Return to action for SA domestic rugby

It is expected that the South African domestic rugby scene will be reignited next month as teams have been given the green light to commence full-contact training again in September.

It has been proposed that a seven-team competition will kick-off in early October, the teams being the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Cheetahs, Stormers, Griquas and Pumas.

It is not yet clear whether the tournament will be labelled a ‘Super Rugby’ tournament or South Africa’s domestic Currie Cup competition.

Players will, naturally, be subjected to constant Covid-19 testing during this phase of full-contact training and teams will have to adhere to governmental regulations should positive tests occur.

One of the big positives of the proposed development is that the Springbok players will finally be able to participate in much needed contact training before the Rugby Championship is set to get underway in November. It is expected that the Rugby Championship will commence on 7 November with all games taking place within a ‘bio bubble’ in New Zealand. There are reports, however, that the Springboks may be included in an eight-team international tournament to be held in the Northern Hemisphere which will exclude them from the traditional Southern Hemisphere competition.

The South African rugby players have not seen game-time since March of this year and will be hungry to be thrown back into the action, much to the delight of the rugby-starved fans as well.