The Eastern Cape Super 14 is back with a bang

Sixteen rugby teams will begin a new phase of the Eastern Cape Super 14 tournament. This comes after the Eastern Cape Department of Sports launched it last week in Gqeberha with a ceremony attended by the leaders of various associations and rugby players.

The money invested by the sports department, as well as two new teams from outside the Eastern Cape who want to participate in the tournament due to its high quality, will make the Super 14 games more successful this year.

Two groups have been formed. Progress, Park Kruisfontein, Gardens, Ncerha Leopards, Old Selbornians, Moonlight, and the new East Rand United are all in Group A.

Swallows, EL Police, Young Leopards, Ntlaza Lions, PE Harlequins, Jeffreys Bay, Kirkwood, and Crusaders comprise Group B.

Is there a rugby team that can dethrone Kariega Progress, who won the title without losing a single game last year? According to Super 14 Chief Executive David Dobela, this year’s tournament will generate more interest than previous years.

“This year’s Super 14 will allow our rugby teams to put their skills to the test in the far reaches of the Eastern Cape. For a long time, we have attempted to provide opportunities for our players to demonstrate their abilities. We can see it happening now,” stated Dobela.

After the sports department invested R8 million in this year’s Eastern Cape Super 14, the winning team will receive R100,000.

“The winners will receive R100,000 each. However, even the losing teams will receive something because we want to encourage all of the teams that compete in this tournament,” said Nonceba Kontsiwe, the MEC for Sport, Recreation, Art, and Culture.

On Saturday afternoon, all rugby matches at various venues will begin at the same time.

The Super 14 games

Saturday: Kirkwood vs George Crusaders @Sporting Ground, 15:30; Jeffreys Bay vs Swallows, 15:30; Ntlaza Lions vs Young Leopards @Ntlaza, 15:30; EL Police vs PE Harlequins @Police Park, 15:30; East Rand vs Progress @Reiger Park, 15:30; Gardens vs Ncerha Leopards @Derick Stadium, 15:30; Kruisfontein vs Moonlight @Sports Complex, 15:30; Park vs Old Selbornians @Rugby Klub, 15:30.