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Georgians among three international sides to join Currie Cup
By AAP
Updated 16.24pm: Kenya, Zimbabwe and a Georgian XV will take part in South Africa's domestic Currie Cup tournament from April, offering an opportunity for more regular competition ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
The three countries are in contention for a place at next year's tournament in France and have been added to the participants in the second tier of the competition between April and June, SA Rugby said on Monday.
Kenya and Zimbabwe are both playing in the last phase of African World Cup qualifiers in July while Georgia could have their qualification wrapped up next month as they look to top the Rugby Europe Championship for a second successive year.
In the Currie Cup First Division, the trio of international participants will join defending champions Leopards along with Griffons, South Western Districts, Boland, Eastern Province, Border and the Valke over a single round of matches, with the final scheduled in June.
South Africa's top domestic teams are playing in the United Rugby Championship, against Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh opposition, as well as in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
“Understandably, it has been very difficult to plan for the new season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while a number of variables may yet change our plans, we are pleased to announce these competitions, ranging from the Carling Currie Cup First Division and women’s leagues down to provincial age-group rugby,” said SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux.
“I’d like to commend the union CEOs and coaches for working so hard on numerous calls with our Rugby Department to produce a workable schedule despite all the challenges, which includes a very full roster for the remainder of the season, as well as our broadcast partner for getting on-board with these plans in an extraordinary season.”
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
Participating teams: Vodacom Bulls (defending champions), Cell C Sharks, Tafel Lager Griquas, DHL Western Province, Airlink Pumas, Toyota Cheetahs, Sigma Lions
Opening round: 14/15 January (double round of matches)
Final: 25 June
Carling Currie Cup First Division
Participating teams: Leopards (defending champions), Griffons, Valke, Boland Kavaliers, Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles, Georgia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Opening round: 1/2 April (single round of matches)
Final: 24/25 June
UPDATE: RugbyPass sought clarification over which Georgian side will be entering the competition and SA Rugby confirmed it would be a Georgian XV.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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