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The Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) is excited about the kick-off of the month-long Super14 rugby competition on Saturday afternoon.
Tournament director, Richard Jordaan, said at the tournament launch in Gqeberha on Friday, that they were happy to see the tournament finally take off despite the withdrawal of the top four teams.
They are Kruisfontein, Harlequins, Gardens, and Despatch Oostelikes.
“We are happy to finally get this tournament off the ground, despite many battles and the top four teams withdrawing due to monies from seasons not being paid,” he said.
However, he noted that there were three newcomers to the competition this year for EP rugby which he said was exciting.
"We have five clubs coming from the Sarah Baartman District and three clubs from the Metro," Jordaan added.
During this launch, the Super14 steering committee outlined the competition format, which comprises three round-robin matches before teams lock horns in the quarter-finals.
Each team would get a chance to host a game on their home ground during the round-robin stages, with the last of the round-robin stages and the quarterfinals to be played at a neutral venue.
“I am pleased to see these rural teams be part of this exciting tournament,” he said.
