table and destroying the Lions in the semi-final.

Current international odds comparisons have the Griquas around 1.20, with the Pumas around 5.75. However, odds can move considerably before kick-off, so South African punters should shop around for the best available price.

Handicap Betting

The handicap could be more interesting than the straight match-winner market.

Bookmakers will give the Griquas a points handicap because of their home advantage and stronger season record. The key question is whether the Pumas can keep the final within that margin.

Given the Griquas’ 38-14 win over the Pumas earlier this season, the home side deserves respect.

Total Match Points

The total-points market is another option.

Both teams have shown that they can score plenty of points. The Griquas put 52 points on the Lions in the semi-final, while the Pumas scored 52 against the Cheetahs before producing 27 points in the semi-final.

That makes the Over points market worth considering, although finals can sometimes become more conservative than regular-season games.

Try Scorer Markets

Try-scorer markets are also worth checking, particularly on players from the Griquas after their seven-try semi-final.

Anytime try-scorer bets are generally less risky than trying to predict the first player to cross the line.

Currie Cup Final Prediction

This is a difficult final to call because the Pumas have enough firepower to make life uncomfortable for the champions.

However, the Griquas have been the best team in the competition. They finished six points clear of the Pumas, won their last six league matches and then demolished the Lions in the semi-final.

Most importantly, they are playing the final in Kimberley.

The Pumas will have to produce something special to win on the Griquas’ home ground. They have already shown their ability to win tight knockout matches, but the Griquas currently look like a team operating at another level.

NoBull prediction: Griquas to win.

I expect the Pumas to stay competitive for the first hour, but the Griquas’ set-piece strength, goal-kicking and home advantage should eventually tell.

Predicted score: Griquas 34-22 Pumas.

The Pumas will have their chances, but I’m backing the defending champions to lift the Currie Cup trophy again in Kimberley.