The Pick n Pay Gold Cup returns on Saturday, 26 September, with 32 clubs across South Africa competing for the national community rugby crown. One of the headline stories is Villager of Claremont, who, in their 150th anniversary year, will attempt to complete an unprecedented domestic triple — adding the Gold Cup to recent Western Province League and Cup successes.
Villager chase a rare treble
Founded in 1876 and recognised as South Africa’s second-oldest non-university rugby club, Villager head into the national knockout competition buoyed by form and history. They will open their Gold Cup campaign against Border runners-up Young Leopards at Brookside, with kick-off scheduled for 15h00.
The Capetonians reached the Gold Cup final in 2025, where they were beaten by Sanlam Naka Bulls at Brookside. This season the club have added provincial league and cup silverware and will be aiming to lift the national trophy for the first time since the class of 1980, which featured former Springbok captain Morné du Plessis.
Strong field, grassroots investment
This edition is the tournament’s 10th under the Gold Cup banner and the second staged with Pick n Pay and Northam Platinum as partners, underscoring ongoing private investment in community rugby. The 32-team field includes at least six current or former national club champions, underlining the depth of competition this year.
- Villager (Western Province)
- Durbanville-Bellville (Western Province) — 2015 champions
- College Rovers (KwaZulu-Natal)
- Crusaders (KwaZulu-Natal)
- Pirates (Lions)
- Sanlam Naka Bulls (Pretoria) — three-time defending champions
The tournament’s structure and national footprint mean matches will be played from the Cape to the Lowveld. As part of the competition build-up the famous Gold Cup trophy has been on a roadshow, promoting community rugby and bringing the silverware to towns that do not often host national events.
“The 2025 Pick n Pay Gold Cup showed the tremendous appetite and passion for community rugby amongst supporters from every conceivable walk of life,” said SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer.
The trophy tour has already visited Wellington and Pacaltsdorp and, according to event organisers, will make its first ever visit to the Lowveld when it is displayed at the match between White River and Louis Trichardt.
What to watch this weekend
Aside from Villager’s bid, attention will fall on several marquee matchups that test the national pedigree of clubs who have previously won the title. The presence of multiple former champions in the draw gives this year's Gold Cup a competitive sheen; every round will carry the unpredictability that has become a hallmark of the competition.
| Champion | Province | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Villager | Western Province | 150th anniversary season; seeking first national crown |
| Durbanville-Bellville | Western Province | 2015 champions |
| College Rovers | KwaZulu-Natal | Former national club champions |
| Crusaders | KwaZulu-Natal | Former national club champions |
| Pirates | Lions (Gauteng) | Former national club champions |
| Sanlam Naka Bulls | Pretoria | Three-time defending champions |
For supporters and players alike, the Gold Cup remains the closest equivalent to an FA Cup in South African rugby: a national knockout that can elevate community clubs onto a larger stage and deliver memorable upsets. With corporate partners continuing to back the event, organisers will be hoping the competition maintains its growth while sustaining the links between professional structures and club rugby.
This weekend’s opening round promises drama, local derbies and the chance for clubs like Villager to write a rare and historic chapter into a 150-year story. Kick-off times, venues and broadcast information were listed by organisers ahead of the weekend. The Cup’s early rounds traditionally produce a mix of tight contests and one-off shocks — and this year’s strong draw suggests supporters will have plenty to celebrate around club-level rugby.
