Expanded Currie Cup in March? You better believe it!

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SA Rugby has introduced the thrilling competitors construction for the 2023 rugby season, which is able to see an growth of the Currie Cup Premier Division, the addition of the Mzanzi Challenge comprising 5 worldwide groups, in addition to the loads of provincial girls’s and age-group rugby.

With the United Rugby Championship and European participation by the South African franchises already in full swing, SA Rugby have now confirmed the competitions construction for the remainder of the native rugby calendar, which is able to embrace an eight-team Currie Cup Premier Division competitors beginning in the second week of March, and no fewer than 11 contributors in the Mzanzi Challenge.

Seven groups will battle it out for prime honours in the Women’s Premier Division, whereas the Women’s First Division contains of eight groups. The dates and last construction of those competitions will probably be confirmed in due course.

Four South African franchise groups – the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions – are at present concerned in the United Rugby Championship, which culminates with the ultimate on 27 May. Four weeks later, on 24 June, the native season will attain its climax with the Currie Cup Premier Division last.

The addition of the Griffons, final yr’s First Division champions, means the Pumas must defend their Currie Cup Premier Division title towards seven different groups, over a double spherical of matches.

Mr Mark Alexander, SA Rugby President, mentioned the announcement of the confirmed competitors construction for 2023 follows an intense interval of planning by the governing physique 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,” mentioned Mr Alexander.

“I’d prefer to commend everybody concerned in this planning course of, together with the provincial union CEOs and coaches, for working so laborious in collaboration with our Rugby and Competitions departments to supply an unbelievable detailed and workable schedule for the whole native 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.”

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

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Currie Cup Premier Division

Participating groups: Airlink Pumas (defending champions), Vodacom Bulls, Windhoek Draught Griquas, Cell C Sharks, DHL Western Province, Toyota Cheetahs, Sigma Lions, Down Touch Griffons.

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

Final: 24 June

Currie Cup First Division & Mzanzi Challenge

Participating groups: Leopards, Valke, Boland Kavaliers, Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles [Currie Cup First Division]; Diables (Spain), Simbas (Kenya), Windhoek Draught Welwitschias (Namibia), Tel-Aviv Heat (Israel) and Goshawks (Zimbabwe) [Mzanzi Challenge].

The highest-placed SA group will probably be topped Currie Cup First Division league winners.

Opening spherical: 10/11 February

Mzansi Challenge Final: 17 June

Women’s Premier Division

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

Opening spherical and last: TBC

Women’s First Division

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

Opening spherical and last: TBC

SA Rugby Under-20 Cup

Participating groups: Lions (defending champions), DHL Western Province, Vodacom Bulls, Cell C Sharks, Leopards, Toyota Cheetahs, Valke

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

Final: 6 April

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup

Participating groups: Vodacom Bulls, Toyota Cheetahs, Leopards, Lions, Cell C Sharks, DHL Western Province

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

Final: 14 October