Dobela promises bigger and better EC Super 14
Organisers of the Eastern Cape Super 14 Rugby Competition on Wednesday confirmed the participating teams for the 2023 edition of the most soughtafter prize in provincial rugby.
Seven clubs each from the Border and Eastern Province Rugby Unions will once again do battle in this hugely popular competition, run by the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts & culture, in conjunction with the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation.
The 2023 edition will kick-off on Saturday January 21 and run for 10 consecutive weeks, finishing with a grand final on Saturday March 25.
Tournament director, David Dobela, said he and his steering committee were excited to once again have the opportunity of growing the Super 14’s national profile and reputation as one of the most prestigious club tournaments in SA.
“We as organisers are once again very proud to be able to unify the entire Eastern Cape rugby community in a competition that will be played across the length and breadth of our beautiful province,” he said.
Defending champions, Progress, of Kariega in Nelson Mandela Bay, will be looking for a hat-trick of titles when the 2023 championship gets under way.
Progress will be joined by fellow Eastern Province Rugby Unionaffiliated clubs Harlequins (2022 finalists), Park, Jeffreys Bay, Gardens, Kruisfontein, and wildcards Kirkwood.
The seven clubs representing Border Rugby Union have also been confirmed.
Reigning Border champions, East London Police, will be joined by Ncera Leopards, 2022 semi-finalists Swallows and Old Selbornians, Young Leopards, Ntlaza Lions and wildcards Moonlight.
“I would also like to thank the SABC for it involvement this past year in the tournament for the first time, which ensured Eastern Cape grassroots rugby was given a free-to-air platform and reached the homes of millions of fans across South Africa,” said Dobela.
“This allowed us to demonstrate to a wider South African and global audience just how important our region is to the health of our country’s rugby as a whole, and we hope to make exciting announcements soon about the coverage of matches in 2023.”
He said further big announcements would be made in the coming weeks, including the pool draw and fixtures, as well as news of the possibility of two guest teams making an appearance.
“These announcements will be unveiled by the president of the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation and the MEC for sport, recreation, arts & culture. The department has been the main and anchor funders since the inception of the competition more than a decade ago.”