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]

Murray Cup
Current season or competition:
2019 Hollywoodbets Murray Cup
SportRugby union Rugby
Instituted1890
Inaugural season1890
Number of teamsPremier Division: 8
First Division: 8
CountrySouth Africa
HoldersCollege Rovers (2019)
WebsiteSharks Rugby
Related competitionMoore Cup

History

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Teams with the most Murray Cup tournament wins.
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

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  1. ^ C.O. Medworth (1964). History of Natal Rugby 1870 - 1964. Howard Timmins.
  2. ^ Alfred Herbert (1980). The Natal Rugby Story (1st ed.).
  3. ^ "THE MURRAY CUP". Sharks Rugby. SharksRugby.co.za. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  4. ^ "KZN RUGBY PRESENTS THE HOLLYWOODBETS MURRAY CUP". Sharks Rugby. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. ^ "New Sponsor for Murray Cup". Rugby15. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Villagers' drop into Junior Murray Cup". Highway Mail. Highway Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  7. ^ Robson, Jos. "Hollywoodbets Murray Cup Quarter Final Results". Pegasus Publishing. Pegasus Publishing. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. ^ Robson, Jos (15 August 2018). "Crunch Time as Murray Cup reaches semis". The Mercury. p. 27. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Warriors return to league glory". South Coast Herald. Caxton. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ Reg Sweet (1990). Natal 100 - Centenary of Natal Rugby Union (1990 ed.). First National Bank.