Following the success of the Women’s Rugby Provincial League in its first year, the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) has decided to play the women’s game on a strenth-versus-strength basis, starting in 2004.
This year, the 14 Sarfu Provinces played in two leagues divided into North and South, with the winners of each group clashing in a final. The Blue Bulls, winners of the North region, walloped South winners, Eastern Province, 39-0, in the final at Securicor Loftus last Saturday.
Mahlubi Puzi, Sarfu manager for women’s rugby, is happy with the first year of the competition.
”The new provincial league has taken the game to another level. It gave an opportunity for the players to be the best they can be.”
Puzi said the switch to strength-versus-strength will help ”accelerate the improvement in the quality of women’s rugby”.
In 2004, South Africa hosts Wales’ national team in two tests, at the end of May and the beginning of June.
The provincial teams have been rated according to the log-standings of the 2003 competition.
In the ”A” division, Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Natal and Falcons will form the north section, while Eastern Province, Western Province, Border and South Western Districts will be the south.
The ”B” division will be Boland, Free State, Griffons, Mpumalanga, Leopards and Griqualand West. – Sapa