Following a meeting held in Cape Town on the 24th of April 2020, the CEO of SA Rugby approved the following format for the 2020 Gold Cup, which is also supported fully by the tournament sponsor.
In summary, the “FA Cup” format as sent to you on 18 November 2019 remains unchanged, with the only change being that, for 2020, the number of teams starting the competition in Round 1 halves from 128 to 64. This has been achieved very simply by removing the first round, with the result that the tournament will now start one month later, and take one less match weekend to complete. The total number of matches reduces as a result, from 144 to 80.
This change will save a substantial amount of money (a 144-team tournament would not have been financially possible in 2020); it will give SARU, the tournament sponsor, you our union partners, your clubs as well as their coaches and players, the broadcaster, plus all other stakeholders, one extra month to plan; and it will further minimise disruption to your very important domestic leagues, especially at this late stage of your club pre-season.
A total of 80 clubs will play a total of 80 matches over seven (7) match weekends spread throughout the season, mostly on the final weekend of every month (either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, there will be four (4) rounds, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Final (plus a bronze-medal match on the same day.
The 80 clubs will comprise 64 qualifying teams, the 15 provincial champions from 2019, plus the defending champions, at the specific request of the sponsor.
Round 1 — Fri 24/Sat 25/Sun 26/Mon 27 April 2020: 64 clubs, 32 matches, straight knockout. Clubs play mostly against clubs from within their own union, or cross-border should it be geographically and financially feasible to do so and the unions concerned agree (as explained in more detail elsewhere in this document). Unions to determine fixtures, subject to approval by SARU.
Round 2 — Fri 29/Sat 30/Sun 31 May 2020: The Gold Cup shifts focus fully from local to regional. The remaining 32 clubs play (16 matches) against clubs from neighbouring unions, from within four geopolitical regions:
i) Western Cape Province: clubs from the Boland, Western Province & South Western Districts unions play each other cross-border. Twenty-four (24) clubs out of 64. Boland to have 10 clubs, Western Province 8, and South Western Districts 6 ;
ii) Eastern Cape Province: clubs from the Eastern Province & Border unions play each other cross-border. Both EP and Border to have eight (8) clubs each;
iii) Central Provinces, i.e. Northern Cape, Free State & KwaZulu-Natal Provinces: clubs from the Griqualand West, Free State, Griffons & KZN unions play each other cross-border. All four unions to have two (2) clubs each;
iv) Northern Provinces, i.e. Gauteng, North West, Limpopo & Mpumalanga Provinces: clubs from the Golden Lions (4), Blue Bulls (plus Limpopo) (5), Valke (3), Leopards (2) and Pumas (2) unions play each other cross-border. B
Round 3 — Sat 27/Sun 28 Jun 2020: The surviving 16 clubs join the 16 champions in the national round of 32 (16 matches). The 16 champions all enjoy a home-ground advantage in this round, as a reward for their achievements in 2019. The draw will be done on television and, depending on final budget feasibility, will either be national or extended regional (i.e. North & Central unions play each other while Eastern Cape & Western Cape unions play each other);
Round 4 — Sat 25/Sun 26 July 2020: This is the national Last 16, consisting of eight matches, with a televised draw determining the match-ups and venues (with the broadcaster, in consultation with SA Rugby, having final say on the venue/s of any televised matches). Should Round 3 not already be national, then Round 4 will go national, e.g. Cape Town clubs playing Pretoria clubs, etc;
Quarter-finals — Sat 5/Sun 6 Sep 2020: This is the national Last 8, consisting of four matches, with a televised draw determining the match-ups and venues (with the broadcaster, in consultation with SA Rugby, having final say on the venue/s of any televised matches). There is a possibility that more than one match may be played at a single venue for broadcast purposes;
Semi-finals — Sat 12/Sun 13 Sep 2020: This is the national Last 4, consisting of two matches, with a televised draw determining the match-ups and venues (with the broadcaster, in consultation with SA Rugby, having final say on the venue/s of any televised matches). There is a possibility that both matches could be played at a single venue for broadcast purposes;
Final (plus bronze match) — Sat 19/Sun 20 September 2020: To be played at an iconic, TV-friendly community stadium/venue as determined by SA Rugby in consultation with the broadcaster and tournament sponsor, as per current international norms such as in the Heineken Champions’ Cup, Pro14, and UEFA Champions’ League & Europa League soccer. Unions will be invited to submit proposals to host the Gold Cup Final, following the normal procedure as is the case with Youth Weeks, etc.