Assupol Series re-introduced in 2014
"Club rugby is essential to having strong professional sides" — BBRU.
The Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU) have re-introduced the Assupol Super Club Series in 2014 following a one-year absence.
The tournament, which is hotly contested between clubs from the rugby unions of the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, Leopards and Falcons is back. Assupol, being the official sponsor of the tournament assured that players can look forward to a Club Series that will be bigger and better.
Eugene Hare from the BBRU and tournament director explains that, “Because all eyes were on the new Community Cup that replaced the National Club Championships last year, and for logistical reasons, no tournament was held in 2013.
“We decided to take the initiative and re-introduce the tournament. Everything is in place to stage a great tournament this year. It will be the seventh of its kind.”
The tournament will feature a round robin stage with five weekends of action commencing on Saturday 1 March 2014 with the finals taking place on the weekend of 5 April at Loftus Versfeld, home of the Bulls. Each club also will receive a subsidy towards their travelling expenses.
The 31 clubs (that include some universities) to do battle are NWU Vaal, Pukke, TUT, Benoni, Klerksdorp, Noordelikes, Nigel, Middelburg, Potch Dorp, Vaal Reefs, Tukkies, Springs, Harlequins, Pirates, Vereeniging, Centurion, Naka Bulle, UJ, Alberton, Wits, Oostelikes Eagles, Randfontein, Union, Silwer Valke, Raiders, Polisie, Impala, Brakpan, Roodepoort, Kempton Wolwe and Boksburg.
The Assupol Super Club Series was won by Centurion (Blue Bulls) in 2012 and Roodepoort (Golden Lions) in 2011.
Eugene says, “Club rugby is essential if we wish to have strong and competitive professional sides. It is competitions and opportunities like the Super Club Series that can narrow the gap between amateur and professional rugby.
“The practice of contracting junior players often creates the perception that if you don’t have a contract, you can’t get into the system. If we are going to manage rugby that way we are creating bottlenecks that would be to the detriment of the game. Semi-professional clubs and competitions are essential if we wish to develop a seamless system.
“The Super Club Series should be a huge motivator for players, not only to the 16 clubs in this year’s competition, but also to others.
“They too can aspire to make it to the top as a club and become one of their union’s elite in order to play against the best that the northern unions can offer.”
