Currie Cup rebellion crumbles
December 6, 2002

The rebellion against the new structure for next year's Currie Cup led by the Falcons Rugby Union has crumbled.

A number of the smaller provinces had called in to question the new strength v strength format but the issue failed to even reach a vote at the annual meeting of the SA Rugby Football Union.

The Falcons have been leading opponents of the new Currie Cup system, which will include only six teams - Western Province, Natal, Free State, the Lions, the Bulls and Mpumalanga.

The eight smaller unions have been relegated to a second division. With the Falcons, the smaller unions are Boland, South Western Districts, North West, Border, Eastern Province, Griquas and Northern Free State. Only North West and Boland supported the Falcons on Wednesday.

The Cape Argus reports that in the wake of vanishing support Rautie Rautenbach, president of the Falcons Rugby Union, withdrew the motion after a recess.

Rautenbach had pleaded for all 14 provincial rugby unions to be retained in the Currie Cup next year because none of the World Cup Springboks would be available. This would have ensured a strength-versus-strength competition anyway, he argued.

The defeat of the smaller unions confirmed the control of South African rugby by the big guns - the main test-venue provinces along with Mpumalanga, who edged out the Falcons this year for the sixth place in the Currie Cup next year.

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