Craven Week's Last Match

Ironically, it was one of two things that Dr Craven did not want that have become entrenched.

 

In 1964 when he and his board acceded to the late Piet Malan's idea of establishing such a week to fit in with the 75th anniversary celebrations of the SA Rugby Board, Craven agreed but insisted that Craven Week should be a rugby festival, not a competition.

 

There is still no official winner of the Craven Week but getting into the last match, which is between the two teams ranked best, is certainly a competitive carrot. Craven also did not want a South African Schools side selected from Craven Week. The week was not meant to be trials. 

 

Since 1974 a South African Schools team has been selected. Since 1971 the team that wins the last match has been regarded as the unofficial winner of Craven Week.

 

 

1971: Western Province vs Griqualand West, 11-0 in Kimberley

1972: Western Province vs Western Transvaal, 16-9 in Potchefstroom

1973: Western Province vs Transvaal, 36-7 in Stellenbosch

1974: Western Province vs South Western Districts, 22-12 in Johannesburg

1975: Eastern Province vs Natal, 46-13 in Pretoria

1976: Boland vs Free State, 13-9 in Wolmaransstad

1977: Eastern Province vs Western Province, 19-17 in Oudtshoorn

1978: Western Province vs Free State, 12-3 in Middelburg

1979: Northern Free State vs Free State, 9-6 in East London

1980: Free State vs Transvaal, 16-65 in Stellenbosch

1981: Transvaal vs Western Province, 11-7 in Worcester

1982: South Eastern Transvaal vs Northern Free State, 15-7 in Windhoek

1983: Free State vs South Eastern Transvaal, 13-9 in Upington

1984: Transvaal vs Eastern Province, 3-0 in Bloemfontein

1985: Free State vs Transvaal, 23-15 in Witbank

1986: South Eastern Transvaal vs Western Province, 19-12 in Graaff-Reinet

1987: Natal vs Transvaal, 22-22 in Paarl

1988: Western Province vs Free State, 16-3 in Port Elizabeth

1989: Transvaal vs Eastern Province, 17-6 in Johannesburg

1990: Natal vs Northern Transvaal, 16-8 in Durban

1991: Northern Transvaal vs Border, 10-9 in East London

1992: Western Province vs Free State, 22-15 in Pretoria

1993: Northern Transvaal vs South Eastern Transvaal, 25-13 in Secunda

1994: Border vs Eastern Province, v in Newcastle

1995: Free State vs Boland, v in Bloemfontein

1996: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 24-12 in Stellenbosch

1997: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 29-27 in Kimberley

1998: Griqualand West vs Western Province, 15-11 in Vanderbijlpark

1999: Western Province vs Eastern Province, 15-11 in George

2000: Pumas vs Boland, 19-18 in Port Elizabeth

2001: SWD vs Blue Bulls, 26-20 in Rustenburg

2002: Western Province vs Free State, 31-16 in Pietermaritzburg

2003: Western Province vs Free State, 22-17 in Wellington

2004: Free State vs Western Province, 17-16 in Nelspruit

2005: Golden Lions vs Eastern Province, 38-15 in Bloemfontein

2006: Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions, 35-20 in Johannesburg

2007: Free State vs Western Province, 52-3 in Stellenbosch

2008: SWD vs Free State, 31-25 in Pretoria

2009: Western Province vs Free State, 19-17 in East London

2010: Free State vs Western Province, 42-21 in Welkom

2011: Free State vs Golden Lions, 28-17 in Kimberley

2012: Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions, 46-0 in Port Elizabeth

2013: Western Province vs Golden Lions, 45-29 in Polokwane

2014: Eastern Province vs South Western Districts, 25-7 in Middelburg

2015: Western Province vs Eastern Province, 95-0 in Stellenbosch

2016: Western Province vs Golden Lions, 27-20 in Durban

 

There were draws in 1987 and 1994

 

 

Northern Transvaal are now Blue Bulls

South Eastern Transvaal are now Pumas

Transvaal are now Golden Lions

Natal are now Kwa-Zulu Natal