Staff Reporter.
SA Rugby confirmed on Friday that the Currie Cup Premier Division will kick off in January, with seven teams participating.
This follows an online meeting of the General Council of the country’s rugby governing body.
SA Rugby said in a statement that the council rejected a proposal from Eastern Province to be incorporated into the top-flight.
However, Council approved a motion that the top South African team in the First Division be automatically promoted to the Premier Division at the end of the 2022 Currie Cup season, creating an eight-team Premier Division.
In addition, the promoted team will be entrenched for two seasons (until the end of the 2024 Currie Cup season) when the bottom team in the Premier Division will be automatically relegated in favour of the top South African team in the First Division, which will also be entrenched for two seasons before promotion/relegation at the end of the 2026 season.
The 2022 competition will kick off on the weekend of 14/15 January. The unusual kick off has been prompted by the realignment of the South African domestic rugby calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere season following the expanded entry of four teams into the United Rugby Championship.
The change means that the Currie Cup final will be played on 25 June, which will mark the end of the season for senior professional players appearing in the Currie Cup and the United Rugby Championship.
The Currie Cup First Division fixtures will be confirmed in the New Year.
Currie Cup Premier Division 2022 (all fixtures are subject to change; venues and kick-off times to be confirmed)
Friday/Saturday 14/15 January
- Western Province vs Lions
- Cheetahs vs Griquas
- Pumas vs Bulls
Wednesday 19 January
- Western Province vs Bulls
- Sharks vs Griquas
- Lions vs Pumas
Wednesday 2 February
- Sharks vs Western Province
- Bulls vs Cheetahs
- Griquas vs Pumas.
SA Rugby added that the Currie Cup First Division fixtures would be confirmed early next year.