SA Rugby agree to revise Currie Cup
December 12, 2002

SA Rugby have agreed to a revised proposal for the 2003 Currie Cup competition whereby two teams earlier consigned to the first division for the next two years have a chance of being included in a new Top Eight competition.

The debate over the merits of splitting the country's premier domestic competition in two has dragged on for months.

In a move to appease the smaller unions, a minor adjustment was agreed to on Wednesday.

The board was unanimous in its acceptance of an adjustment to the format introduced earlier in the year which restructured the existing 14-team Currie Cup competition into a Top Six and Bottom Eight split.

Much will remain the same, with the Top Six teams - as determined after the 2002 Currie Cup - to play in the 2003 Premier Division.

The remaining eight teams will play a single round competition that will run concurrently with the 2003 Springbok incoming tours schedule. The Currie Cup only starts after the incoming Tests in June, and the Tri-Nations in July and August.

The top two teams in this competition will be added to the six provinces already guaranteed Premier Division status for the Currie Cup proper.

The other six teams will play in the First Division in the 2003 Currie Cup.

After the 2004 season, the team finishing eighth in the Premier Division will be relegated to a First Division that will be made up of seven teams in 2005 - with the Premier Division also fielding seven teams.

In 2005, both the Premier and First Division will accommodate seven teams respectively.

The competition schedule for 2003 will be finalised in January.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices