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Cape Town - There will be no promotion-relegation matches in 2014, but the the winners of this year's Currie Cup First Division will bag R1,054m for their efforts, Volksblad reports.
The First Division final will be contested between the Griffons and Falcons in Welkom next Friday evening.
The runners up will receive R527 000.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has confirmed that there will be no promotion-relegation matches this year, but should Griquas or the Pumas finish in seventh spot on the Currie Cup Premier Division log, then there will again be a qualifying competition in 2015 between the six First Division teams as well as the seventh-place team in the Premier Division.
The EP Kings - who will finish eighth and last in this year's Currie Cup competition - cannot lose their top flight status because they will become a Super Rugby franchise in 2016.
The five current provinces with Super Rugby status - WP, Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Cheetahs - also cannot be relegated from the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Therefore, Griquas and the Pumas are the only teams who could be relegated from the Currie Cup Premier Division, but NOT if they finish in the top six, according to a SARU ruling.
At the moment the Pumas are in sixth spot on 19 points, three points ahead of Griquas in seventh position.
It will in all likelihood remain that way as Griquas have a tough final round encounter away to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, while the Pumas take on the hapless EP Kings in Port Elizabeth.
If Griquas finish the season in seventh spot then they will again join the six First Division teams in the qualifying competition for the remaining spot in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division.
The First Division final will be contested between the Griffons and Falcons in Welkom next Friday evening.
The runners up will receive R527 000.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has confirmed that there will be no promotion-relegation matches this year, but should Griquas or the Pumas finish in seventh spot on the Currie Cup Premier Division log, then there will again be a qualifying competition in 2015 between the six First Division teams as well as the seventh-place team in the Premier Division.
The EP Kings - who will finish eighth and last in this year's Currie Cup competition - cannot lose their top flight status because they will become a Super Rugby franchise in 2016.
The five current provinces with Super Rugby status - WP, Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Cheetahs - also cannot be relegated from the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Therefore, Griquas and the Pumas are the only teams who could be relegated from the Currie Cup Premier Division, but NOT if they finish in the top six, according to a SARU ruling.
At the moment the Pumas are in sixth spot on 19 points, three points ahead of Griquas in seventh position.
It will in all likelihood remain that way as Griquas have a tough final round encounter away to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend, while the Pumas take on the hapless EP Kings in Port Elizabeth.
If Griquas finish the season in seventh spot then they will again join the six First Division teams in the qualifying competition for the remaining spot in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division.
