Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has made extraordinary claims recently that a competition called the United Rugby Shield could be unveiled by the end of the month.
According to reports, such a competition is not in the hands of the United Rugby Championship or the South African Rugby Union, but the later has come to the table.
Fourie claimed that the competition was “sort of a B-division URC”.
It seems that many people have missed the “sort of” aspect of Fourie’s claims.
Many people quickly pondered whether there could be a relegation and promotion system coming, but the idea of promotion seems unlikely for a variety of reasons. Currently there are no plans for URC to expand, with the focus instead on the stability of the new competition.
The URC also seems set on having no more than four South African teams in the interest of keeping balanced pools of four. Introducing promotion and regulation would create chaos, as the shuffling pools would then be required year on year. This didn’t work last time when the Pro14 has two pools, let alone four.
So what is this potential competition and who might be involved?
Looking back to last year, the Cheetahs played Diables Barcelona, a newly established professional team from the capital of Catalonia. The Cheetahs won 99-15 in what they were calling the Toyota Challenge Shield.
The backers of the Diables Barcelona group mentioned that they intended to start a new competition late last year. It was also reported that there would potentially be a team from Madrid and other teams from South Africa, most likely the Griquas and Pumas.
From what has been seen in recent history, one could predict that the competition will be a separate entity from the URC. Yet all is still to be revealed, reportedly at the end of the month.
It will be interesting to see if teams from the European Super Cup, such as the Black Lion from Georgia – who also play in the Currie Cup first division – and the Iberians from Valladolid, will be involved as well. But it will be even more interesting still to see if these teams will take part in the Challenge Cup, Champions Cup or European Super Cup.
While speculation is fun, time reveals all secrets. All we can do is wait for more information.
Igor Oligarchov
Guest
They should have stayed home and made their Currie Cup serious again.
me
Guest
I think all professional teams should just be the national teams. Maybe with A, B and even C sides for those with enough players to field more, to play in the "not the Six Nations" leagues. Eastern Europe with England B or NZ C in the Seis Nationale Americas, with Pacific Islanders moving between teams with seamless nationality transitions. National is the only level anyone cares to spend money watching so make that the "league".
Rusty
Roar Guru
Except Province/Stormers are currently 2nd in the URC but 6th in the CC.. So its pretty clear where the priority is at the moment which is finish high enough to make it into the European(going to need a rename) cup and the additional finances that brings Which means the CC is going to be a feeder into the URC and Champions cup teams
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes the Currie Cup in football terms is the 2nd Division . Promotion relegation is a proven workable concept. . I’m against a playoff tho . Top 4 Currie Cup teams go through to The URC . I mean if you cannot finish in the top 4 you don’t realistically deserve a free ticket to International competitions. Success is rewarded , failure is not .
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Rusty, as far as I know the two competitions are not linked at all so promotion/relegation is definitely not on the table. The URC format & teams is cast in concrete, besides the URC have stated that the only thing they are considering is an under 23 version of the current URC format & teams.
Rusty
Roar Guru
So basically the bottom SA URC team would be replaced by the highest CC team not already in URC? Which means (assuming the CC finishes as is) the Lions would be replaced by the Cheetahs Not a bad outcome based on CC and URC performance - to even it up as the Lions clearly cant support both URC and CC squads I would propose that there is a home and away play-off. Best aggregate wins
AndyS
Guest
I don't know about excited; perhaps envious if others are getting their regional management in one sock while we just drift backwards regurgitating same old, same old.
Wayne
Roar Rookie
TE, they deliberately neglected the “sort of” aspect of Fourie’s claims and latched on to the URC aspect for sensationalism purposes only and completely miss the point. As far as I am aware the competition, that is over two years long in the making, has nothing to do with the URC and all to do with teams from the Tier 2 Nations Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Kenya, Romania, Zim, Russia (maybe not Russia anymore ...) & possibly even teams from Wales, Scotland and Italy. There were also rumors about the Jaguares based in Spain. From what I have heard there is already financial backing for several of the teams and a PE on board who I think are called 'Redstrike' that the Cheetahs have been dealing with on this competition to get it up and running. SA Rugby has already has Zim, Kenya and Georgia playing in the Currie Cup 2nd division similarly to what was done with the Argentine Jaguares to improve their rugby. Competition would be a replacement for the old Inter-Continental shield but will be renamed / rebranded and prize on offer would be entrance into the EPCR Challenge Cup. Last info I had was a possible start in October 2022. Now it's just a waiting game... :happy:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
How will this type of tournament be of benefit to the Cheetahs ? Will the fans buy in ..? Doubt it . Would prefer at the end of each season the bottom placed SA Team falls out the URC with Cheetahs replacing them . So every year whoever is demoted gets to play next year . This will incentivize teams like The Lions to actually take the game seriously.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
The Cheetahs had meaningful competition. They just got sick of losing so jumped ship like their parent Union.
Ducky
Guest
Australian Rugby is the B division of World Rugby
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
I'm not excited by anything that happens in SA rugby :laughing: :stoked:
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Doubt such a competition will happen. Cheetahs have been left in the dark by SARU.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
It's a challenge isn't it? Trying to find meaningful competition. The Cheetahs have been quite poorly done by. And this is after that region producing how many Springboks? Lots!
biltong
Guest
I would think such a competition would be completely separate from the URC. If it does actually come to fruition. Cheetahs are looking for a competition and SARU promised them one.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
It would be very interesting indeed