Pampas at home in Stellenbosch
The Pampas XV from Argentina, the defending champions, will get the 2012 Vodacom Cup season – the 15th since its inception in 1998 – underway on Friday when they host the EP Kings in Stellenbosch.
The Argentineans were unbeaten last year as they romped to the title in their first season of involvement and will be looking to build on that performance.
They have chosen to base themselves in Stellenbosch this year, as teams no longer play their pool games across sections, but within their own divisions, meaning they will face all the teams in the Southern Section.
The Blue Bulls, who only just made it to the playoffs only to lose by 14-9 in the final to the Pampas XV, open their account at home in Pretoria against Griquas – along with the Golden Lions the most successful side in Vodacom Cup history.
The Lions and Griquas have each won the title four times, followed by the Blue Bulls (three). The Valke, Free State and Pampas have one title each.
The first round of action sees a number of games between neighbouring unions Western Province and the Boland Kavaliers in Cape Town, the Falcons at home against the Pumas, the Golden Lions travel down the N12 to Potchefstroom to face the Leopards and Bulldogs host the Sharks XV in East London.
The competition this year will be split into two sections – North and South, with seven teams in the Northern Section (following the withdrawal of Namibia due to financial constraints) and eight in the Southern Section. All the teams will play in a single round within their own section after which the top sides will progress to the play-offs.
Northern Section: Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Griffons, Griquas, Leopards, Pumas, Falcons.
Southern Section: Boland Kavaliers, Border Bulldogs, EP Kings, Free State XV, Sharks XV, SWD Eagles, Western Province, Pampas XV.
Round 1 Fixtures:
Friday, 9 March 2012
Pampas XV v EP Kings
Kick-off: 15:10
Venue: Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Stuart Berry
Border Bulldogs v Sharks XV
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Buffalo City Municipality Stadium, East London
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Leopards v Golden Lions
Kick-off: 14:45
Venue: Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Falcons vs Pumas
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Ben Crouse
Free State XV South Western Districts Eagles
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Clive Solomon Stadium, Heidedal, Bloemfontein
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Western Province vs Boland Kavaliers
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Blue Bulls vs Griquas
Kick-off: 16:45
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
