South Africa: New competition structure confirmed for expanded Currie Cup
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.
READ MORE: United Rugby Championship: Neil Powell hails Sharks’ character in victory over Edinburgh