The 2006 ABSA Currie Cup season was contested from June through to October. The Currie Cup is an annual domestic competition for rugby union clubs in South Africa. The tournament was controversial before it even began, with the Southern Spears saga regarding entry into the Super 14 and Currie Cup continuing.
The final was drawn between the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls 28-all at Vodacom Park. It was the first drawn final since the 1989 season. The 2006 final was the third Free State/Blue Bulls final in succession.
Competition
Changes from previous season
The structure of the competition changed for 2006. In 2005, all fourteen provincial teams played in the qualifying rounds of the Currie Cup, with the top eight teams going through to the Premier Division competition and the bottom six teams going through to the First Division tournament.
For 2006, it was decided to reduce the number of teams to just eight. The five provincial teams directly affiliated to the Super 14 franchises - the , , , and , called "entrenched" teams – got automatic qualification to the Currie Cup Premier Division for five seasons, from 2006 until 2010.
The two best non-entrenched teams in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition would also participate in the Premier Division. The won the Vodacom Cup competition and the finished fifth to secure their places in the Premier Division.
In addition, the South Eastern Cape would be named as an entrenched team for 2006 only, as preparation for the Southern Spears' entry into the 2007 Super 14 season. However, the Southern Spears were later denied entry into the Super 14 competition and the South Eastern Cape's spot were given to instead.
Format
All eight teams played a double round robin, meaning every team played fourteen matches in total.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored 4 or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by 7 points or less. Teams were ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals.
Teams
Fixtures and results
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|- align=center bgcolor="#cedff2" |Round 1 | June 23–24 |Round 9 | August 25–26 |- align=center bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |Round 2 | June 30 - July 1 |Round 10 | September 1–2 |- align=center bgcolor="#cedff2" |Round 3 | July 7–8 |Round 11 | September 8 |- align=center bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |Round 4 | July 14–15 |Round 12 | September 15–16 |- align=center bgcolor="#cedff2" |Round 5 | July 21–22 |Round 13 | September 22–23 |- align=center bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |Round 6 | July 28–29 |Round 14 | September 29–30 |- align=center bgcolor="#cedff2" |Round 7 | August 4–12 |Semi-Finals | October 7 |- align=center bgcolor="#FFFFFF" |Round 8 | August 18–19 |Final | 14 October