EP in limbo as revamp to Currie Cup premier division proposed
PLANS for a new “strength versus strength” Currie Cup premier division could leave the EP Kings sitting on the sidelines and relegated to the lower First Division next year.
SA Rugby bosses will gather in Cape Town on December 9 and one of the main items on the agenda is a proposal to slash the size of premier division from nine to six teams next year.
It is known that new SA Rugby boss Mark Alexander is keen to boost the image of the game and a more competitive Currie Cup would be a major move forward.
Insiders say that if a revamp is successful the Kings would no longer be guaranteed a berth in the Premier Division because they are the home of a Super Rugby franchise as was the case last season.
The lack of Currie Cup premier division status would severely hamper efforts to create player and coaching continuity between the EP Kings and Southern Kings.
Last week Springbok legend Joel Stransky called for the Southern Kings to be booted out of Super Rugby so that a winning culture can be developed in the South African game. He also wants the Cheetahs to be axed from Super Rugby in a radical shake-up to get the ailing Springboks back on track.
Because of the crippling cash crisis in EP Rugby there were doubts that the Kings would play in the premier division earlier this year but they were included at the last minute after SA Rugby came to their rescue.
With the team only gathering days before their opening match, it was not surprising the team struggled to make an impact, losing all eight matches and finishing bottom of the log conceding 379 points and leaking a massive 59 tries.
There is talk that next year’s premier division will comprise the six best placed teams from last season’s competition.
That would leave the Cheetahs, Bulls, Golden Lions, Western Province, the Sharks and Griquas fighting for the coveted trophy.
Insiders say a plan for a seven team league might also be mooted which would see Boland included.
It is believed the proposal would like to see the winners of the first division playing against the bottom team in the premier division in a promotion/relegation match at the end of the season.
There are no plans to tamper with the Currie Cup provincial competition played before the Currie Cup.
This will serve the same purpose as the old Vodacom Cup and will include all 14 provincial unions and the Namibian Welwitschias.
Last season it was known as the Currie Cup qualifying competition because the top three finishing teams (outside of the six entrenched Super Rugby franchises) went through to the premier division.
At this stage EP have not made any announcements regarding coaching and player recruitment for next season.