An Exciting And Bumper-packed 2023 Is “Planned” For Junior Rugby

 

During an interesting discussion with a well-informed and credible source, it is evident that SARU is still committed to junior competitions in South Africa. 2023 "will" be a bumper-packed year with several exciting competitions planned/scheduled.

The year for the juniors "will" start with the return of the two SARU u/20 competitions that are planned to start in February. This competition will be played in a single-round format with only a final to be played during mid-April.

Thereafter, national u/20 coach Bafana Nhleko will name his squad that will start preparations for the 2023 u/20 World Cup. The preparations "will" include an u/20 SANZAAR Championship tournament which is scheduled to be hosted in Australia.

Cape Town is apparently the favourite to be announced as the host city for the 2023 World Cup in June/July 2023. World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 participating unions will be Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.

A SARU u/19 competition is "planned" from May until July, which should also be played in a single-round format with only a final planned. This year only the Cell C Sharks, DHL Western Province, Toyota Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls are participating in this competition with hopefully the Valke, Leopards and Lions joining in 2023.

The SARU u/21 competitions are "scheduled" to start in August and until the end of October. A single round will be played with semi-finals and a final planned.