NPR

SA teams to play in Heineken Cup from next season?
By Morgan Bolton Time of article published 1h ago


South African rugby could be involved in European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) tournaments from next season onwards, if a comment from Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli is to be taken at face value.

Whether that participation will be in the top tier European Rugby Championship Cup or the second division EPCR Challenge Cup, was not specified, but there definitely seems to have been positive movement behind the scenes to insert SA franchises into one or either of those competitions at the start of next season.

There has been speculation from the onset that this would be the case, especially regarding SA franchises playing in the Heineken Cup - the Championship Cup - but as of yet SA Rugby has yet to officially confirm participation.

“Obviously, Ivan (van Rooyen) is heading up (United Rugby Championship) and EPRC (squads), which we did not play in this year. In the next cycle of rugby we will be playing in the EPRC,” said Straeuli on Tuesday, while explaining how the Lions will tackle 2022, which is jam-packed with fixtures and tournaments.


“This period of pre-season won’t be there come this time next year, so this is the last time we will have a two-or-three-week break. Mziwakhe Nkosi will be heading up our Currie Cup, so players might be playing in the Currie Cup and other players will be playing URC, so we are focusing on two different squads at the moment.”

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When asked for confirmation on Wednesday morning regarding SA team's participation in Europe's premier rugby tournaments, the union validated Straeuli's statement with a positive response.

Moreover, Straeuli also revealed that the Currie Cup might start as early as January. There have been whispers and murmurs in recent weeks of such a move and that three tournaments – the URC, Currie Cup and SA Rugby Under-21 Provincial Championship – will run concurrently The former Springbok explained that the decision will be finalised early next month.

“Obviously,” said Straeuli, “our competitions have to be rubber stamped on the 10th at an AGM in December.

“There are talks about the Currie Cup now starting in January but we haven’t seen a fixture list yet and then also junior rugby. (Nkosi) will head up our Currie Cup and junior rugby but we will have different coaches available to assist with the junior games.

“We are not sure about single or double rounds there (in the junior provincial tournament), so at the moment Mziwakhe will head up Currie Cup and junior development rugby …

As you see, the calendar is going to be full next year.”

Currently, the URC structure acts as qualifiers for both the Championship Cup and the Challenge Cup. Pool winners from Ireland, Italy and Scotland, Wales and South Africa were planned to automatically qualify for the top tier tournament, while the next best placed four teams in the combined standings will also qualify.

assfly wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 11:28 am One step closer to inclusion in the 6N

assfly wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 1:58 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 1:27 pm If they expanded the Six Nations to the Seven Nations, name which teams you would rather have in the new tournament before you named South Africa...

1. USA
2. Georgia
3. Argentina
4. Spain
5. Portugal
6. Russia
7. Romania
8. Fiji
9. Samoa
10. Mixed PI team
11. Japan
12. Australia
13. New Zealand
14. Uruguay
15. China
16. India
17. Tonga
18. Canada
19. Faroe Islands
20. Thailand
21. South Korea
22. North Korea
23. Laos
24. Iran
25. Syria
26. Central African Republic
27. South Africa

Slick wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:30 pm Vatican away would be great trip

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:17 pm
Europe's comprised of nearly 40 countries and South Africa are behind each and every one of them. The 6Ns is a European competition. I'd rather watch England tonk the Vatican.

duke wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:43 pm

Slick wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:30 pm Vatican away would be great trip

There’s space for a pitch outside St Peter’s

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:47 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:17 pm
Europe's comprised of nearly 40 countries and South Africa are behind each and every one of them. The 6Ns is a European competition. I'd rather watch England tonk the Vatican.

Don’t forget “ the Refugee Team “ like at the Olympics

Slick wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:57 pm

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:47 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:17 pm
Europe's comprised of nearly 40 countries and South Africa are behind each and every one of them. The 6Ns is a European competition. I'd rather watch England tonk the Vatican.

Don’t forget “ the Refugee Team “ like at the Olympics

and Islamic State. Although keeping up to date with their residency qualifications would be problematic.

Slick wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:57 pm

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:47 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 3:17 pm
Europe's comprised of nearly 40 countries and South Africa are behind each and every one of them. The 6Ns is a European competition. I'd rather watch England tonk the Vatican.

Don’t forget “ the Refugee Team “ like at the Olympics

and Islamic State. Although keeping up to date with their residency qualifications would be problematic.

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 4:23 pm Would still expect them to cause the officials less hassle

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:47 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

South African Covid would be more preferable to Erasmus rugby.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:47 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

South African Covid would be more preferable to Erasmus rugby.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:47 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

South African Covid would be more preferable to Erasmus rugby.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 7:51 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:47 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

South African Covid would be more preferable to Erasmus rugby.

One Test match in 3 years that England haven’t played Jakeball and you’re suddenly claiming your boys are the 2014 BaaBaas playing champagne rugby

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 7:51 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:47 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 3:59 pm South Africa ranked nr1 in 7s , 15 and Covid variants. Why would you not want us in your competions?

South African Covid would be more preferable to Erasmus rugby.

One Test match in 3 years that England haven’t played Jakeball and you’re suddenly claiming your boys are the 2014 BaaBaas playing champagne rugby

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:14 pm Yep - SA, Australia, NZ, Pacific Lions, Argentina, Japan

Enzedder wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:05 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:14 pm Yep - SA, Australia, NZ, Pacific Lions, Argentina, Japan

We're a NH free zone thanks

Enzedder wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:41 pm So why can't the Pacific Lions play oop North with all of their brothers?

assfly wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:54 am This idea just won't go away.

They really, really want us.

Sards wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:59 am

assfly wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:54 am This idea just won't go away.

They really, really want us.

Do we want or need them...?

The URC is a small taster.......our teams are propping the bottom of the log.....

10 , 12 , 14 , 15......not a good look at all........

Lets focus on sorting that out first...

Besides , not all Saffer teams are afraid to play the Aussies and Kiwis......

handyman wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:19 am

Silly argument. We won the BIL's and the RWC, our team's form has got nothing to do with our national team.

I think NZ desperately wants (needs) us to stay in the Rugby Championship. Without us, they fall into the trap of playing too loose and not the forward play starts to go backwards.

Enzedder wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:05 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:14 pm Yep - SA, Australia, NZ, Pacific Lions, Argentina, Japan

We're a NH free zone thanks

Sards wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:23 am

handyman wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:19 am

Silly argument. We won the BIL's and the RWC, our team's form has got nothing to do with our national team.

I think NZ desperately wants (needs) us to stay in the Rugby Championship. Without us, they fall into the trap of playing too loose and not the forward play starts to go backwards.

Get your vokken head out of your arse china.....you are falling apart.


NZ does not desperately need us...........They never have and never will......

Our only strength is vokken crying about the refs......we are a nation of ref whingers , all the way to the vokken top.

Sards wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:23 am

handyman wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:19 am

Silly argument. We won the BIL's and the RWC, our team's form has got nothing to do with our national team.

I think NZ desperately wants (needs) us to stay in the Rugby Championship. Without us, they fall into the trap of playing too loose and not the forward play starts to go backwards.

Get your vokken head out of your arse china.....you are falling apart.


NZ does not desperately need us...........They never have and never will......

Our only strength is vokken crying about the refs......we are a nation of ref whingers , all the way to the vokken top.

Sards wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:17 pm Vok this ref loves his yellow cards against the Lions...

Where would WP find the money to pay him

Sards wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:18 pm

Chilli wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:15 pm 4 yellow cards.
2 undeserved

The Sharks know Marius very well

Chilli wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 1:59 pm

Sards wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:23 am

handyman wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:19 am

Silly argument. We won the BIL's and the RWC, our team's form has got nothing to do with our national team.

I think NZ desperately wants (needs) us to stay in the Rugby Championship. Without us, they fall into the trap of playing too loose and not the forward play starts to go backwards.

Get your vokken head out of your arse china.....you are falling apart.


NZ does not desperately need us...........They never have and never will......

Our only strength is vokken crying about the refs......we are a nation of ref whingers , all the way to the vokken top.

Sards wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:17 pm Vok this ref loves his yellow cards against the Lions...

Where would WP find the money to pay him

Sards wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:18 pm

Chilli wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:15 pm 4 yellow cards.
2 undeserved

The Sharks know Marius very well

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