The 2025 Carling Currie Cup season is primed and ready to kick off on Friday night with the Airlink Pumas taking on their age-old foes, the Suzuki Griquas, at Mbombela Stadium.

The Pumas are aiming for a much-improved 2025 Currie Cup campaign, after they finished sixth last year. This year has already seen a marked improvement for the men in pink as they managed to triumph in the SA Cup where they defeated the Griquas in the final to win their first SA Cup trophy.

In a repeat of last year’s Carling Currie Cup opener, on Friday night the Pumas will start their season against the Griquas at Mbombela Stadium.

This will be the third time that the two sides have locked horns at Mbombela Stadium in 2025. In addition to the final, the Pumas also defeated the Griquas in the round-robin stage of the SA Cup, making the Griquas winless in the Lowveld this year.

In spite of this, Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse won’t be disillusioned by previous success against the men from Kimberley. “You can’t pay attention to the matches that have passed so far, as they say what’s done is done, we’re looking at Friday’s match as a new match and a new opportunity,” he said.

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“It’s very important for both us and the Griquas to start well, because if you win that first match of the season it counts in your favour a lot. And although playing at home is an advantage, we know the Griquas always come with a bang.”

The Pumas also enjoyed a successful Currie Cup pre-season in preparation for the competition. They defeated the Welwitschias in Namibia, Uganda and the Northam Wolves at Nelspruit Rugby Club, along with wins against the Northam Rhinos and Sasol Secunda Rugby Club in Secunda.

Stonehouse acknowledged that the Pumas might not have had the strongest preparation for the Currie Cup, but still believes his troops are more than ready, and that they are looking forward to Friday evening.

“We are asking the people of Mbombela to please come out and support us in your thousands, we need you guys!”

The match will kick off at 19:00 on Friday night, and tickets are available from the Mbombela Stadium ticket office.