Currie Cup - 2025 and beyond
SPOTLIGHT: The Currie Cup season is heading into the home stretch and seven of their eight teams are still alive in the play-off race - some hanging by a thread.
The tabled-topping Bulls, second-placed Lions and Cheetahs have their destinies in their own hands.
The fourth-placed Sharks, with the Pumas two points behind, can't afford another loss.
Western Province and Griquas require some favours from other teams, but are hanging in.
Only the winless Griffons are already out of the race.
At this stage, it is worth looking at what happens with the competition in 2025 and beyond.
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It is not news - the announcement was actually made back in December - but following some enquiries from the @rugby365com readers - it is worth republishing this explanation.
The Currie Cup competition has been given a new window and a new format - a makeover that will allow all 14 unions to play for the coveted gold trophy from 2025 onwards.
The Currie Cup and First Division competitions will be moved to a new window next year, to avoid clashing with European competitions.
The Currie Cup and First Division competitions will be played from July to the end of September.
The qualification process will also change from 2025 to provide more opportunity for all member unions to contest South Africa’s premier competition.
The Currie Cup and First Division competitions will be preceded by a local competition featuring 10 provincial sides - the Cheetahs, Griquas, Pumas, Griffons, Boland Cavaliers, Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles, Eastern Province, Falcons and Leopards.
The SA Cup (the name could still change) will exclude the four United Rugby Championship franchises - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
The SA Cup is scheduled to be played over a single round from March to June, with semifinals and a Final determining the winner.
Players will then enjoy a break before the Currie Cup starts.
In 2025, the top four teams from the SA Cup competition will join the four URC franchises in the Currie Cup.
The remaining six teams will contest the First Division.
Both competitions will culminate in semifinals and a Final.
* Additional reporting by i
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