New SA Rugby U23 Cup set to strengthen player pathway

The next generation of South African rugby stars is ready to take centre stage as the inaugural SA Rugby Under-23 Cup kicks off this Saturday in Durban, with the competition featuring a double-round league format for the country’s four major international franchises.

In the first match of the inaugural tournament, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will host the Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, with kick-off scheduled for 1.45pm.

Designed to bridge the gap between age-grade rugby and senior provincial and franchise ranks, the competition provides a vital platform for emerging talent to gain competitive match minutes and stay battle-hardened.

A key feature of the new tournament is the strategic provision for up to seven over-age players to be included in each 23-player match-day squad, with up to four such players in the starting line-up.

This will provide a crucial “return-to-play” platform for senior players who are coming back from long-term injuries and need game time, or for those on the fringe of franchise selection, who might otherwise not see action in competitions such as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Following this weekend's opener in Durban, the action intensifies on Friday, 27 March, with a double-header of fixtures: the Sharks will then host the DHL Stormers XXIII in a coastal clash, while Vodacom Bulls and Lions take their Jukskei derby north to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

The league phase will run until the weekend of 9 May, with the final scheduled for 16 May between the two top-placed teams on the log.

Fixtures

Saturday, 21 March

1.45pm: Hollywoodbets Sharks v Lions (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

Friday, 27 March

4pm: Hollywoodbets Sharks v DHL Stormers XXIII (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

6pm: Vodacom Bulls v Lions (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane)

Saturday, 11 April

Time TBC: Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers XXIII (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Saturday, 18 April

1pm: Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

4pm: DHL Stormers XXIII v Vodacom Bulls (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)

Saturday, 25 April

1pm: Lions v Vodacom Bulls (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

4pm: DHL Stormers XXIII v Hollywoodbets Sharks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)

Saturday, 2 May

1.30pm: Hollywoodbets Sharks v Vodacom Bulls (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

2pm: DHL Stormers XXIII v Lions (Venue TBC)

Friday, 8 May

1pm: Lions v DHL Stormers XXIII (Venue TBC)

Saturday, 9 May

Time TBC: Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Saturday, 16 May

Final