Women's Premier Division

The Women's Premier Division is a rugby union club competition for women that is played in South Africa. it is supported by the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

Women's Premier Division
SportRugby union
Founded2003
No. of teams8
Country South Africa
Most recent
champion(s)
Bulls Daisies
Relegation toWomen's First Division
Official websitesarugby.co.za

History

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The first South African Inter-Provincial Women's Rugby tournament was held in August 2002 in Port Elizabeth[1] and was won by Falcons. The first women rugby union championship was launched in April 2003 under the name of SARU Women's Interprovincial Championship.[2][3]

In 2018 SARU decided to reform the Championship which was renamed the Women's Premier Division. Western Province won in 2019 and Border Ladies won in 2021 for the fifth time.[4]

In May 2023, the Bulls Daisies became the first professional women's rugby side in South Africa. They swept to the 2023 title, winning all 14 games.[5]

List of winners

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SARU Women's Interprovincial Tournament winners

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Season Winners Score Runner-up Venue
2002 Falcons KwaZulu-Natal Port Elizabeth

SARU Women's Interprovincial Championship winners

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Season Winners Score Runner-up Venue
2003 Blue Bulls 39–0 Eastern Province Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
2004 Blue Bulls Mighty Elephants Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011 Western Province Blue Bulls Theo Marais Stadium, Cape Town
2012 Western Province
2013 Border Ladies 41–8 Western Province Buffalo City Stadium, East London
2014 Border Ladies Buffalo City Stadium, East London
2015 Border Ladies 20–9 Blue Bulls Buffalo City Stadium, East London
2016
2017
2018

Women's Premier Division winners

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Season Winners Score Runner-up Venue
2019 Western Province Border Ladies
2020 Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
2021[6] Border Ladies 24–15 Western Province Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2022[7] Border Ladies 19–16 Western Province Hamilton Rugby Club, Cape Town
2023[8] Bulls Daisies 69–8 Western Province Loftus Versfeld B field, Pretoria
2024[9] Bulls Daisies 36–17 Western Province Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

References

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  1. ^ "SA Women "Scrum" together". News 24. 8 August 2005.
  2. ^ "South Africa: Women's Team Eyes World Cup". All Africa. Said Puzi. 23 April 2003.
  3. ^ "Rugby women debut for SA". Mail & Guardian. Phumzile Twabu. 30 May 2003.
  4. ^ "Border Ladies Clinch 2021 Women's Premier Division". NTU News. Jaco Gangat-Duvenage. 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ Adams, Mariette (3 May 2023). "HISTORY: Bulls unveil South Africa's first-ever professional women's rugby side". The South African. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  6. ^ "WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION - SA Rugby". www.sarugby.co.za. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Border Ladies retain Premier Division crown in thrilling fashion". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Fourteen straight as Bulls Daisies claim Women's Premier Division title". SA Rugby. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^ koosventer (12 August 2024). "Relief and gratitude from Bulls Daisies trophy winning coach". Rekord. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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