Lions lead the hunt as SA teams battle for ERCC spots

With South African teams set to join the exciting European Rugby Champions Cup next season, local sides will have to improve significantly if they want to qualify for the competition.

Currently the Lions, as the highest placed SA team, are in the qualification spot, but with plenty of rugby still to be played that could change as the season progresses.

The United Rugby Championship has been divided into four regional shield pools, with the winners of each pool automatically qualifying for the ERCC regardless of their position on the log.

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The pools have been broken up into the four Irish teams, four Welsh teams, four SA teams and then the two Scottish and two Italian sides in a pool together.

Following each pool winner qualifying, the four highest-placed teams on the URC log (other than those who have already qualified) will qualify for the ERCC.

With all of the SA sides currently in the bottom six of the log, the pool winner might be the only local team to qualify, with the Lions currently in pole position in 10th on the log, while the Sharks are 12th, the Stormers are in 14th and the Bulls are 15th.

Currie Cup splits teams

Meanwhile, the Currie Cup was recently confirmed to get under way in the middle of January, which will see all the SA URC teams split their forces, as they continue to compete on two fronts.

The Lions’ Currie Cup squad will be coached by Mziwakhe Nkosi and he will be tasked with getting the best out of a side that will feature a number of fringe players as well as some exciting up-and-coming youngsters.

The Lions will kick off their Currie Cup campaign with two games in the first two rounds, before a bye and break in play will see them take a month off.

They start off with an away match against Western Province on the weekend of 14 and 15 January, before hosting the Pumas a few days later on 19 January.