SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ New-look Gold Cup set for kick-off

New-look Gold Cup set for kick-off

False Bay captain Graham Knoop False Bay captain Graham Knoop
Published on February 6, 2019 | Leave a response

The fixtures for the sixth edition of the Gold Cup — SA Rugby’s flagship national championship for non-university clubs — have been confirmed.

Eight matches, as part of a new-look 16-team format, will kick off on 9 March. This year’s event will revert to the pre-season time-slot that was a feature of the first three editions from 2013-2015.

A leaner six-week format is expected place a greater emphasis on strength versus strength, while the recent success of the past weekend’s ‘SuperHero Sunday’ event at Cape Town Stadium will be replicated at grassroots level with a number of double-header match days planned.

With defending champions False Bay having failed to qualify after a semi-final loss to Durbanville-Bellville in the 2018 Western Province Super League, the 2019 Gold Cup will see a new champion crowned and looks set to be the most closely fought edition in years.

KZN champions College Rovers – finalists in 2013 and 2017 – will start the tournament as one of the favourites, while the presence of 2014 and 2016 Cup winners Rustenburg Impala (Leopards), 2015 champions Durbanville-Bellville (WP) and 2014 runners-up Roodepoort (Golden Lions), among others, will ensure arguably the strongest field yet.

Boland champions Villagers Worcester, established in 1883 and celebrating their 136th anniversary this year, have the honour of being the oldest club in this year’s Gold Cup. They will get their campaign under way at their Boland Park fortress against the Platinum Rhinos, the Limpopo mining club celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

Club rugby’s rich history and heritage is further illustrated by the fact that College Rovers will celebrate their 120th anniversary – having been formed during the Anglo Boer War in 1899 – while Roodepoort are 75 years old this year. A number of other teams are also household names in SA club rugby.

‘Club rugby is a national treasure and it’s a testament to everyone involved at this level of the game, from dedicated administrators and players to die-hard fans and loyal sponsors, that it remains vibrant and relevant despite ongoing challenges,’ said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

The seedings for the four pools are based, among other things, on final positions in the last Gold Cup. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the quarter-finals on the weekend of 30 March, with the remaining eight teams eliminated.

Round one – 9 March: George vs Durbanville-Bellville, Villagers Worcester vs Platinum Rhinos, Gardens vs Secunda, College Rovers vs East Rand United, Naka Bulls vs Sishen, Welkom vs Bloemfontein Police, Roodepoort vs Impala, Springs v Swallows.
Round two – 16 March: Durbanville-Bellville vs Rhinos, George vs Villagers Worcester, East Rand United vs Secunda, Gardens vs College Rovers, Sishen vs Bloemfontein Police, Naka Bulls vs Welkom, Impala vs Swallows, Roodepoort vs Springs.
Round three – 23 March: Villagers Worcester vs Durbanville-Bellville, Rhinos vs George, Secunda vs College Rovers, East Rand United vs Gardens, Welkom vs Sishen, Bloemfontein Police vs Naka Bulls, Springs v Impala, Swallows vs Roodepoort.
Quarter-finals – 30-31 March: Winner pool C vs runner-up Pool D, winner pool B vs runner-up pool A, winner pool D vs runner-up pool C, winner pool A vs runner-up pool B.
Semi-finals – 6-7 April: Winner quarter-final 1 vs winner quarter-final 2, winner quarter-final 3 v winner quarter-final 4.
Final and third-fourth playoff – 13-14 April: Winner semi-final 1 vs winner semi-final 2.

Photo: Gallo Images

Posted in Gold Cup, Top headlines, Tournaments Tagged Gold Cup, NEWS

Post by SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby magazine

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×