The Sharks against the Bulls. Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
LATEST: SA rugby sides set for more derbies
South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship sides are in line for a weekend of hastily-arranged derby fixtures.
The Sharks against the Bulls. Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
For the better part of the past 18 months, South African rugby fans have received an overdose of local rugby derbies, with two Currie Cup competitions and a one-off Rainbow Cup SA all taking place during this time.
READ | MUNSTER, CARDIFF STRANDED IN SA AFTER POSITIVE COVID TESTS
Domestic franchises had just received their first tase of northern hemisphere rugby when they began the URC competition with a four-week overseas leg in challenging circumstances earlier this year.
This past weekend was then meant to mark the first set of South Africa-based fixtures, but the matches were called off on Friday after a new Covid-19 variant was detected.
Cardiff and Munster have been left stranded in South Africa after testing produced positive Covid-19 results, while Scarlets and Zebre managed to get home on a chartered flight.
SA Rugby derbies will have URC status
As a result of this latest turn of events, it’s believed that fixtures originally scheduled for 19 February will now be brought forward to this weekend, and will count towards URC log standings.
The Stormers are set to host the Lions in Cape Town on Saturday, while the Sharks will tackle the Bulls on Friday night. If these fixtures get the go ahead, it remains to be seen if they will be played in front of the limited crowd attendance of 2,000 spectators that was previously approved.
On Monday, the Sharks posted pictures to social media showing the team was hard at work in training at Kings Park.
READ | RASSIE ERASMUS TO TELL ‘HIS SIDE OF THE STORY’ IN NEW DOCUMENTARY
WATCH | THE CRAZIEST TRY YOU WILL SEE ALL YEAR!
Once Munster and Cardiff are able to get home, they will have to isolate for 10 days on their eventual return, which potentially could have an impact on their future fixtures.
Munster are due to play Wasps on 12 December in the European Rugby Champions Cup in a match which could now be in jeopardy depending on how long they remain in the Mother City.
Meanwhile, Cardiff are due to host Toulouse on 11 December in another match suddenly plunged into doubt.
