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- SA Rugby has confirmed that four South African franchises will compete in the newly established Rainbow Cup competition next year.
- The Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions will face 12 clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in the competition.
- The Rainbow Cup will be held from April 17 to June 19, 2021.
After months of ongoing negotiations, SA Rugby has confirmed that four South African franchises, the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions will face 12 clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in a new competition, the Rainbow Cup, next year.
Scheduled to begin on April 17, 2021 with the final on June 19, the competition will see each South African team go on a three-match tour of Europe, while the 12 foreign clubs will also play in South Africa.
“The inclusion of South Africa’s ‘Super’ teams in the Rainbow Cup is a step in a new direction for us,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.
“After so much confusion and uncertainty in 2020, the prospect of a return to top-tier international domestic competition is something we can all look forward to with real excitement.”
Roux said discussions on a long-term partnership were still ongoing and an update would be provided at an appropriate time.
Springbok rugby director Rassie Erasmus welcomed the new competition and declared that it will be the perfect preparation for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour.
“The timing of the Rainbow Cup is perfect,” he said. “It will finally get our Super teams back to competing internationally after a year away and it comes at the perfect time in preparation for the British & Irish Lions tour.
“It will be a step up from the national competition and will remind our players of the different types of rugby to look forward to when the Lions are here. Our players will face many of the players that will be on Warren Gatland’s team and it will be very interesting to watch. how our players adapt to the challenge. “
the sixteen teams will be divided into two Groups of eight: composed of two Irish clubs, two South African, two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish.
Each team will play a game against each group opponent and the teams that finish first in their groups will meet in a final on June 19.
“Having trained in Ireland with Munster, I know what our players can expect, and it will be very different from Super Rugby,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
“Rugby is incredibly tough and will pose different questions to our players. It will be a very competitive competition and it will be a real learning curve for our coaches and players.”
Martin Anayi, CEO of PRO14 Rugby, said: “With the British & Irish Lions tour to come, it’s hard to think of anything better to whet your appetite than the best players from the Celtic regions competing against the Cup-winning Springboks. World in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup “.
Anayi said the PRO14 Rainbow Cup was chosen as the best avenue to introduce South Africa’s top four teams to Northern Hemisphere rugby after lengthy consultation involving key stakeholders among PRO14 Rugby clubs and unions, at the same time which enabled our European-based teams to conclude the current campaign. in a manner considered fair and equitable.
The current PRO14 competition will conclude with a final on March 27.
– Compiled by Sport24 staff
