Currie Cup to go 'international'
REACTION: The Currie Cup, once the most coveted domestic title on offer, could go from an ‘afterthought’ to an international competition.
Marcelo Rodríguez, the President of the Unión Argentina de Rugby, revealed that they are in negotiations with the South African Rugby Union to have a team in the Currie Cup as early as next year.
Rodríguez confirmed that they had met SARU counterpart Mark Alexander this past week.
“We are working hard to try to gain entry into the Currie Cup in 2019,” the UAR boss told La Nacion newspaper.
“We are in an advanced stage of the discussions,” he said, adding that key issues involve logistics and finances.
This comes just days after the 2018 version of the Currie Cup – a seven-team, single-round of six matches competition – got underway with a whimper.
The public – already fed-up with the constant tinkering with the country’s premier domestic competition – is unlikely to meet the news with open arms.
However, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus suggested an Argentinian team would be a “wonderful addition” to the Currie Cup.
It would not be the first time that an Argentinian team has played in a South African domestic tournament, with the Pampas XV – who was based in South Africa – having featured played in the Vodacom Cup between 2010 and 2013.
“We already saw when they played in the Vodacom Cup, as the Pampas, how it benefited them,” Erasmus told a media briefing in Buenos Aires.
“I think that was the stepping stone for them to get into Super Rugby and we all know what Super Rugby did for them,” he added.
“Eventually they got into the rugby championship.
“I think it will be a great stepping stone from provincial [Currie Cup] rugby to Super Rugby.”
The Bok coach suggested that the team could run into trouble if they are not based in South Africa, as the Pampas were.
“I think they would be a wonderful addition to the Currie Cup.”
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