White River I secured a dramatic 36-30 victory over Nelspruit I in the 2026 Super League final at White River Rugby Club on Saturday, August 1.
The pavilion and area on the north, east and south ends of the field were packed with an estimated 2 475 supporters from both clubs.

It was a scrappy match with both teams making too many unforced errors and battling in the line-outs.

Nelspruit’s scrum was in fine form, resulting in numerous penalties, one of which was a penalty try.

White River dominated the first half and Nelspruit the second.

First-half dominance

Nelspruit started the match at a furious pace, resulting in White River committing unforced errors.

Nelspruit scored first when the visitors were gifted a scrum off a White River knock-on, and a perfectly timed off-load from Jerome Mgwenya saw Asande Kunene dotting down. Johan Aspeling slotted the conversion.

The rest of the first half belonged to the home team.

The ball went through various attacking phases from a 5m tap penalty with Drikus Greeff scoring a try in the 13th minute.

Divan Janse van Rensburg added the extra two points.

Aspeling put Nelspruit back into the lead with a 21st-minute penalty goal after a high tackle.

White River scored off the restart. They secured possession and after numerous attacking phases close to the try line, Nico Liversage claimed the try. Janse van Rensburg kicked the conversion between the uprights.

Five minutes later Levy Leonard increased the home team’s lead. White River advanced metre by metre towards the try line over numerous phases of play. Leonard found himself in possession 5m out and jinked through for the try. Janse van Rensburg’s conversion attempt was off target.

White River were on fire. In the 34th minute, Zain Christians sliced his way 50m through the Nelspruit defence to score, thanks to a ball steal by Liversage. Janse van Rensburg converted successfully.

Liversage claimed his second try shortly afterwards. He found an open try line in front of him after a pass and return pass between Janse van Rensburg and Christians. Janse van Rensburg converted the try.

Nelspruit scored after the half-time siren. An off-side penalty was punted into touch and Lourens Erasmus barged over for a try from the resulting maul. Aspeling’s conversion attempt sailed wide.

White River led 33-15 at half-time.

Second-half fightback

Nelspruit came out snorting in the second half.

Nelspruit scored in the 50th minute. They won their 5m scrum and first receiver Aspeling barged over. He then missed the easy conversion attempt.

Nelspruit were awarded a penalty try in the 67th minute. The visitors had momentum from their 5m scrum when White River collapsed the set piece illegally.

White River held a 33-27 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

Janse van Rensburg kicked a penalty goal to make it a two-score effort for Nelspruit to win.

An Aspeling penalty goal with two minutes remaining put the visitors back in contention for a last-gasp victory.

But the home team held out for the final moments of the match for a deserved 36-30 win.

Considering they had no answer to Nelspruit’s scrum and maul, White River showed pure guts in the second half. They defended exceptionally well, much to the delight of the home fans.

Nelspruit fought back valiantly, but their poor defence in the first half cost them.

Results for lower teams

Nelspruit II scored a last-minute try to beat White River II 29-27 in the second teams’ final.

In the third teams’ final, White River III defeated Nelspruit III 8-6.