It has been confirmed by informed sources that SARU will release the final fixtures of the provincial junior competitions sooner than later. Seven rugby unions will compete at u/19, u/20 and u/21 levels in competitions that will run from February 2022 until November 2022.
The four franchises, Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Western Province will be joined by the Cheetahs, Eastern Province and Leopards in the different SARU junior championships. Apparently, a Shield competition is also planned for the other Unions.
The season will open with an u/20 Championship that is provisionally scheduled to start on 26 February 2022, with the final matches set to be played on 16 April 2022. The championship will be played in a single round format with the two top teams to compete in a final.
No provincial rugby will be played from the end of April until the middle of August 2022. Apparently, this period will be used by the coaching staff of the u/20 Springbok team for the preparation of their squad for a yet to be named international series which could include a 2022 u/20 World Cup.
A SARU u/21 Championship is provisionally scheduled to start 20 August 2022 which will also be played in a single round format. However, semi-finals are currently scheduled to be played on 12 October 2022 with a final provisionally scheduled for 15 Oct 2022.
A Saru u/19 Championship is scheduled to start on 26 Oct 2022. , Eastern Province, Sharks and Western Province will play in one division while the Bulls, Free State, Lions and Leopards will compete in the second division with the winner of the two divisions to play in a final provisionally scheduled for 08 November 2022.