Murray Cup


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.

History

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.

Sponsors

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.

Rule changes

In 2018, the following rule changes were implemented to increase the pace and excitement of the game.
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.

Participating Teams

The teams participating in the 2019 Hollywoodbets Murray Cup are:
Premier Division:
First Division:
Below is a list of all the previous winners of the Murray Cup, since its inauguration in 1890.
College Rovers are the current defending champions.
TeamTitlesAlternative Team name
Durban Collegians33
College Rovers21Durban Rovers, Berea Rovers
Glenwood Old Boys10
Wasps8
Maritzburg Collegians7
Maritzburg Police5
Crusaders4
DHS Old Boys4
New Zealanders3
West Riding3
York & Lancaster3
Ladysmith2
Wanderers Durban2
Amanzimtoti1
Durban RFC1
Harlequins1
Hilton College1
Railways 1
Savages1
Volksrust1
Zululand Rhinos1

YearWinnerSemi-FinalistsScoreNote
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 Durban Rovers 9 - 3
1901 Wasps Durban Rovers 11 - 3
1902 Maritzburg Wanderers  Wasps 12 - 6
1903 Wasps Durban Rovers 6 - 3
1904 New Zealanders Durban Rovers
1905 New Zealanders Durban Rovers
1906 New Zealanders Durban Rovers
1907 Old Collegians Durban Rovers 6 - 0
1908 Old Collegians Durban Rovers 11 - 0
1909 Durban Rovers Wasps 3 - 0
1910 Wasps Durban Rovers 3 - 0
1911 Wasps Durban Rovers 3 - 0
1912 Old Collegians Wanderers 12 - 9
1913 Durban Rovers Old Collegians 12 - 3
1914 Old Collegians Durban Rovers 15 - 9
1915-19 FIRST WORLD WAR
1920 Kokstad Maritzburg Collegians
1921 Wasp Wanderers 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 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 Durban Rovers 10 - 6
1936 Police Durban Rovers
1937 Old Collegians Police
1938 Police Old Collegians
1939 Police Durban Rovers
1940 Police Maritzburg Collegians
1941-45 SECOND WORLD WAR
1946 Wasp Wanderers Berea Rovers 10 - 3
1947 Wasp Wanderers Berea Rovers 11 - 8
1948 Berea Rovers Wasps 9 - 6
1949 Wanderers Wasps 12 - 3
1950 Wasp Wanderers Wanderers 10 - 6
1951 Wasp Wanderers Railway PMB16 - 10
1952 Railways Berea Rovers6 - 0
1953 Wanderers Maritzburg Police12 - 9
1954 Berea RoversMaritzburg Police20 - 9
1955 VolksrustLadysmith9 - 3
1956 Durban CollegiansWanderers 12 - 3
1957 Wanderers Durban Collegians12 - 9*Game decided in extra-time
1958 Durban CollegiansGlenwood Old Boys12 - 6
1959 Durban CollegiansGlenwood Old Boys15 - 3
1960 Glenwood Old BoysMaritzburg Collegians18 - 10
1961 Maritzburg CollegiansDurban Collegians
1962 Durban CollegiansMaritzburg Collegians
1963 Durban CollegiansGlenwood 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
2010 College Rovers DHS Old Boys 30 - 14
2011 College Rovers Durban Collegians58 - 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 Collegians17 - 17Won on better Try count
2019 College Rovers Durban Collegians32 - 3244 - 42 after Extra Time