Springboks centre Francois Venter will probably lead the Cheetahs to Europe. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images.
The wait for the Cheetahs and Kings are over.
South Africa’s two Super Rugby discards will officially participate in the expanded European Pro14 competition starting later this year.
But what exactly does this mean.
Here’s everything you need to know.
How many teams are playing?
As one can gather, 14 teams will be involved. Four from Ireland, four from Wales, two from Scotland, two from Italy and two from South Africa.
To accommodate the Cheetahs and Kings without increasing the number of regular season matches, the teams are split into two conferences.
In which groups are our local sides playing?
The Cheetahs will play in Conference A with Munster (Ireland), Connacht (Ireland), Glasgow (Scotland), Ospreys (Wales), Cardiff (Wales) and Zebre (Italy).
The Kings will play in Conference B with Llanelli (Wales), Gwent (Wales), Ulster (Ireland), Leinster (Ireland), Edinburgh (Scotland) and Benetton Treviso (Italy).
These conferences are based on rankings from the previous season to keep them competitive and change annually.
How many matches will each team play?
Each team plays 21 regular season matches.
For example, the Cheetahs will play 12 matches (6 home, 6 away) against the teams in their conference (A).
They will also play 7 matches home OR away (depending on the final fixture list) against each team in the other conference (B).
To ensure all derby matches are played home and away, they’ll also play two extra rounds – meaning they play the Kings three times.
Are there playoffs?
Yes, there’s a proper playoff structure in place, starting with a quarterfinal round.
However, the South African teams aren’t allowed (yet) to qualify for the European Champions Cup (a Uefa Champions League for rugby of sorts).
Is the travel better than in Super Rugby?
It would certainly seem so. Every game is scheduled for a Saturday.
As the organisers explain: “This will allow visiting teams to have a seven-day turnaround leading into these fixtures including five ‘clean days’ that do not involve any travel. Flights between Europe and South Africa are overnight which will allow players to rest during the journey.”
Will the Cheetahs and Kings be ready for the tournament?
Good question.
The Cheetahs have recruited some new players – while losing others like Springboks Raymond Rhule and Sergeal Petersen – and look fairly settled.
But the Kings, who are bankrolled by the South African Rugby Union (Saru), have bled a lot of players. They’ll need to recruit quickly to be ready.
At least they have a reasonably settled coaching staff.
What do the administrators say?
Jurie Roux, CEO of Saru: It marks the start of a new adventure for rugby in South Africa with a number of exciting opportunities. It will not be without its challenges in aligning with a competition in a different part of the calendar. But it’s a fantastic opportunity.
Harold Verster, CEO of the Cheetahs: This is a whole new ball game for rugby in South Africa and we’re proud to be trail blazers. The Free State is one of the great nurseries of rugby in South Africa and this is an exciting prospect for our young players – to test themselves against top players from the northern hemisphere.
Andre Rademan, president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union: The Kings have been through tough times on and off the field over recent years but we now have the chance to reclaim our status as one of the powerhouses of South African rugby. Under difficult conditions and against an unsettled off-field environment the Southern Kings have been on an upward playing curve this season and there is much to be excited about.
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