South Africa: New competition structure confirmed for expanded Currie Cup

David Skippers
Currie Cup Premier Division trophy 2023 - PA.jpg

SA Rugby have announced a new competition structure for their 2023 domestic rugby season, which includes the expansion of the Currie Cup Premier Division.

That means the Griffons, who were crowned winners of last year’s First Division tournament, will be added to a Premier Division that will now feature eight teams who will face each other over a double round of matches.

South Africa‘s four franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are currently participating in the United Rugby Championship (URC) – which reaches its climax with the final on May 27.

The Currie Cup Premier Division’s opening round of fixtures will kick off on the weekend of March 10 and 11 and that tournament’s final will be contested on June 24.

Top players unlikely to feature in the Currie Cup

With the Premier Division’s fixtures overlapping with matches in the URC and Champions/Challenge Cup, it means South Africa’s leading provincial players are unlikely to be in action in the Currie Cup.

Meanwhile, six South Africans sides will compete in the Currie Cup First Division, which kicks off on February 10, and there will be no final in that tournament, with the highest-placed team on the table set to be declared the winners.

These teams will later be joined by five international sides – the Diables (Spain), Simbas (Kenya), Welwitschias (Namibia), Tel-Aviv Heat (Israel) and Goshawks (Zimbabwe) – in a new Mzansi Challenge which starts on March 24.

The 11 sides will contest the Mzanzi Challenge in a single round format which includes semi-finals and a final during the 14-week period, with the final set for mid-June.

At the same time, the six South African teams will carry points earned against each other into the race for Currie Cup First Division honours and the team who finish with the most points in the standings (only matches involving the SA teams to be taken into account) will be crowned the champions.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said the announcement of the confirmed competition structure for 2023 follows an intense period of planning by his organisation and key stakeholders.

“In a year when we will see the Springboks defend their Rugby World Cup title in France, we are extremely pleased to announce these confirmed competitions, ranging from the Currie Cup Premier Division and brand-new Mzanzi Challenge, to our provincial women’s leagues right down to age-group rugby,” he said.

“I’d like to commend everyone involved in this planning process, including the provincial union CEOs and coaches, for working so hard in collaboration with our Rugby and Competitions departments to produce an incredible detailed and workable schedule for the entire local season.

“I also want to thank our broadcast partner SuperSport for again getting on-board with these plans in what promises to be an epic season of local rugby action.”

SA Rugby’s new competition structure:

Currie Cup Premier Division

Participating teams: Pumas (defending champions), Bulls, Griquas, Sharks, Western Province, Cheetahs, Lions, Griffons

Opening round: March 10/11 (double round of matches)

Final: June 24

Currie Cup First Division and Mzansi Challenge

Participating teams: Leopards, Valke, Boland Cavaliers, Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles – (Currie Cup First Division); Diables (Spain), Simbas (Kenya), Welwitschias (Namibia), Tel-Aviv Heat (Israel) and Goshawks (Zimbabwe) – (Mzanzi Challenge)

The highest-placed SA team will be crowned Currie Cup First Division league winners.

Opening round: February 10/11

Mzansi Challenge Final: June 17

Women’s Premier Division

Participating teams: Border Ladies (defending champions), Western Province, EP Queens, Boland Dames, Blue Bulls Women, Sharks Women, Mastercard Golden Lions Women

Opening round and final: TBC

Women’s First Division

Participating teams: Leopards, Valke, Limpopo, Pumas, Free State, Griffons, Griquas, SWD

Opening round and final: TBC

SA Rugby U20 Cup

Participating teams: Lions (defending champions), Western Province, Bulls, Cell C Sharks, Leopards, Cheetahs, Valke

Opening round: February 17/18 (single round of matches)

Final: April 6

SA Rugby U21 Cup

Participating teams: Bulls, Cheetahs, Leopards, Lions, Sharks, Western Province

Opening round: August 18/19 (single round of matches)

Final: October 14

SA Rugby U21 Shield

Participating teams: Boland, Border, Eastern Province, Griffons, Griquas, Limpopo, Pumas, SWD, Valke

Opening round: August 4/5 (single round of matches)

Final: October 14

All fixtures will be confirmed in due course on the SA Rugby website.

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