Northam Platinum Rhinos win first Gold Cup title

The Northam Platinum Rhinos secured their first national open-club title with a 22-20 victory over C. Steinweg College Rovers in the 2026 Pick n Pay Gold Cup final. The match was decided in the 77th minute when Darryn Fortuin successfully converted a long-range penalty goal.

The Rhinos established an early 14-0 lead, including a penalty try and a touchdown by hooker Khwezi Mkhafu. Although College Rovers staged a significant comeback to lead 20-19 late in the game, Fortuin’s decisive kick ensured the win for the Limpopo-based side. This victory completes a rare treble for the Rhinos, who also won the Sibanye League and the Golden Lions’ Grand Challenge.

For College Rovers, the defeat marks their fourth loss in a Gold Cup final since the tournament's inception in 2013. The 2026 tournament concluded amid rising interest in South African club rugby, with data showing a 14% increase in club-level participation between 2024 and 2025, bringing the national total of registered club players to nearly 120,000.