- The Currie Cup will commence in July, SA Rugby confirmed on Tuesday.
- There was some doubt the prestigious competition would go ahead amid concerns for player welfare due to ongoing international tournament commitments.
- However, a deal struck between the SA Rugby Employers Organisation and MyPlayers ensures the ninth oldest rugby tournament in the world will remain in place.
The 2024 Currie Cup will go ahead as scheduled, while new plans are in place to ensure player welfare, despite a 12-month rugby season, SA Rugby announced on Tuesday.
In a deal struck between the SA Rugby Employers Organisation (SAREO) and MyPlayers (the professional rugby players organisation), both parties acknowledged a proposed eight-week shutdown was not a possibility for a South African playing calendar that straddles the hemispheres.
For that reason, both parties accept a 12-month season is a reality but necessitated player welfare strategies to address the unique international match-scheduling challenges South Africa faces.
The agreement was brokered following arbitration of a dispute relating to mandatory rest periods for players.
The arbitrator ruled the players terms and conditions of employment required all contracted players to rest simultaneously for eight weeks.
