I was full of envy when New Zealand resumed Super Rugby with an exciting new format back in June after the game of the oval ball across the world was bought into a suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The revamped Super Rugby Aotearoa comp was created to fill a temporary void left by the pandemic, which breathed new life into the competition with derbies every weekend. Trust me it was quite good, to add icing on the Cake New Zealand could allow Fans into the stadium in full capacity. I had feels I tell you.
The attention now turns to South Africa. Hope finally! On Tuesday SA rugby confirmed that the franchises have been given the green light to resume with full contact training. This follows news after all players completed the necessary health assessments and other protocols required. The resumption of rugby in South Africa will be under the umbrella of the Currie Cup.
According to the proposed return to play plans, the Currie Cup will kick-off on the 3rd of October and stretch across the Summer until a final on 16th of January 2021. The Currie Cup is set to be contested as a double-round tournament with the date fixed after SA rugby gave thumbs up to resume training last week. You could say teams are well prepared for the Currie Cup, the franchises have been chomping at the bit to move to the next phase of the resumption and Sharks coach Sean Everitt said teams should be raring to go.
Everitt is happy with the time frame after it had been suggested SA rugby was keen to commence the tournament in September. “We are confident we have enough time to be ready to play matches,” Everitt told IOL “We have done so much preparation already, albeit within the constraints of not making contact, and now it will be a case of gradually hardening the guys up to play,” Everitt added.
Is there a possible plot twist though!? The seven-team domestic competition scheduled to kick off next month will have a surprise name, despite multiply reports that it will remain being called the Currie Cup. In fact, according to @rugby365com, the working title for the competition is “Rugby Zans Afrika 2020” might seem far fetched for SA Rugby to rename the comp into that title but with format renamed into Currie Cup reloaded last year due to the Rugby World Cup forcing the competition to be played in a shorter format to avoid it overlapping with the Rugby World Cup. Who is to say that is not possible this year with the pandemic tearing the rugby calendar into shreds!? In any case, the Currie Cup is resuming outside it is its normal period of August – October with its return being October – January 2021.
However, SARU did hold back on the details of the proposed competition with further details expected in due time. The Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas. (The Southern Kings from Eastern Cape have withdrawn from any domestic competition that could take place due to financial constraints) feature in a competition that is likely to be played over a double round of Home and away fixtures running into January. Provisional matches have been scheduled for public holidays like December 26 (Boxing day) and January 2nd.
SA Rugby is also exploring the option of entering four teams into an expanded Pro14. The Cheetahs have proposed that the Currie Cup serves as a qualifying event to determine which teams will be entered. That suggestion is being considered by the board of SA Rugby. The Cheetahs are the Currie Cup’s defending champions having lifted the trophy last September.
Image : rugby15.co.za
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