SA Rugby rejig Super Rugby Unlocked to prepare players for British and Irish Lions tour

SA Rugby have confirmed the kick-off of the 2021 season with a number of preparation fixtures for eight provincial teams ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.

According to the union, national planning "focuses on entry to the international Rainbow Cup and the Springboks’ forthcoming Test season, starting with the series against the British and Irish Lions," despite considerable doubt still hanging over the tour.

The series of encounters have been specifically designed by the Rugby Department of SA Rugby and the competing unions to meet teams’ high performance needs against the landscape of the pandemic and to prepare them for the coming season.

One significant change is that teams will play on a ten-day cycle (rather than each week) to manage COVID testing protocols.

The eight teams – the EP Elephants join the seven sides that competed in Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked and the Carling Currie Cup from October last year – have been split into two groups and will play cross-pool matches between 27 February and 27 March, ensuring four encounters for every side.

Pool A will consist of the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Tafel Lager Griquas and Toyota Cheetahs, and they will play the four sides in Pool B, namely the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, NNC Pumas and Eastern Province Elephants.

Venues and kick-off times must still be confirmed, but the four matches in the opening round will see the Vodacom Bulls host the EP Elephants, the Lions take on the NNC Pumas, the Cell C Sharks squaring off against Tafel Lager Griquas, and DHL Stormers up against the Toyota Cheetahs.

“It’s imperative that we get the new season underway as soon as possible as we have a big year ahead, with preparing our players for the British and Irish Lions a top priority, but also providing opportunities for all teams to get match fit with an eye on entry into European competitions, and our planned local season,” said Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby.

“These matches will provide our top players with further opportunities to test themselves against the best in South Africa, while our match officials will also get some valuable game-time under the belt.”

Preparation series fixtures (home teams named first, kick-off times and venues to be confirmed):

Saturday 27 February

Vodacom Bulls v EP Elephants

Lions v NNC Pumas

Sunday 28 February

Cell C Sharks v Tafel Lager Griquas

DHL Stormers v Toyota Cheetahs

Tuesday 9 March

Toyota Cheetahs v Cell C Sharks

Tafel Lager Griquas v DHL Stormers

Wednesday 10 March

NNC Pumas v Vodacom Bulls

EP Elephants v Lions

Friday 19 March

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Lions v Cell C Sharks

Saturday 20 March

NNC Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs

EP Elephants v Tafel Lager Griquas

Saturday 27 March

Toyota Cheetahs v EP Elephants

Tafel Lager Griquas v NNC Pumas

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls

DHL Stormers v Lions