Nelspruit Rugby Club will play against White River Rugby Club in the 2025 Mpumalanga Premier League final. The two Lowveld clubs defeated their respective Highveld opponents on Saturday, June 21, to secure an all-Ehlanzeni final.

Nelspruit hosted Witbank Rugby Club in Saturday’s semi-final. The match was a thriller, with the game (having the potential to go) either way until the final whistle.
After 80 minutes of absolute attrition on the field, Nelspruit claimed a 26-20 victory.

The powerful physical onslaughts that both teams produced was almost superhuman. The speed and precision ensured a nail-biting 80 minutes for both teams’ supporters.

In the eighth minute Thembi Ndlovu scored in the right corner from a Nelspruit attack that started in Witbank’s half.
Witbank scored 10 minutes later. Otto Botha caught the Nelspruit defence napping and claimed a try. Jan Joubert converted to give the visitors the lead.

Witbank’s Derick Haasbroek dotted down a try in the 26th minute to extend the lead.

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A few minutes later Nelspruit hooker Estian Schroeder used his bulk and strength to barge over the try line. Louis Jordaan slotted the conversion.

Joubert kicked a penalty goal just before half-time to give Witbank a 15-12 lead at the interval.

Witbank scored first in the second half. Botha secured his second try to give the Highveld team an eight-point lead.

With Nelspruit needing to score twice to regain the lead, the home side upped their tempo. Nelspruit opted to tap a penalty and Marius Coetzee went over for the try. Jordaan added the two conversion points.

With Witbank holding a one-point lead, the final 15 minutes of play was something to behold. Both teams threw everything at the game… It was hard club rugby at its best.

Mxolisi Thusana scored the match-winning try for Nelspruit. The home team were awarded a penalty and chose to take a scrum. They edged towards the try line, recycling the ball and bashing it up. The sturdy eighth man eventually barged over for the five points and Jordaan converted.

Witbank attacked with venom in the last eight minutes of the play, but Nelspruit’s defence held and forced the visitors into making errors.

There was little to choose between the teams – they both played superb rugby. But it was Nelspruit’s amazing team effort, with each player giving his all for his teammates, that earned them the victory and a place in the final.

In in Saturdays other semi-final, White River Rugby Club travelled to Secunda on Saturday to take on Sasol Rugby Club . The encounter was also very close, with either team able to take the win until the final whistle.

But the lads in White River’s red and white-hooped jerseys dug deep and secured a 29-26 win.

The final will be played at Nelspruit Rugby Club at 15:00 on Saturday, June 28.

The second teams’ Premier League final between Witbank and Sasol Rugby Club will kick off at 13:30.