SA Rugby has unveiled the tournament format for the 2023 rugby season, which will include an expansion of the Currie Cup Premier Division, the addition of the Mzanzi Challenge, which will feature five foreign sides, and an abundance of provincial women’s and youth rugby.
With the United Rugby Championship and European participation by South African franchises already in full swing, SA Rugby has confirmed the competitions structure for the remainder of the local rugby calendar, which will include an eight-team Currie Cup Premier Division competition beginning in the second week of March and no less than eleven participants in the Mzanzi Challenge.
Seven teams will compete for top honors in the Women’s Premier Division, while eight teams will compete in the Women’s First Division. The final format and dates of these tournaments will be announced in due time.
Four South African franchise teams are currently competing in the United Rugby Championship, which concludes on May 27 with the final. On 24 June, four weeks later, the local season will culminate with the Currie Cup Premier Division final.
The addition of the Griffons, the First Division champions from the previous season, means that the Pumas will have to defend their Currie Cup Premier Division championship against seven other teams across two rounds of matches.
The introduction of the confirmed competition structure for 2023, according to SA Rugby President Mark Alexander, after an exhaustive period of planning by the governing body and key stakeholders.
Mr. Alexander stated, “In a year in which the Springboks will 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 and age-group rugby.”
“I’d want to congratulate everyone engaged in this planning process, especially the provincial union CEOs and coaches, for collaborating so diligently with our Rugby and Competitions teams to create an incredibly thorough and workable program for the whole local season.
“I would also like to thank our broadcast partner SuperSport for once again supporting these plans for what promises to be an epic season of local rugby.”
All schedules will be verified on the SA Rugby website in due time.
2023 South African Rugby competition format
CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION
Airlink Pumas (defending champions), Vodacom Bulls, Windhoek Draught Griquas, Cell C Sharks, DHL Western Province, Toyota Cheetahs, Sigma Lions, and Down Touch Griffons are the participating teams.
Opening round: March 10/11 (double round of matches)
Final: June 24
Currie Cup First Division & Mzanzi Challenge
Leopards, Valke, Boland Kavaliers, Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs, and 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 South African team in the Currie Cup First Division will be crowned league champions.
Opening round: February 10/11
Mzansi Challenge Final: 17 June
Women’s Premier Division
Border Ladies (defending champions), DHL Western Province, EP Queens, Boland Dames, Blue Bulls Women, Cell C Sharks Women, Mastercard Golden Lions Women are the competing teams.
Initial round and finale: Unknown
Women’s Division One
Leopards, Valke, Limpopo, Pumas, Free State, Griffons, Griquas, SWD are the participating teams.
Initial round and finale: Unknown
SA Under-20 Rugby Cup
Lions (defending champions), DHL Western Province, Vodacom Bulls, Cell C Sharks, Leopards, Toyota Cheetahs, and Valke are competing teams.
Opening round: February 17/18 (single round of matches)
Final: 6 April
SA Under-21 Rugby Cup
Vodacom Bulls, Toyota Cheetahs, Leopards, Lions, Cell C Sharks, and DHL Western Province are competing teams.
Opening round: August 18/19 (single round of matches)
Final: October 14
SA Rugby Under-21 Shield
Boland, Border, Eastern Province, Griffons, Griquas, Limpopo, Pumas, SWD, and Valke are the participating teams.
Opening round: August 4/5 (single round of matches)
Final: October 14
»Currie Cup expansion in March? You better believe it!«