Absa Currie Cup Premier Division and Human Spirit Fast Facts
The Human Spirit campaign:
The Human Spirit is Absa’s latest campaign through which we want to inspire South Africans to dare to dream to be like their heroes who put life and limb on the line for what they believe in.
We stand proudly behind the Springboks and the Absa Currie Cup, but we don’t sponsor rugby.
We partner the world’s toughest mountain bike stage race, but we don’t sponsor mountain biking.
We are behind Bafana Bafana and the Absa Premiership, but we don’t sponsor soccer. And we back the Absa L’ Atelier art competition and the Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, yet we don’t sponsor the arts.
It is through our sponsorships that we say that these artists, Bafana Bafana and Springbok players were once inspired by their heroes to become who they are now.
The human spirit is something we all have in common which is not just for our heroes; it is something inside all of us that gives us the strength and courage to become what we want to be. It is what inspires us to follow in the footsteps of giants.
Absa do not sponsor the Currie Cup, we sponsor past, present and future rugby heroes.
- The human spirit campaign asks us to push the boundaries in the pursuit of excellence.
- It asks us how far we would go to achieve the ultimate prize.
- It asks us how much we are willing to sacrifice to achieve.
- It inspires greatness and what we would do to achieve that.
- The human spirit is about winning the holy grail of South African rugby after years of narrow defeats and the loyal fans’ unbridled support despite years of disappointment.
- The human spirit is about inspiring the next generation to continue the legacy of past heroes.
- It is about players taking small steps in the Absa Currie Cup and making giant strides for the Springboks.
Absa and its role in South African domestic rugby:
- The sponsorship of the tournament was initiated in 1985 under the Santambank brand. In 1991, the renaming of Santambank to Bankfin saw the tournament become the Bankfin Currie Cup and in 2003 it changed to the Absa Currie Cup.
- Absa has been a proud sponsor of this competition for the last 28 years and every year has been tougher.
- Absa is the title sponsor of the Absa Currie Cup that largely contributes to the game of rugby in South Africa.
- This sponsorship sustains Absa’s strength in national pride and support as Absa is at the cornerstone of the country’s rugby heritage through these domestic tournaments steeped in history and tradition.
- The Absa Currie Cup provides a podium for young aspirant players to emerge in the rugby scene for the benefit of South African rugby and the Springboks. Absa is proud to be part of this development.
- The Absa Currie Cup enables Absa to connect with existing and potential customers and the broader rugby loving public.
- As rugby is a crucial part of South African pride and heritage, sponsorships such as the Absa Currie Cup positions Absa in the heart of South African culture therefore brings Absa to the heart of South African’s and rugby.
- The Absa Currie Cup stirs provincial rivalry, fosters relationships with families, and brings communities from all corners of South Africa together for the love of the game.
- The Absa Currie allows Absa to connect and interact with the South African public in an enjoyable way and share their passion for the game.
Live read/editorial:
Absa has a long and proud history supporting rugby in South Africa, but they don’t sponsor rugby, they sponsor the human spirit.
The human spirit is about their support of a competition that inspires our rugby heroes to reach for greater heights.
It is about those never-say-die moments when the odds are stacked against us — the triumph after a brutal battle, the reward of winning the title after a long and arduous journey.
The Absa Currie Cup Premier Division:
- Steeped in history and tradition, the Currie Cup date back to 1891 and is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world.
- The Absa Currie is regarded as the cornerstone of South African rugby heritage and the gold trophy remains the most prestigious prize in domestic rugby.
- Since its humble beginnings the Absa Currie Cup has set the benchmark for Provincial excellence in South African rugby. During this time many great players have graced the fields of play and shaped the tournament into one of the toughest in world rugby.
- Western Province has been the most successful Province in the history of the tournament, winning 32 titles (four times shared), while the Blue Bulls has won it a total of 23 times (four times shared). The Lions won the title 10 times (once shared), The Sharks (seven times) and the Cheetahs won it four times (once shared). Griquas has been on top three-times, while Border has won the title on two occasions.
- The 2013 Absa Currie Cup will see the winners decided between six teams for the second consecutive year after a change in format in in 2012 when the Pumas and Leopards were relegated to the Absa Currie Cup First Division.
- The six teams play each other twice over the course of the season, in a home and away format.
- In 2012 Western Province ended their Absa Currie Cup drought of 11 years when they beat the Sharks 25-18 in the final at Absa Stadium, Durban.
- Blue Bulls wing Bjorn Basson is the leading try scorer of all time with the 21 tries he scored playing for Griquas during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division season.
Past five Absa Currie Cup finals:
2012 – Western Province 25 The Sharks 18 (Absa Stadium, Durban)
2011 – Lions 42 The Sharks 16 (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
2010 – Sharks 30 Western Province 10 (Absa Stadium, Durban)
2009 – Blue Bulls 36 Cheetahs (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
2008 – Sharks 14 Blue Bulls 9 (Absa Stadium, Durban)
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