The Absa Currie Cup will feature an eight-team Premier Division and a new qualification round, following the decision to expand the top flight, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced recently.
The Absa Currie Cup will feature an eight-team Premier Division and a new qualification round, following the decision to expand the top flight, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced recently.
The new structure will ensure that the six ‘anchor’ unions of South Africa’s Vodacom Super Rugby franchises (the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Cell C Sharks, DHL Western Province, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions and EP Kings) will be guaranteed their places in the Absa Currie Cup for the next two seasons.
The meeting also approved a resolution to do away with the Vodacom Super Rugby promotion and relegation mechanism.
The effect will be that the current five franchises are entrenched for the 2015 season.
“It has been a thorough process with several false starts but we have reached a decision which is ultimately good for all our members and South African rugby,” said Oregan Hoskins, Saru president.
