The Sharks will face the Lions in Durban on 9 October in the first match of a new-look, seven-week local competition.

The four existing Vodacom Super Rugby teams – the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – along with the Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas will head into a competition that encompasses 21 matches, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

The season will resume at 7pm on Friday, 9 October when the Sharks take on the Lions in Durban while the following day the Cheetahs and Bulls will host the Pumas (at 4:30pm) and Griquas (7pm), respectively.

The Stormers have a bye in the opening round, but they will host the Lions the following week, when the men from Johannesburg will face the Capetonians at Newlands on Saturday, 17 October at 7pm.

‘We’d like to thank all our stakeholders in getting to this point,’ said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.

‘It has been an extremely trying time but thanks to Vodacom, SuperSport and the seven teams involved we are able to resume rugby with a really exciting series of matches featuring the best players in the country.

‘We have had to make some major format changes and look at creative ways to look after everyone’s needs but we think between now and the end of the season – which will only be in January next year – we will provide rugby and entertainment to excite the fans once more.’

The first round of competition will be known as Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked, which concludes on the weekend of 20-21 November.

The team at the top of the standings at this stage of the season will be crowned Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked champions, after which all log points will be transferred to the Currie Cup (fixtures to be announced in due course).

For all the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked fixtures, click here.

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