The Council rejected a proposal from Eastern Province that they be incorporated into the top-flight immediately. However, Council approved a motion that the top South African team in the First Division be automatically promoted to the Premier Division at the end of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup season, creating an eight-team Premier Division.

In addition, the promoted team will be entrenched for two seasons (until the end of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup season) when the bottom team in the Premier Division will be automatically relegated in favour of the top South African team in the First Division, which will also be entrenched for two seasons before promotion/relegation at the end of the 2026 season.

The 2022 competition will kick off on the weekend of 14/15 January. The unusual kick off has been prompted by the realignment of the South African domestic rugby calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere season following the expanded entry of four teams into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The change means that the Carling Currie Cup final will be played on 25 June, which will mark the end of the season for senior professional players appearing in the Carling Currie Cup and the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Carling Currie Cup First Division fixtures will be confirmed in the New Year.

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 2022 (all fixtures are subject to change)

Saturday 15 January

17:00     DHL Wester Province vs Sigma Lions | DHL Stadium

Wednesday 19 January

15:30     Sigma Lions v New Nation Pumas | Emirates Airline Park

Saturday 19 February

17:00      Sigma Lions vs Cell C Sharks | Emirates Airline Park

Saturday 5 March

17:00    Toyota Cheetahs vs Sigma Lions | Toyota Stadium

Wednesday 16 March

15:30     Tafel Lager Griquas vs Sigma Lions | Tafel Lager Park

Wednesday 23 March

20:00    Sigma Lions vs Vodacom Bulls | Emirates Airline Park

Wednesday 6 April

15:30    New Nation Pumas vs Sigma Lions | Mbombela Stadium

Friday 15 April

19:00    Sigma Lions vs Tafel Lager Griquas | Emirates Airline Park

Friday 6 May

19:00    Sigma Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs | Emirates Airline Park

Saturday 14 May

17:00   Vodacom Bulls vs Sigma Lions | Loftus Versfeld

Saturday 28 May

17;00    Sigma Lions vs DHL Western Province | Emirates Airline Park

Saturday 4 June

17:00    Cell C Sharks vs Sigma Lions | Hollywoodbets Kings Park

18 June

• Carling Currie Cup Semi-Finals

25 June

• Carling Currie Cup Final

2 July

• Carling Champions Match

Issued by SA Rugby Communications