THE third edition of the Cell C Community Cup was launched in Johannesburg on Tuesday with big rewards announced once again for the top performers in this year’s national championship for non-university clubs, which kicks off next week.
The tournament, which gets underway on 21 February with a match in Pacaltsdorp that will be broadcast live on television and radio – a first for South African club rugby – will once again feature 20 sides in four pools of five in a Rugby World Cup-style format.
After the group stage, which encompasses 40 matches at club venues across the length and breadth of South Africa, the top two teams from each pool will progress to the Easter play-offs, which will be held this year at Rustenburg Impala Rugby Club from 2-6 April.
Apart from television coverage – at least 14 matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport – four matches will be broadcast live on regional radio as the tournament steps up a gear in terms of coverage across all platforms and reaches further into far-flung rugby communities.
“In just two short years, the Cell C Community Cup has sparked a revival amongst open clubs and the level of professionalism amongst clubs has risen exponentially,” said SARU CEO, Jurie Roux. “The revival of open club rugby is long overdue and it’s now much easier to re-imagine a rugby landscape in which club rugby is restored to prominence and, most importantly, youngsters leaving school don’t give up the game.”
Cell C’s Executive Head: Marketing, Dr Doug Mattheus, echoed Roux’s views. “Since coming on board in 2013 as title sponsors we’ve seen interest build around club rugby and it’s something special to be a part of,” he said. “We’re also very excited to see the tournament move to Rustenburg for the Easter weekend, which will add a new dimension.”
It was also announced at the launch that this year’s player, young player, coach and manager of the tournament will once again be rewarded with international exchanges to top UK clubs.
“We are proud to be involved in SARU’s international exchange programme and would like to build on what we achieved in 2014,” said Deputy British High Commissioner, Peter Boxer. “Last year, player of the year, Michael Nienaber, spent time at Premiership side Gloucester while coach of the year, Alistair Alexander, and manager of the year, Steve Prinsloo, went to Sale Sharks. Young player of the year, Chaney Willemse, has just returned after a three-month stint at Scottish club Selkirk.
“It was an unforgettable experience for all involved and we will look to reveal similar rewards in due course for this year’s performers.”
The Southern Cape town of Pacaltsdorp will host the tournament’s opening match on 21 February, when SWD champions Evergreens play Boland champions One Logix United Bulk Villagers Worcester at the Pacaltsdorp Sportsgrounds, in a match that will be broadcast live on TV (SuperSport 1/HD, 14h00) and radio (Eden FM, 87.8-103.6 FM & on www.edenfm.co.za).
2015 Fixtures (Home team first, all k/o times 16h00 unless otherwise stated):
Round 1 – Sat 21 February:
Pool A –
Kempston Old Selbornians vs Durbanville-Bellville
Rustenburg Impala vs Don’s Pawn Shop PE Police
Pool B –
Berlesell Bloemfontein Crusaders vs Raiders
Pretoria Police vs BB Truck & Tractor Noordelikes
Pool C –
Aveng Moolmans Sishen vs Hamiltons
Evergreens vs United Bulk Villagers Worcester (14h30, live on SS1/HD)
Pool D –
Rovers Welkom vs GAP Management Despatch
Wesbank vs Shumba Ferros
Byes: Springs (A), College Rovers (B), Wanderers (C), Durban Collegians (D)
Round 2 – Sat 28 February:
Pool A –
Don’s Pawn Shop PE Police vs Kempston Old Selbornians
Durbanville-Bellville vs East Rand Cranes Springs
Pool B –
Jonsson College Rovers vs BB Truck & Tractor Noordelikes (14h15)
Berlesell Bloemfontein Crusaders vs Pretoria Police
Pool C –
United Bulk Villagers Worcester vs Aveng Moolmans Sishen
Hamiltons vs Vaseline Wanderers
Pool D –
GAP Management Despatch vs Wesbank
SA Home Loans Durban Collegians vs Rovers Welkom
Byes: Rustenburg Impala (A), Raiders (B), Evergreens (C), Ferros (D)
Round 3 – Sat 7 March:
Pool A –
East Rand Cranes Springs vs Don’s Pawn Shop PE Police
Kempston Old Selbornians vs Rustenburg Impala
Pool B –
Pretoria Police vs Jonsson College Rovers
BB Truck & Tractor Noordelikes vs Raiders
Pool C –
Evergreens vs Vaseline Wanderers
United Bulk Villagers Worcester vs Hamiltons
Pool D –
Wesbank vs SA Home Loans Durban Collegians
Shumba Ferros vs GAP Management Despatch (15h00)
Byes: Durbanville-Bellville (A), Berlesell Bloemfontein Crusaders (B), Sishen (C), Rovers Welkom (D)
Round 4 – Sat 14 March:
Pool A –
Rustenburg Impala vs East Rand Cranes Springs
Don’s Pawn Shop PE Police vs Durbanville-Bellville
Pool B –
Raiders vs Pretoria Police
Jonsson College Rovers vs Berlesell Bloemfontein Crusaders (16h15)
Pool C –
Vaseline Wanderers vs United Bulk Villagers Worcester
Aveng Moolmans Sishen vs Evergreens
Pool D –
SA Home Loans Durban Collegians vs Shumba Ferros (13h45)
Rovers Welkom vs Wesbank
Byes: Old Selbornians (A), Noordelikes (B), Hamiltons (C), Despatch (D)
Round 5 – Sat 21 March:
Pool A –
Durbanville-Bellville vs Rustenburg Impala
East Rand Cranes Springs vs Kempston Old Selbornians
Pool B –
BB Truck & Tractor Noordelikes vs Berlesell Bloemfontein Crusaders
Raiders vs Jonsson College Rovers (15h30)
Pool C –
Hamiltons vs Evergreens
Vaseline Wanderers vs Aveng Moolmans Sishen
Pool D –
Shumba Ferros vs Rovers Welkom (15h00)
GAP Management Despatch vs SA Home Loans Durban Collegians
Byes: PE Police (A), Pretoria Police (B), Villagers Worcester (C), Wesbank (D)
Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs
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