The Super 12 rugby competition is back with its sole sponsor – the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture – setting aside R1-million for this year’s edition of the popular provincial club rugby showpiece.
Not only that, the department has since removed the cash-strapped Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) as coordinators and administrators of the competition they have run for the past five years, replacing them with the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation.
The PE-based EPRU has now been reduced to the level of its provincial counterpart, Border Rugby Union (BRU), as mere participants.
“There is no difference of both rugby unions as they are both assisting towards the success of this competition and they both want rugby to be the ultimate winner when all is said and done,” department spokesman Andile Nduna said.
The Super 12 features six premier league clubs affiliated with BRU and another six from EPRU who will be competing for the winner’s prize-money of R50000 and a trophy.
Border will be represented by EL Police, WSU All Blacks, Buffs, Winter Rose, Berlin Tigers and Breakers.
A huge chunk of the R1-million will go towards transportation of the clubs as they crisscross the length and breath of the province across which matches will be spread.
A sum will also be used to buy kits for all the 12 clubs taking part in the competition.
Other than the R195000 meant for prize-monies, the department did not give a breakdown of how much will be going where with the remaining R805000.
The department said in a press statement the Super 12 was one of its flagship premier programmes and that club rugby was the backbone of rugby in the country.
According to the statement, the Super 12 was a major boost to rugby in the province as it was the only competition pitting BRU’s best six with EPRU’s top-performing clubs.
“Each year BRU and EPRU play their own club league competitions, where the champions and top clubs are determined, but no club tournament was played between the two unions,” the statement said.
“Therefore, a great need was identified for clubs to play across unions and this was done to revive, revitalise and promote rugby at club level.
“The profile and relevance of amateur rugby is increased by these tournaments that reward aspirant players and clubs.
“But it is also to create a solid layer of ‘elite’ competition that will showcase the best players in our province. ”
The department was all gung-ho about how effective the Super 12 has been in the previous five years it has funded the competition.
According to Nduna, the tournament has been responsible for having “catapulted” players “to national status”.
Among those mentioned are the two former Bulldogs players – Ntando Kebe and Mike Makase – who recently signed with the Southern Kings for the Super Rugby 2016 competition.
The Super 12 starts on Saturday, but fixtures had not been finalised at the time of writing yesterday.
A BRU official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the short period of time clubs will have to prepare before engaging in a gruelling, high-intensity knockout competition.
“It poses serious injury risks to players. You cannot just rock up on Monday saying the competition is on Saturday,” said the official, who asked not to be named.
“When did clubs get the time to prepare? All along everyone was of the view that this competition was off, and now all of a sudden it is on again.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Super 12 provincial showpiece right back
Not only that, the department has since removed the cash-strapped Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) as coordinators and administrators of the competition they have run for the past five years, replacing them with the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation.
The PE-based EPRU has now been reduced to the level of its provincial counterpart, Border Rugby Union (BRU), as mere participants.
“There is no difference of both rugby unions as they are both assisting towards the success of this competition and they both want rugby to be the ultimate winner when all is said and done,” department spokesman Andile Nduna said.
The Super 12 features six premier league clubs affiliated with BRU and another six from EPRU who will be competing for the winner’s prize-money of R50000 and a trophy.
Border will be represented by EL Police, WSU All Blacks, Buffs, Winter Rose, Berlin Tigers and Breakers.
A huge chunk of the R1-million will go towards transportation of the clubs as they crisscross the length and breath of the province across which matches will be spread.
A sum will also be used to buy kits for all the 12 clubs taking part in the competition.
Other than the R195000 meant for prize-monies, the department did not give a breakdown of how much will be going where with the remaining R805000.
The department said in a press statement the Super 12 was one of its flagship premier programmes and that club rugby was the backbone of rugby in the country.
According to the statement, the Super 12 was a major boost to rugby in the province as it was the only competition pitting BRU’s best six with EPRU’s top-performing clubs.
“Each year BRU and EPRU play their own club league competitions, where the champions and top clubs are determined, but no club tournament was played between the two unions,” the statement said.
“Therefore, a great need was identified for clubs to play across unions and this was done to revive, revitalise and promote rugby at club level.
“The profile and relevance of amateur rugby is increased by these tournaments that reward aspirant players and clubs.
“But it is also to create a solid layer of ‘elite’ competition that will showcase the best players in our province. ”
The department was all gung-ho about how effective the Super 12 has been in the previous five years it has funded the competition.
According to Nduna, the tournament has been responsible for having “catapulted” players “to national status”.
Among those mentioned are the two former Bulldogs players – Ntando Kebe and Mike Makase – who recently signed with the Southern Kings for the Super Rugby 2016 competition.
The Super 12 starts on Saturday, but fixtures had not been finalised at the time of writing yesterday.
A BRU official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the short period of time clubs will have to prepare before engaging in a gruelling, high-intensity knockout competition.
“It poses serious injury risks to players. You cannot just rock up on Monday saying the competition is on Saturday,” said the official, who asked not to be named.
“When did clubs get the time to prepare? All along everyone was of the view that this competition was off, and now all of a sudden it is on again.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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