2016 Currie Cup Premier Division
| 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | 5 August – 22 October 2016 |
| Champions | Free State Cheetahs (5th title) |
| Runners-up | Blue Bulls |
| Relegated |
Boland Cavaliers Eastern Province Kings |
| Matches played | 39 |
| Tries scored | 321 (average 8.231 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Tian Schoeman (146) |
| Top try scorer |
Frank Herne, Huw Jones, Howard Mnisi, Kwagga Smith and Jamba Ulengo (7) |
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← 2015
2017 →
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The 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division was the top tier of the second stage of the 2016 Currie Cup, the 78th edition of this annual South African rugby union competition organised by the South African Rugby Union. It was played between 5 August and 22 October 2016 and featured nine teams that qualified through the 2016 Currie Cup qualification competition.
The competition was won by the Free State Cheetahs for the fifth time in their history; they beat the Blue Bulls 36–16 in the final played on 22 October 2016.
The competition was reduced to seven teams for 2017, resulting in the Boland Cavaliers and Eastern Province Kings being relegated to the 2017 Currie Cup First Division.
There are nine participating teams in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.
The six franchise teams automatically qualified for the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division, and were joined by the three highest-placed non-franchise teams from the 2016 Currie Cup qualification stage. Points will not be carried over to the Premier Division.
The nine teams that qualified for the Premier Division will play against each other over the course of the competition, either at home or away. Teams will receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points will be awarded to teams that score 4 or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lose a match by 7 points or less. Teams will be ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be followed by a final.
In March 2017, the South African Rugby Union decided to reduce the competition to seven teams for 2017 Currie Cup Premier Division. The seven teams with the best record over the past five years were selected to remain in the Premier Division, which resulted in the Boland Cavaliers and Eastern Province Kings being relegated to the 2017 Currie Cup First Division.
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