SA Rugby Restructure Idea
All the (fake) chat around the SA URC sides leaving the European Challenge and Champions Cup made me wonder how we can restructure the landscape in SA to (possibly) make more sense.
For my scenario I am assuming that our 4 teams stay in the URC and European cups. It is wehere the money is at. URC has been a great success. And I am of the opinion that with time and small tweaks to the European Cups, we will eventually find our feet.
In any case, back to the point; My ideal scenario would be if our 4 URC / main clubs, do not partake in the Currie Cup anymore. The uncertainty of when the best team wil be available or not takes away a lot from the Currie Cup and sometimes seems unfair to the teams that have been grinding the whole competition. I would then scratch the SA Cup and have the 10 teams form the new Currie Cup with a round robin home and away schedule. Top 4 after 18 games play semi finals.
This would then open the door to have the 10 “Tier 2” teams form a affiliation with the URC squads to share players either way. Lets say someone only played a few games for the Stormers in the URC, they can then be loaned to Boland to play in the Currie Cup.
My draft version of how teams can form affiliate regions are:
Stormers; Boland, SWD Eagles
Cheetahs (or Cats type franchise, sorry Lions!); Lions, Griquas, Griffons, Leopards
Shark; Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs
Bulls; Pumas, Valke
This keeps our “Tier 2” teams busy and could likely save the Currie Cup in a way where it is not dilluted and filled with SA cup rematches or weakens top 4 franchises. Out URC teams can then solely focus on the 2 competitions they are involved in. And above all else. This can be held at any time of the year irrespective of whether the Springboks or URC is in action.
Just my fun thought experiment to get me through the week.