PRO14 Rainbow Cup kick-off confirmed:
The Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers’ first foray into Europe has been confirmed with the news that the PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick-off on the weekend of 24 April, with fixtures for the first three rounds now established.
Three weekends of derby action will be followed by cross-hemisphere fixtures where the existing Guinness PRO14 teams will face SA’s ‘Super’ teams for the very first time.
The schedule has been designed to limit travel where possible with the opening three rounds accounting for derby fixtures across Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
Rounds 4 to 6 will see the four South African teams play their away games in Europe and those fixtures will be confirmed once all appropriate travel approvals have been confirmed by the relevant authorities and governments. The format means that no teams from Europe will travel to South Africa for Rainbow Cup games because of prevailing COVID-19 conditions.
“This is exciting news for the four franchises that will move into Europe and I’m sure they will be eager to get the ball rolling in terms of preparing to face a whole new set of opponents,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.
“We’ve seen the quality of rugby produced in the Guinness PRO14 this season, under difficult circumstances, and it will be great for our sides to test their mettle against some of the best club sides in the world, bringing with them new challenges.
“It’s disappointing that the teams from Europe won’t be able to come to South Africa yet, but there is a bigger picture in play and it will be good to get the ball rolling with the Rainbow Cup. Plans are being made for our teams’ away games later in the series.
“While the excitement is palpable, it’s also paramount to remember that we are living in extraordinary times and that forces outside our control can still put a damper on the plans, but we will cross that bridge should the need arise and we are working tirelessly with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition into Europe for our teams.”
The PRO14 Rainbow Cup fixtures will be a foretaste of the rivalries to come later in the year when it is expected a significant number of players from the Welsh, Irish and Scottish clubs will be part of the British & Irish Lions touring party to take on the Springboks in South Africa.
The PRO14 Rainbow Cup will feature a total of six rounds (eight games per round) and will feature all teams ranked in a single log. The top two teams will then play each other in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final on 19 June.
David Jordan, Tournament Director, PRO14 Rugby said: “Everyone is glad that we can now put some certainty into the rugby calendar in what has been an unpredictable period.
“Planning for a cross-hemisphere competition where the situation has been so fluid has provided many challenges, but we believe we have found a solution that is practical and safe to deliver a unique competition that supporters can get excited about.
“Throughout the Guinness PRO14 season, we have liaised with our unions and their governments to ensure we are meeting the conditions set out for elite sport to operate. We are very grateful for that support, without which a cross-border competition such as ours could not have taken place,” added Jordan.
PRO14 Rugby is currently consulting with our broadcast partners to select kick-off times and will confirm the scheduling as soon as possible.
FIXTURES
ROUND 1
24 April 2021
Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions
DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks
Ulster v Connacht
Leinster v Munster
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors
Edinburgh v Zebre Rugby Club
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Scarlets
ROUND 2
1 May 2021 (EPCR semi-final weekend)
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions
8 May 2021
Connacht v Leinster
Munster v Ulster
Zebre v Benetton
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
Cardiff Blues v Dragons
Scarlets v Ospreys
ROUND 3
8 May 2021
Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers
15 May 2021
Munster v Connacht
Leinster v Ulster
Benetton v Zebre
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Ospreys
ROUND 4: Weekend of 29 May
ROUND 5: Weekend of 5 June
ROUND 6: Weekend of 12 June
FINAL: Weekend of 19 JuneIssued by SA Rugby Communications
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Cell C Sharks vs Vodacom Bulls Preview Article:
The North vs South rivalry continues between the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls when the two teams meet in tonight’s final preparation series match at Jonsson Kings Park.
Both sides will go into next month’s Rainbow Cup with lofty goals, both having played good, successful rugby over the last six months.
While there will be no revenge in mind following the last encounter between the sides – the Carling Currie Cup Final – both coaches know exactly what they want out of these games they have played, plus tonight’s finale. A fitting one indeed.
Squad rotation and the development of depth have been vital aims, but both sides will be looking to produce the kind of rugby, and the accuracy, they hope to play in the forthcoming international competition.
Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt explained that his expectations for this match are to improve on last week’s performance.
“I thought the guys had a good outing last week, there were 18 new faces in the group, so we’re expecting more from a cohesion point of view. At times we were guilty of conceding turnovers and our set-piece wasn’t consistent. But with another week together, I’m sure we will be a lot better.
“We’re looking for a really good performance from the guys from a work rate point of view and a set-piece point of view. But at the same time we must remember that it is a preparation game and we’ll be judging the players on their understanding of our game model, as well as their roles and responsibilities within the team on the field.”
The rotational nature of the mini-tournament has seen the Cell C Sharks depth given every opportunity, but this week Everitt has brought back some of his senior players.
“None of these experienced players were involved in the first two games so they need some rugby under the belt,” the coach pointed out.
“The guys who played the Lions last week hadn’t played a game in seven weeks and we’re giving them a second game now. There isn’t any rugby between this game and the start of the Rainbow Cup (scheduled to start on 24 April) so it’s important that they start getting a bit of rhythm in the way we play and in their own individual performances.”
Looking ahead specifically to this match, Everitt said that, “We want to play an exciting brand of rugby, it is part of our game model, but we play the conditions and we play according to what we are given.
“If you want to win rugby games, you need to have a blend and a perfect mix between attack, defence and your kicking game.
“We’ll be looking for better decision-making from our game managers for this match. We won’t necessarily be conservative, but we need to be a little more streetwise in areas where we’re under the pump.”
What of the Bulls?
“Like they will against us, we’ll be throwing the kitchen sink at them – that’s why we play rugby. Our focus this week has only been on ourselves, there were a lot of things we had to get right after the Lions game.
“We’ve played the Bulls under Jake White a number of times in the last 12 months and we have a fair idea of what’s coming. At the end of the day the Bulls thrive on momentum and they have a good kicking game with Morne Steyn at 10. “It will be an entertaining affair I’m sure.”
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Have you tried: Travelling to South Africa?
Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Appropriately named “South Africa’s Garden Province”, the lush and green KwaZulu-Natal province forms the east coast of South Africa from the Mozambique boundary southwards to Port Edward. The coastline is dotted with small towns, many of which serve as seasonal recreational hubs. The climate of the coastal areas is humid and subtropical, comparable to southern Florida in the United States, but not quite as hot and rainy in the summer. As one moves further north, up the coast towards the border of Mozambique, the climate becomes almost purely tropical. North of Durban is locally referred to as “The North Coast”, while south is known as “The South Coast”. The Kwazulu-Natal Tourist board includes towns like Margate, Port Shepstone, Scottburgh and Port Edward in its definition of what constitutes the South Coast, while Ballito, Umhlanga and Salt Rock are quintessentially North Coast resort towns.
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