REVEALED: Super Rugby and Currie Cup for SA teams

NEWS: There will be two trophies up for grabs when the South African rugby season resumes.

South Africa’s seven franchises will battle it out for Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup honours when the domestic season resumes next month, after a complete re-working of fixtures and competition structures has been forced by the six-month interruption.

Following the Super Fan Saturday matches in Pretoria (September 26 ) and the Springbok Showdown in Cape Town (October 3), the seven provincial teams will head into a double round of local action over 16 weekends with two trophies up for grabs – Super Rugby Unlocked and the Currie Cup.

The first round of matches – from October 10 to November 21 – will be for Super Rugby Unlocked honours, with the winner coming from whichever of the Bulls, Sharks, Lions, Stormers, Cheetahs, Griquas or Pumas has the most log points.

All log points will then be carried forward into the second round – the Currie Cup from November 28 to January 9, 2021 – which will culminate in semifinals (January 16) and a final on January 23 next year.

The Free State Cheetahs will defend the crown they won in 2019 against the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Griquas, Pumas, Sharks and Western Province.

“We are very grateful for the excellent cooperation we’ve had from our sponsors, broadcast partner, the unions and other stakeholders to get to a point where we can actually start looking forward to actual rugby matches on weekends again,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

“Depending on our participation in the Rugby Championship, we’ll see our top local Springboks in action in the coming weeks and months.

#SPOTLIGHT: Why the other South African teams should be worried https://t.co/ygEJFddVjS

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 18, 2020

“The impact of the pandemic on the season has been extraordinary and we have had to come up with an extraordinary solution to be able to complete the Super Rugby season and contest the Currie Cup. We believe that this is the best solution for everyone involved.

“All the teams will face each other home and away, and will enjoy two byes during the four months we believe will deliver top-class local rugby and unearth the next generation of stars for South African rugby.”

SA Rugby also announced a five-team Provincial Under-21 competition between the Blue Bulls, Free State, Golden Lions, Sharks and Western Province.

The details of this competition, as well as the Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup fixtures will be confirmed shortly.