The EP Elephants have wrapped up their 2025 SA Cup campaign, finishing with a record of four wins and five losses across nine matches, narrowly missing out on the top four spots required to qualify for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.
According to a press release, despite the outcome, Coach Allister Coetzee highlighted the team’s significant growth and the valuable lessons learned, as they now set their sights on the upcoming Currie Cup First Division campaign, starting June 14, 2025.
The Elephants’ SA Cup journey began with a challenging 41-30 loss to the Valke, where they scored four tries but were hampered by two yellow cards. A 61-22 defeat to the Pumas followed, but the team found momentum with a 39-26 bonus-point win over the SWD Eagles, their first victory, marked by five tries.
They showed their potential in a 47-35 loss to the Cheetahs, leading 22-21 at half-time and earning a bonus point for four tries, before securing their first home win against the Leopards (26-17), also with a bonus point. A heavy 70-17 loss to finalists Griquas exposed their struggles with depth and set-piece play, particularly after two yellow cards and injuries to both starting props. The Elephants bounced back with a 20-14 win over the NovaVit Griffons and a dominant 41-15 victory over the Border Bulldogs, scoring seven tries, but a 36-22 loss to Boland in their final match at NMU Stadium ended their semifinal aspirations.
Coetzee reflected on the campaign with a sense of pride tempered by realism. “The SA Cup has been a steep learning curve for us, but I’m proud of the strides we’ve made,” he said. “We’ve played with heart, scoring some great tries across the season, which shows our attacking intent. Wins against SWD, Leopards, Griffons, and Border were highlights, and we pushed strong teams like the Cheetahs right to the end. But we’ve also had to address challenges—discipline cost us in key moments, and our set-piece needs more consistency, as we saw against Griquas and Boland. This season has been about building an identity, and I believe we’re on the right path.”
The Elephants finished seventh on the SA Cup log with 21 points, behind the top four qualifiers—Pumas (45 points), Griquas (42), Cheetahs (34), and Boland (32)—who advanced to the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Despite missing out, the campaign saw standout performances from players like full back Jayden Bantom, prop Zukisa Sali, and winger Davian Swanepoel, who were consistent performers under the influential leadership of captain Stefan Willemse.
The team also celebrated the emergence of new talent, such as Madibaz star Layron Milborrow, who made a brief but promising debut off the bench in the final match against Boland, playing 10 minutes.
Loan players like Jac van der Walt from Griquas and CJ Velleman from Western Province also made significant contributions.
The Elephants also had to navigate adversity, including five injuries and the absence of fly half Chris Humphries for personal reasons in the latter stages, with Chadywn November stepping up admirably at fly half.
As the Elephants prepare for the Currie Cup First Division, which will feature EP, Border Bulldogs, Griffons, Leopards, SWD Eagles, and Valke, with the final set for July 26, Coetzee is optimistic about the team’s prospects. “The Currie Cup First Division is a new opportunity to show what we’re capable of,” he said. “We’ll focus on tightening our discipline, improving our set-piece, and maintaining our attacking flair. Our goal is to compete for the title and take another step toward our ultimate aim of returning to the Currie Cup Premier Division. The players are motivated, and we’ll be ready.”
With a passionate fan base behind them, exemplified by the free-entry crowd at NMU Stadium for their final SA Cup match, the EP Elephants are poised to make a strong push in the Currie Cup First Division as they continue their journey to restore the proud legacy of EP Rugby.
