The Murray Cup is a rugby union club knockout competition which takes places in KwaZulu-Natal, and is affiliated with the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union (KZNRU).[1][2]
Current season or competition: 2019 Hollywoodbets Murray Cup | |
| Sport | Rugby union Rugby |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1890 |
| Inaugural season | 1890 |
| Number of teams | Premier Division: 8 First Division: 8 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Holders | College Rovers (2019) |
| Website | Sharks Rugby |
| Related competition | Moore Cup |
History edit
The Murray Cup was founded in 1890, and is named after Sir TK Murray. Murray was appointed in June 1890 as the first President of the Natal Rugby Union, which today is known as the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union. He presented the union with its first trophy, The Murray Cup. The trophy was to be used for a challenge/knockout competition.
The Murray Cup is now the oldest knockout rugby competition in World Rugby.[3]
Sponsors edit
In 1957, South African Breweries came on board as sponsors, and the competition was renamed to the SAB Murray Cup. The sponsorship continued until 2016. There was no title sponsor in 2017.
In 2018, Hollywoodbets were announced as title sponsors of the Murray Cup. The competition is now known as the Hollywoodbets Murray Cup.[4][5]
Rule changes edit
In 2018, the following rule changes were implemented to increase the pace and excitement of the game.
- No kicking outside of your own 22 m for the first 10 minutes of each half;
- Tries scored under the poles do not require a conversion (automatic 7 points);
- Conversions must be taken within 30 seconds;
- One strategic break per half, meaning there will be four 20-minute quarters to the game;
- Each squad will comprise 25 players.
The tournament format saw the eight 1st Division teams, host the Premier Leagues teams in the qualifying rounds. The losing team from this round would then take part in the Junior Murray Cup.[6]
Participating teams edit
The teams participating in the 2019 Hollywoodbets Murray Cup are:
Premier Division:
- Amanzimtoti Rugby Club
- College Rovers
- Crusaders[7]
- Durban Collegians[8]
- Richards Bay Rugby Club
- UKZN Pietermaritzburg Impi
- Varsity College
- Westville Old Boys
First Division:
- Drakensberg
- Hillcrest Villagers
- Newcastle Highlanders
- Piet Retief Rugby Club
- South Coast Warriors[9]
- UKZN Durban Impi
- Volksrust Rugby Club
- Vryheid Rugby Club
Past winners edit
Below is a list of all the previous winners of the Murray Cup, since its inauguration in 1890.[10]
College Rovers are the current defending champions.
| Team | Titles | Alternative Team name |
|---|---|---|
| Durban Collegians | 33 | |
| College Rovers | 21 | Durban Rovers, Berea Rovers |
| Glenwood Old Boys | 10 | |
| Wasps | 8 | |
| Maritzburg Collegians | 7 | |
| Maritzburg Police | 5 | |
| Crusaders | 4 | |
| DHS Old Boys | 4 | |
| New Zealanders | 3 | |
| West Riding | 3 | |
| York & Lancaster | 3 | |
| Ladysmith | 2 | |
| Wanderers Durban | 2 | |
| Amanzimtoti | 1 | |
| Durban RFC | 1 | |
| Harlequins | 1 | |
| Hilton College | 1 | |
| Railways (PMB) | 1 | |
| Savages | 1 | |
| Volksrust | 1 | |
| Zululand Rhinos | 1 |
| Year | Winner | Semi-Finalists | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | Savages | |||
| 1891 | York & Lancaster | |||
| 1892 | York & Lancaster | |||
| 1893 | Maritzburg Wanderers | |||
| 1894 | York & Lancaster | |||
| 1895 | West Riding | |||
| 1896 | West Riding | |||
| 1897 | West Riding | |||
| 1898 | Hilton College | |||
| 1899 | Durban RFC | Wanderers PMB | 3 - 0 | |
| 1900 | Old Collegians (Maritzburg College) | Durban Rovers | 9 - 3 | |
| 1901 | Wasps (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 11 - 3 | |
| 1902 | Maritzburg Wanderers | Wasps (PMB) | 12 - 6 | |
| 1903 | Wasps (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 6 - 3 | |
| 1904 | New Zealanders | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1905 | New Zealanders | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1906 | New Zealanders | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1907 | Old Collegians (Durban) | Durban Rovers | 6 - 0 | |
| 1908 | Old Collegians (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 11 - 0 | |
| 1909 | Durban Rovers | Wasps (PMB) | 3 - 0 | |
| 1910 | Wasps (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 3 - 0 | |
| 1911 | Wasps (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 3 - 0 | |
| 1912 | Old Collegians (Durban) | Wanderers (Durban) | 12 - 9 | |
| 1913 | Durban Rovers | Old Collegians (Durban) | 12 - 3 | |
| 1914 | Old Collegians (Durban) | Durban Rovers | 15 - 9 | |
| 1915-19 | FIRST WORLD WAR | |||
| 1920 | Kokstad | Maritzburg Collegians | ||
| 1921 | Wasp Wanderers (PMB) | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1922 | Old Collegians | Wasp Wanderers | ||
| 1923 | Old Collegians | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1924 | Old Collegians | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1925 | Durban Rovers | Durban Collegians | ||
| 1926 | Old Collegians | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1927 | Ladysmith | Maritzburg Collegians | ||
| 1928 | Old Collegians | Durban Rovers | 14 - 9 | |
| 1929 | Old Collegians | Durban Rovers | 10 - 3 | |
| 1930 | Natal University College (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 9 - 6 | |
| 1931 | Tech College | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1932 | Tech College | Old Collegians | 9 - 6 | |
| 1933 | DHS Old Boys | Durban Collegians | 9 - 3 | |
| 1934 | Old Collegians | DHS Old Boys | 12 - 9 | |
| 1935 | Police (PMB) | Durban Rovers | 10 - 6 | |
| 1936 | Police (PMB) | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1937 | Old Collegians | Police (PMB) | ||
| 1938 | Police (PMB) | Old Collegians | ||
| 1939 | Police (PMB) | Durban Rovers | ||
| 1940 | Police (PMB) | Maritzburg Collegians | ||
| 1941-45 | SECOND WORLD WAR | |||
| 1946 | Wasp Wanderers (PMB) | Berea Rovers | 10 - 3 | |
| 1947 | Wasp Wanderers (PMB) | Berea Rovers | 11 - 8 | |
| 1948 | Berea Rovers | Wasps | 9 - 6 | |
| 1949 | Wanderers (DBN) | Wasps | 12 - 3 | |
| 1950 | Wasp Wanderers (PMB) | Wanderers (DBN) | 10 - 6 | |
| 1951 | Wasp Wanderers (PMB) | Railway PMB | 16 - 10 | |
| 1952 | Railways (PMB) | Berea Rovers | 6 - 0 | |
| 1953 | Wanderers (DBN) | Maritzburg Police | 12 - 9 | |
| 1954 | Berea Rovers | Maritzburg Police | 20 - 9 | |
| 1955 | Volksrust | Ladysmith | 9 - 3 | |
| 1956 | Durban Collegians | Wanderers (DBN) | 12 - 3 | |
| 1957 | Wanderers (DBN) | Durban Collegians | 12 - 9* | Game decided in extra-time |
| 1958 | Durban Collegians | Glenwood Old Boys | 12 - 6 | |
| 1959 | Durban Collegians | Glenwood Old Boys | 15 - 3 | |
| 1960 | Glenwood Old Boys | Maritzburg Collegians | 18 - 10 | |
| 1961 | Maritzburg Collegians | Durban Collegians | ||
| 1962 | Durban Collegians | Maritzburg Collegians | ||
| 1963 | Durban Collegians | Glenwood Old Boys | ||
| 1964 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1965 | Ladysmith | |||
| 1966 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1967 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1968 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1969 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1970 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1971 | Berea Rovers | |||
| 1972 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1973 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1974 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1975 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1976 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1977 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1978 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1979 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1980 | Maritzburg Collegians | |||
| 1981 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1982 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1983 | Maritzburg Collegians | |||
| 1984 | Glenwood Old Boys | |||
| 1985 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1986 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1987 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1988 | Durban Collegians | |||
| 1989 | DHS Old Boys | |||
| 1990 | DHS Old Boys | |||
| 1991 | DHS Old Boys | |||
| 1992 | Collegians Tech | |||
| 1993 | Crusaders | |||
| 1994 | Crusaders | |||
| 1995 | Crusaders | |||
| 1996 | College Rovers | |||
| 1997 | DHS Old Boys | |||
| 1998 | Collegians Tech | |||
| 1999 | Harlequins | |||
| 2000 | College Rovers | Crusaders | 24 - 20 | |
| 2001 | Durban Collegians | College Rovers | 27 - 3 | |
| 2002 | Durban Collegians | Glenwood Falcons | 34 - 22 | |
| 2003 | Crusaders | Jaguars | 37 - 25 | |
| 2004 | College Rovers | DHS Old Boys | 76 - 3 | |
| 2005 | College Rovers | Glenwood Falcons | 34 - 22 | |
| 2006 | College Rovers | Durban Collegians | 45 - 15 | |
| 2007 | College Rovers | Crusaders | 25 - 20 | |
| 2008 | Zululand Rhinos | Crusaders | 22 - 18 | |
| 2009 | College Rovers | DHS Old Boys | 24 - 24 | 34 - 34 (Won on better Try count) |
| 2010 | College Rovers | DHS Old Boys | 30 - 14 | |
| 2011 | College Rovers | Durban Collegians | 58 - 12 | |
| 2012 | College Rovers | Crusaders | 27 - 20 | |
| 2013 | College Rovers | Durban Collegeians | 15 - 15 | Won on better Try count |
| 2014 | Amanzimtoti | Varsity College | 21 - 21 | 24 - 21 after Extra Time |
| 2015 | College Rovers | Crusaders | 55 - 20 | |
| 2016 | Durban Collegians | Amanzimtoti | 13 - 13 | 31 - 13 after Extra Time |
| 2017 | College Rovers | Durban Collegians | 24 - 13 | |
| 2018 | College Rovers | Durban Collegians | 17 - 17 | Won on better Try count |
| 2019 | College Rovers | Durban Collegians | 32 - 32 | 44 - 42 after Extra Time |
References edit
- ^ C.O. Medworth (1964). History of Natal Rugby 1870 - 1964. Howard Timmins.
- ^ Alfred Herbert (1980). The Natal Rugby Story (1st ed.).
- ^ "THE MURRAY CUP". Sharks Rugby. SharksRugby.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "KZN RUGBY PRESENTS THE HOLLYWOODBETS MURRAY CUP". Sharks Rugby. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "New Sponsor for Murray Cup". Rugby15. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ "Villagers' drop into Junior Murray Cup". Highway Mail. Highway Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Robson, Jos. "Hollywoodbets Murray Cup Quarter Final Results". Pegasus Publishing. Pegasus Publishing. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Robson, Jos (15 August 2018). "Crunch Time as Murray Cup reaches semis". The Mercury. p. 27. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "Warriors return to league glory". South Coast Herald. Caxton. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ Reg Sweet (1990). Natal 100 - Centenary of Natal Rugby Union (1990 ed.). First National Bank.