Heading into the Noordvaal Cup Premier League, few would have backed Transvalia of Vanderbijlpark, representing the Valke region, to make waves in the competition. In fact, many predicted they’d finish bottom of the 1st XV log and face the automatic relegation that comes with ending the season in the bottom two positions of the ProReg (overall) table.
But two rounds in, the boys from the Vaal Triangle are defying expectations. Transvalia are two from two after impressive victories over Rustenburg and seasoned premier league campaigners EG Jansen on successive weekends in May. It’s a dream start that has turned heads and injected fresh belief into their campaign.
In other key action, Waterkloof brought an end to the unbeaten run of Pretoria neighbours Menlopark, handing them their first defeat of the 2025 season. It was a statement win and a timely reminder of Waterkloof’s pedigree.
Meanwhile, Helpmekaar sit atop the early standings. After opening their season with two losses, the Johannesburg private seems to have hit their stride, stringing together strong performances and finding much-needed consistency in South Africa’s oldest schoolboy rugby competition.
With surprises already unfolding and reputations being tested, the 2025 edition of the Noordvaal Cup is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
| # | NOORDVAAL CUP | P | W | D | L | PD | MP | 4T | 7< | PTS | HM | GF | TV | MP | EG | NS | WK | RB | Mo | NH |
| 1 | Helpmekaar | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 | X | 29-47 | 33-36 | 22-13 | 36-00 | |||||
| 2 | Garsfontein | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 47-29 | X | 53-19 | |||||||
| 3 | Transvalia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 09 | X | 39-26 | 20-13 | |||||||
| 4 | Menlopark | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 09 | 36-33 | X | 40-17 | 19-27 | ||||||
| 5 | EG Jansen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 06 | 26-39 | X | 39-31 | |||||||
| 6 | Nelspruit | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 05 | 13-22 | 17-40 | X | 31-24 | ||||||
| 7 | Waterkloof | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -33 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 05 | 19-53 | 27-19 | 24-31 | X | ||||||
| 8 | Rustenburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 01 | 13-20 | X | ||||||||
| 9 | Monument | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 01 | 31-39 | X | ||||||||
| 10 | Noordheuwel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 | 00-36 | X |
| # | PROREG | REG | P | PTS | AVG |
| 1 | Helpmekaar | LIO | 4 | 105.0 | 26.25 |
| 2 | Menlopark | BUL | 3 | 70.0 | 23.33 |
| 3 | Garsfontein | BUL | 2 | 61.5 | 30.75 |
| 4 | Nelspruit | PUM | 3 | 59.0 | 19.67 |
| 5 | Waterkloof | BUL | 3 | 57.5 | 19.17 |
| 6 | Transvalia | LIO | 2 | 54.0 | 27.00 |
| 7 | EG Jansen | VAL | 2 | 38.5 | 19.25 |
| 8 | Monument | LIO | 1 | 29.5 | 29.50 |
| 9 | Rustenburg | LEO | 1 | 25.0 | 25.00 |
| 10 | Noordheuwel | LIO | 1 | 24.0 | 24.00 |
@Kaya 85 (Comment #4)
Tang.
Spanner Valley
@Smallies (Comment #3)
@beet (Comment #2)
well… if they’re from VDBPark you can call them Bylers!!
@Kaya 85 (Comment #1)
Die Vuil driehoek
@Kaya 85 (Comment #1)
Thank you Kaya. I have changed it. But what do you call a person from the Vaal Triangle
Note to editor:
Vanderbijl ain’t East Rand Beeta, it’s Vaal Triangle. Years ago Vaal Triangle had its own Craven Week team (and seniors played I think in the Sport Pienaar I.e. “Currie Cup C division”)…so Vereeniging + Vanderbijl + Sasolburg…and maybe Meyerton used to put together a tough as nails side.
But only fairly recently that these sides (minus Sasol who possibly should be in Griffons / NFS union) play under Valke, which is the former Gauteng Falcons/Gauteng Valke, former Eastern Transvaal…large parts (but not all …like Germiston boet) of the mighty East Rand.