Currie Cup looks dead in the water

Whenever a team like the Pumas, Boland or Griquas take the field, you occasionally wonder what value they add to the Currie Cup.

This is not an attempt to belittle them.

Over the years, the so-called smaller unions have pretty much been part of a familiar cycle.

They do well to qualify for the main tournament, fight hard for two or three years in the top flight, get relegated (or the tournament shrinks), languish in the wilderness and then return.

Either way, those teams pretty much made up the numbers.

Only sometimes they punched above their weight before depth issues saw them fizzle out.

The point here is: as much as a union like the Pumas wanted to break the mould, the structural realities of local rugby meant they were hamstrung.

However, this week’s official announcement that the Cheetahs and Kings are joining Europe’s Pro14 competition has changed the game.

If ever there was a time for the likes of Griquas and the Pumas to stamp their authority, it is now.

Frankly, the Currie Cup – now in decline – is nothing more than a way for the Super Rugby teams’ fringe players to develop and stay relatively match-fit.

But as a thrilling, compelling tournament, it’s pretty much dead in the water.

The Pro14 announcement has only served to compound matters.

The Free State Cheetahs have arguably been the one team that kept the spirit of the tournament alive.

They invested a lot of energy into it and walked away as champions last year.

Now, understandably, they have to surely give Europe all their attention.

Remember also that the Pro14 overlaps the Currie Cup.

As a result, the Cheetahs will have to contract a squad of at least 45 players for the European campaign to be competitive.

However, this is a union that’s always had it tight with player resources.

It’s conceivable that the Cheetahs will have to play Currie Cup with a distinctly B-group of players.

That’s where the Pumas come in.

They’ve recruited well given their limitations and are wellequipped to trump a weakened Cheetahs product.

In fact, you can argue that the Pumas and Griquas’ competitiveness is the only thing that will keep the Currie Cup alive (sort of).