NPR

SA Rugby announced the kick-off of the 2021 season with a number of preparation fixtures for eight provincial teams as national planning focuses on entry to the international Rainbow Cup and the Springboks’ forthcoming Test season, starting with the series against the British & Irish Lions.

The series of encounters have been specifically designed by the Rugby Department of SA Rugby and the competing unions to meet teams’ high performance needs against the landscape of the pandemic and to prepare them for the coming season.

One significant change is that teams will play on a ten-day cycle (rather than each week) to manage COVID testing protocols.

The eight teams – the EP Elephants join the seven sides that competed in Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked and the Carling Currie Cup from October last year – have been split into two groups and will play cross-pool matches between 27 February and 27 March, ensuring four encounters for every side.

Pool A will consist of the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Tafel Lager Griquas and Toyota Cheetahs, and they will play the four sides in Pool B, namely the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, NNC Pumas and Eastern Province Elephants.

Venues and kick-off times must still be confirmed, but the four matches in the opening round will see the Vodacom Bulls host the EP Elephants, the Lions take on the NNC Pumas, the Cell C Sharks squaring off against Tafel Lager Griquas, and DHL Stormers up against the Toyota Cheetahs.

“It’s imperative that we get the new season underway as soon as possible as we have a big year ahead, with preparing our players for the British & Irish Lions a top priority, but also providing opportunities for all teams to get match fit with an eye on entry into European competitions, and our planned local season,” said Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby.

“These matches will provide our top players with further opportunities to test themselves against the best in South Africa, while our match officials will also get some valuable game-time under the belt.”

assfly wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:16 am What the fuck have EP done to get a seat at this table? They haven't earned the right to play against top tier sides like the $harks and Bulls.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 am SARU want to develop the Sharks Academy of PoCs.

assfly wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:32 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 am SARU want to develop the Sharks Academy of PoCs.

Which is fine, but this is not the way to do it. At least Pumas and Griquas are functioning unions that have proven they have earned the right to play top flight rugby. EP are a complete fucking embarrassment of a union that needs to sort it shit out. By allowing them to play in this competition, we are rewarding corruption and mismanagement. The only thing their players are going to play for is a contract with any other team.

Sandstorm wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:47 am 10 day break, but only 7 days before the last round.

assfly wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:32 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 am SARU want to develop the Sharks Academy of PoCs.

Which is fine, but this is not the way to do it. At least Pumas and Griquas are functioning unions that have proven they have earned the right to play top flight rugby. EP are a complete fucking embarrassment of a union that needs to sort it shit out. By allowing them to play in this competition, we are rewarding corruption and mismanagement. The only thing their players are going to play for is a contract with any other team.

Lemoentjie wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:58 am

Sandstorm wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:47 am 10 day break, but only 7 days before the last round.

Players get less tired as the tournament goes on. It's science.

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:48 am

assfly wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:32 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:24 am SARU want to develop the Sharks Academy of PoCs.

Which is fine, but this is not the way to do it. At least Pumas and Griquas are functioning unions that have proven they have earned the right to play top flight rugby. EP are a complete fucking embarrassment of a union that needs to sort it shit out. By allowing them to play in this competition, we are rewarding corruption and mismanagement. The only thing their players are going to play for is a contract with any other team.

EP is a disgrace as a province. The home of the great Nelson Mandela but you still find people living in grass huts there. The ANC really failed the people of EP.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:13 pm Only an idiot will call EP and Border a disgrace as a province which include fantastic rugby schools like Grey High, Selbourne, Queens, Brandwag, Despatch, Dale, ext

They have more rugby schools then Australia


Grey High produce some fantastic sportsmen.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:13 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:48 am

assfly wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:32 am

Which is fine, but this is not the way to do it. At least Pumas and Griquas are functioning unions that have proven they have earned the right to play top flight rugby. EP are a complete fucking embarrassment of a union that needs to sort it shit out. By allowing them to play in this competition, we are rewarding corruption and mismanagement. The only thing their players are going to play for is a contract with any other team.

EP is a disgrace as a province. The home of the great Nelson Mandela but you still find people living in grass huts there. The ANC really failed the people of EP.

Only an idiot will call EP and Border a disgrace as a province which include fantastic rugby schools like Grey High, Selbourne, Queens, Brandwag, Despatch, Dale, ext

They have more rugby schools then Australia


Grey High produce some fantastic sportsmen.

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:53 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:13 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:48 am

EP is a disgrace as a province. The home of the great Nelson Mandela but you still find people living in grass huts there. The ANC really failed the people of EP.

Only an idiot will call EP and Border a disgrace as a province which include fantastic rugby schools like Grey High, Selbourne, Queens, Brandwag, Despatch, Dale, ext

They have more rugby schools then Australia


Grey High produce some fantastic sportsmen.

And they all fokof somewhere else at the first opportunity.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:22 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:53 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:13 pm

Only an idiot will call EP and Border a disgrace as a province which include fantastic rugby schools like Grey High, Selbourne, Queens, Brandwag, Despatch, Dale, ext

They have more rugby schools then Australia


Grey High produce some fantastic sportsmen.

And they all fokof somewhere else at the first opportunity.

Thats ok, by that time they got good coaching at the schools.

Its like the Cheetahs. Only 10 times better. Grey College is your only big rugby school and they take the white boer boys first.

Grey High produce 70% black rugby players in their 1st team while Grey College produce 95% white 1st team players.

EP and Border is very important

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:33 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:22 pm

average joe wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:53 pm

And they all fokof somewhere else at the first opportunity.

Thats ok, by that time they got good coaching at the schools.

Its like the Cheetahs. Only 10 times better. Grey College is your only big rugby school and they take the white boer boys first.

Grey High produce 70% black rugby players in their 1st team while Grey College produce 95% white 1st team players.

EP and Border is very important

I did not comment on their importance and my comment was not about rugby.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:09 pm Wat is yawn?

Sandstorm wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:29 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 7:09 pm Wat is yawn?

He’s tired after a smoke.

Chilli wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:22 am I am looking forward to one of the "Big Guns" WP, $hark$, Bulls or Lions being beaten by the Elephant's.


I wonder if spectators will be allowed?

FalseBayFC wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:30 am

Chilli wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:22 am I am looking forward to one of the "Big Guns" WP, $hark$, Bulls or Lions being beaten by the Elephant's.


I wonder if spectators will be allowed?

Double $ signs for the $hark$. Love it.

SuperSport to broadcast preparation matches
19 February 2021 | 13:26
Cell C Sharks © Gallo Images
SA Rugby and SuperSport announced on Friday that they will be broadcasting all 16 preparation fixtures live when the local rugby season kicks off next weekend.

As a result, the fixtures have been amended. Eight local unions will each play four matches – two at home and two away – from Friday, 26 February until Sunday, 28 March.

The series of warm-up encounters has been specifically designed by the Rugby Department of SA Rugby and the competing unions to meet teams’ high-performance needs against the landscape of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to prepare the players for the season ahead.


Instead of weekly encounters, matches will be played on a ten-day cycle to manage Covid testing protocols. The eight teams have been split into two groups and will play cross-pool matches.

Pool A consists of the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Tafel Lager Griquas and Toyota Cheetahs, and they will play the four sides in Pool B, namely the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, NNC Pumas and Eastern Province.

Updated preparation series fixtures (home teams named first, all matches live on SuperSport)

Friday, 26 February

19h00: Lions v NNC Pumas

Saturday 27 February

17h15: DHL Stormers v Toyota Cheetahs

Sunday 28 February

15h00: Vodacom Bulls v Eastern Province

17h15: Cell C Sharks v Tafel Lager Griquas

Tuesday 9 March

16h45: Toyota Cheetahs v Cell C Sharks

19h00: NNC Pumas v Vodacom Bulls

Wednesday 10 March

16h45: Eastern Province v Lions

19h00: Tafel Lager Griquas v DHL Stormers

Friday 19 March16h45: NNC Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs

19h00: Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Saturday 20 March

14h00: Eastern Province v Tafel Lager Griquas

16h15: Lions v Cell C Sharks

Friday 26 March

19h00: Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls

Saturday 27 March

15h00: Tafel Lager Griquas v NNC Pumas

17h15: DHL Stormers v Lions

Sunday 28 March

15h00: Toyota Cheetahs v Eastern Province

FalseBayFC wrote: Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:53 pm Awesome. Gives me an excuse to watch rugby every day. Even if its a shitty meaningless competition.

assfly wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:19 pm The more I read about it, the more this looks like meaningless warmup matches.

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:17 pm Ah, stop moaning. Live Rugby is good regardless.

handyman wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:09 pm Cannot wait for 27/02, WP vs Cheetahs at the world class Cape Town Stadium. A premier venue for a premier team.

assfly wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:22 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:17 pm Ah, stop moaning. Live Rugby is good regardless.

Perhaps for you. I prefer my games to have meaning, it makes for much better quality. Especially that utter shit they dished up in the Super Covid Currie Loaded Infection Cup.

Chilli wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:14 pm

handyman wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:09 pm Cannot wait for 27/02, WP vs Cheetahs at the world class Cape Town Stadium. A premier venue for a premier team.

So by inference they were a shitty team when playing at Newlands.

handyman wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:48 pm

Chilli wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:14 pm

handyman wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:09 pm Cannot wait for 27/02, WP vs Cheetahs at the world class Cape Town Stadium. A premier venue for a premier team.

So by inference they were a shitty team when playing at Newlands.

Not at all. They were a premier team at a historic venue.