Jurie Roux @Springboks
South Africa’s ‘Super’ teams will contest a “Rainbow Cup” competition next year with the current Guinness PRO14 clubs.
SA Rugby confirmed on Wednesday that the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers will join 12 clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in the competition.
Each South African team will make a three-match tour to Europe in the Rainbow Cup, while all 12 Guinness PRO14 clubs will play in South Africa.
The Rainbow Cup will kick off on 17 April and conclude with a final on 19 June.
“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 turmoil and uncertainty in 2020, the prospect of a return to top-flight international domestic competition is one to which we all can all look forward with real excitement.”
Roux said that discussions regarding a long-term partnership remained on-going and an update would be provided at the appropriate time.
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, welcomed the new competition. “The timing of the Rainbow Cup is perfect,” he said. “It will finally get our Super teams back into international competition after a year’s absence and comes at the ideal time as preparation for the tour by the British & Irish Lions in the middle of next year.”
The current Guinness PRO14 competition will conclude with a final on March 27.
