Mail rugby union
A great sport! Here's some information about mail rugby union:
What is Mail Rugby Union?
Mail Rugby Union is a professional rugby union competition in South Africa, founded in 1996. The competition is sponsored by the South African Post Office (SAPO) and is also known as the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Format
The competition features 14 teams, divided into two conferences: the Northern Conference and the Southern Conference. Each team plays each other once, with the top two teams from each conference qualifying for the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals then compete in the final to determine the champion.
Teams
The 14 teams that compete in the Mail Rugby Union are:
- Blue Bulls
- Boland Cavaliers
- Border Bulldogs
- Golden Lions
- Griffons
- Griquas
- Leopards
- Pumas
- Sharks
- Western Province
- Free State Cheetahs
- Eastern Province Elephants
- SWD Eagles
- Valke
History
The Currie Cup, which is the oldest rugby union competition in South Africa, was first played in 1889. The competition has undergone several changes over the years, including the introduction of the Premier Division in 1996. The Mail Rugby Union has been the top-level professional rugby union competition in South Africa since its inception.
Notable Players
Some notable players who have played in the Mail Rugby Union include:
- Bryan Habana (Springbok wing)
- Jean de Villiers (Springbok captain)
- Victor Matfield (Springbok lock)
- Schalk Burger (Springbok flank forward)
- Fourie du Preez (Springbok scrum-half)
International Competitions
The winner of the Mail Rugby Union competition earns a spot in the following international competitions:
- The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri Nations)
- The Rugby World Cup
- The Africa Cup
I hope this information helps!