Following a four-year hiatus, the African Rainbow Gold Cup, which will include 32 teams from all around South Africa, will begin play again in September.

The revamped Gold Cup will use a brand-new knockout structure for its return campaign.

 

 
GOLD CUP RETURNS

After a four-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 epidemic and other causes, the competition for best non-university clubs has returned, with African Rainbow Capital stepping in as title sponsor to give the event a new identity.

The African Rainbow Gold Cup will include 32 club teams from throughout the continent. Fourteen provinces have nominated two teams apiece, plus one from the Griffons area of influence, with three more clubs invited as wildcard participants.

The provincial qualifiers on the North side of the draw include Naka Bulle and Harlequins from the Blue Bulls, Bloemfontein Police and Collegians from the Cheetahs, Welkom Rovers from the Griffons, Rustenburg Impala (national club champions in 2014, 2016, and 2019 – pictured above) and Wolverines from the Leopards, Louis Trichardt and Northam Rhinos from Limpopo, Pirates and Raiders from the Lions, Sasol Secunda and White River from the Pumas; and Springs and Vereeniging from the Valke.

Bella Vista and Saldanha Bay from Boland; Ncera Leopards and Police from Border; PE Harlequins and Progress from Eastern Province; Kimberley and Sishen from Griquas; Crusaders and Heidelberg from South Western Districts; College Rovers and Westville Old Boys from the Sharks; and False Bay (winners in 2017) and Tygerberg from Western Province are among the clubs in the Southern group.

Union Milnerton from WP will compete in the North division, while Wesbank from Boland and Centurion from the Blue Bulls will compete in the South.

GOLD CUP GOES TO KNOCKOUT FORMAT
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The knockout event, similar to the FA Cup in English football, will take place over five weekends. The Round of 32 and Round of 16 will be held in the North and South portions, respectively. The finest of the North will meet the best of the South beginning in the quarter-finals. The final is set for 7 October.

“This is an important tournament on our rugby calendar and we’re delighted to be able to confirm a major new partner for the competition,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.

“A lack of exposure and sponsorship since the advent of professionalism have made things difficult for our clubs across the country, but despite these challenges the local leagues go from strength to strength as communities flock to grounds to see their sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and cousins in action.

“The new format is an ambitious new departure for open club rugby in South Africa and to have a company such as African Rainbow Capital as our partner is a coup for the tournament. It underlines our message that club rugby is an essential part of the rugby landscape in South Africa and we’re determined to see it flourish.

“Club rugby is one of most important considerations on our agenda and we believe that the African Rainbow Gold Cup will breathe new life into this level of the game.

“With the support of African Rainbow Capital, this tournament will give club players and coaches a competitive platform and an aspirational event through which they can reach their goals.”

Gold Cup
Rustenburg Impala lift the Gold Cup. Photo: SA Rugby
SPONSORS STEP UP
Dr Johan van Zyl, co-CEO and Executive Director of African Rainbow Capital, would add: “We are very excited to get involved at club rugby level in South Africa, as we see this as an opportunity to make a contribution to the development and transformation of grassroots rugby in South African communities.

“For African Rainbow Capital, the Gold Cup forms an important part of the local rugby ecosystem and we believe this is an ideal platform to not only uplift the game in different communities, but also to develop new talent.”

Willem Strauss, President of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union who facilitated the sponsorship, added that he is invcredibly grateful to Johan van Zyl and Patrice Motsepe of African Rainbow Capital for their support.

“Not only are they incredible investors in professional sport in South Africa, but this also shows their commitment to sport at a grassroots level, in this case in rugby, which is incredibly important to almost 1,200 rugby clubs in South Africa, this is incredibly important,” said Strauss.

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