The 2026 SA Cup champions will be decided in Kimberley on Saturday night, May 23, when the Suzuki Griquas take on the Airlink Pumas.

This is the third consecutive year the two teams will face off in the final, with the Griquas winning in 2024 and the Pumas in 2025.

Kick off is at 18:30 and the Suzuki Stadium is expected be to sold out for the highly anticipated match.

Griquas are firm favourites to win the final. They are playing at home and have been in top form throughout the SA Cup season. They have scored 90 tries in their 10 matches and conceded 23.

The Pumas have only played nine matches, due to lightning resulting in their clash against the Toyota Cheetahs being stopped early and declared a no-result. The Mpumalanga team have scored 68 tries and conceded 24.

The SA Cup player stats are dominated by Griquas.

Gustav Erlank has the most ball carries (73), and the most tackles made (67). Conner Mahoney leads the most metres made (1 007m) and is the top points and try scorer (14). Dylan Maart has made the most offloads (15), and Sako Makata has beaten the most defenders (42).

The Griquas defeated the Pumas 44-34 on April 24, but it will be the 80 minutes on the field in Kimberley that will decide the 2026 SA Cup winner.

The Pumas have no room for complacency and will have to play their best match of the season to have any chance of victory.

The battle will be decided up front, particularly in the scrums, in which both teams have been superb this season. The breakdowns will also be a key factor, as both the Pumas and Griquas are deadly on the counter-attack.

Then discipline and decision-making can change a game in the blink of an eye. Poor decisions under pressure and needless penalties lose finals.

The team that is the hungriest for victory, the team that wants to honour their fans with the glory of the champions’ cup, will be the same team that has the most points on the scoreboard after 80 minutes.

The Airlink Pumas won a thriller of a semi-final 42-36 against the Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium on Friday night, May 15.

Led by captain Sampie Swiegers, who was playing his 50th match for the team, the Pumas dug deep for victory. The burly prop picked up an injury early in the match, but led by example, playing like a man possessed. He scored two tries.

Willie Engelbrecht earned his 100th Pumas cap in the match.

The Cheetahs struck early in the semi-final, building a 10-0 lead through a Tiaan Swanepoel penalty goal and a try by Clayton Blommetjies which Swanepoel converted.

The Pumas hit back with their forward pack asserting dominance through the maul and Sampie Swiegers crossed twice before the break. Clinton Swart’s reliable boot, slotting two conversions and two penalty goals ensured the Pumas held a 20-10 half-time lead.

After the break, the Cheetahs’ never gave up, despite Swanepoel and Louis van der Westhuizen receiving yellow cards in the second half.

Swart added a penalty goal early in the second half for a 23-10 lead. Michael Annies kept the visitors in with a chance with a try converted by Jasper.

Gustav du Rand then scored for the Pumas off a rolling maul, before the Cheetahs’ Jasper finished off a backline attack with a try.

Du Rand scored his second try, also from a maul and Swart added the extras.

But the Cheetahs were far from done and a Neil Volschenk try, converted by Jasper took the score to 35-29 with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Junior Banda scored next for the home team and Swart took the score to 42-29.

Sisonke Vumazonke barged over for a try for the visitors late in the match, with Jasper adding the two points.

The final score, 42-36, opened a spot in the final for the Pumas.