South African rugby could be set for a major shake-up as two new franchises are potentially set to enter another European competition in the years to come.
Earlier this year, a historic move saw the Kings and Cheetahs cut from Super Rugby and instead introduced into a new-look Pro14 competition.
While SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux has continued to insist that South Africa remains committed to its Sanzaar partners in Australia and New Zealand, he dropped another bombshell this week when revealing that two new franchises could be lined up to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
The Anglo-Welsh Cup is a knock-out competition featuring the 12 English Premiership clubs and the four Welsh regions, with changes to rugby’s calendar from 2020 potentially offering rugby bosses the chance to invite Currie Cup teams into the developmental tournament.
This prospect could cause a serious shake-up in the backwaters of South African rugby, where the Pumas and Griquas would be expected to be two of the likely teams to be aligned for entry into the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
It’s been suggested that a tender process will begin on 4 October, with SA Rugby looking to have four franchises in Super Rugby and four in Europe.
The Pumas and Griquas are currently competing in the Currie Cup Premier Division alongside SA rugby ‘big five’ teams (Lions, Sharks, Western Province, Bulls and Cheetahs), while the Welkom-based Griffons are leading the First Division standings.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that despite the absence of Super Rugby in some of the outlying regions in South Africa, Springbok greats such as Stefan Terblanche and Victor Matfield learnt much of their trade with unfashionable sides such as Boland and Griquas respectively.
With SA rugby having now taken its first foray into northern hemisphere rugby, it’s clear that plans are in place to continue expanding its horizons.
“We have four teams in Sanzaar; we have two in Pro14 and the other two will start to develop to play somewhere,” SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux told the New Zealand Herald.
“Hopefully something like the Anglo-Welsh as a development tournament. At the right time in 2020 (when the current Sanzaar broadcast deal ends) we can then make a decision on where our bases are.” – African News Agency (ANA)
