The Phakisa Pumas fixtures for the Currie Cup, which boasts a new sponsor, have been announced.

The oldest provincial competition in the world has partnered with South Africa’s champion beer in a bold, new agreement that will see the competition officially become the Carling Currie Cup for the next three seasons.

The Currie Cup will officially kick off on the weekend of November 27 and 28, culminating in the final on Saturday January 23, 2021.

All log points from Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked will be carried over to the Carling Currie Cup.

The Toyota Cheetahs will defend the crown they won in the 2019 final against the Xerox Lions.

The opening round of matches will see the Cell C Sharks host the Phakisa Pumas, Tafel Lager Griquas take on the Xerox Lions, and the Vodacom Bulls travel to Cape Town to face DHL Western Province. The Toyota Cheetahs have a bye.

The action will build up to the semi-finals on Saturday January 16, 2021, when the top four teams on the log will slog it out to progress to the final on January 23.

SA Rugby and South African Breweries (SAB) announced on Tuesday that they had struck a deal in which the award-winning Carling Black Label Beer assumes the naming rights to rugby’s biggest domestic prize – marking Carling Black Label’s debut in rugby, although the partnership between SA Rugby and SAB stretches back close to three decades.

SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux said, “SAB has been a loyal partner to SA Rugby dating back to the days before rugby became professional, so it gives me great pleasure to build on our association with it.

“This marks Carling Black Label’s first rugby sponsorship, and we are thrilled to have such a well-established and successful brand associated with the Currie Cup, which is a competition that prides itself on its rich heritage.

“What makes this sponsorship even more significant is that Carling Black Label has partnered with us during one of the toughest economic climates in the sport and in business, and this certainly shows their passion for the Currie Cup and rugby.”

Carling Black Label brand director, Arné Rust said, “Carling Black Label is proud to sponsor the Currie Cup. Not only are our goals closely aligned, but the name itself is a pleasure to say – the Carling Currie Cup.

“This is a beer that recognises and rewards champions for their effort and achievement, and in our estimation, there is no greater achievement in local rugby than to lift the Currie Cup.

“Carling Black Label has supported local sport for a long time and we will continue to do all we can to involve consumers more in the sports they love and to reward them for doing so. “As South Africa’s most award-winning beer, we welcome the partnership with the country’s most awarded trophy.”

Phakisa Pumas fixtures for the 2020 Carling Currie Cup: 

Friday November 27, 19:00: Cell C Sharks v Phakisa Pumas (Jonsson Kings Park, Durban)
Friday December 4, 19:00: Phakisa Pumas v Tafel Lager Griquas (‎Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Friday December 11, 19:00: DHL Western Province v Phakisa Pumas (DHL Newlands, Cape Town)
Friday December 18, 19:00: Phakisa Pumas v Toyota Cheetahs (‎Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Saturday 2 January 2, 2021 14:00: Phakisa Pumas v Xerox Lions (‎Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Friday January 8, 19:00: Phakisa Pumas v Vodacom Bulls (‎Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)

Super Rugby Unlocked
After four Super Rugby matches, Pumas’ fly-half Eddie Fouche, is the top points scorer for the team. He played 188 minutes of rugby before suffering serious hip and knee injuries in the match against the DHL Stormers. Fouche has scored 36 points from eight conversions and six penalties.

The top try scorer is winger, Neil Maritz, who has dotted down three times.

Scrum half, Ginter Smuts and centre, Erich Cronjé, have both crossed the try line twice.

The Phakisa Pumas have a bye this weekend. They will face the Lions at Emirates Airline Park at 19:00 on Friday November 20, and the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld at 19:00 on Friday November 20 in their last two Super Rugby Unlocked matches.