The 2024 Currie Cup is reportedly set for a boost, with the decider of rugby’s oldest competition no longer clashing with the two local URC derbies on the same day.
According to Netwerk24, the 21 September clash between the Sharks and Lions in Durban and the north-south showdown between the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at Cape Town Stadium will be shifted to a later date in the 2024-25 URC season.
The URC initially scheduled the SA derbies for the same day as the Currie Cup final, which would have forced a reshuffling of kick-off times.
However, Netwerk24 suggests this overlap will be avoided, allowing the Currie Cup showpiece to stand alone.
ALSO: Stormers to tackle URC champs in Stellies
If the Bulls or Lions, currently ranked one and two in the standings respectively, reached the final, fans would have faced a dilemma with both URC and Currie Cup action on the same day.
When approached by Netwerk24, URC spokesperson Adam Redmond directed inquiries to SA Rugby, who referred them back to the URC. This scheduling adjustment echoes past URC reshuffles, such as the Sharks-Stormers match last season, which was postponed by several months.
The move is seen as a potential win for the Currie Cup, which has been criticised in recent years for losing its prestige as South Africa’s top teams focus more on the URC and EPCR competitions.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
