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Cape Town - Schalk Burger will be playing in his first Currie Cup final for Western Province on Saturday, but is hopeful that it won’t be his last.
While this year offers a last chance for a number of senior Springboks to win the trophy before they contemplate hanging up their boots or an overseas swansong after next year’s World Cup, Burger is rather eyeing a new WP contract.
“I’d like to stay in the Cape. The World Cup will herald the end of an era in South African rugby. Some of the senior players will probably move on or retire, but I’m still young and would like to keep playing. There is something positive happening at WP and I’d like to ride that wave,” said Burger.
“My contract runs until 2011, but I want to stay. Anything can happen and as a player you sometimes fall out of favour, but I enjoy the Cape.”
Burger (27) will run out in front for WP in Saturday’s final against the Sharks in Durban. Province last won the tournament in 2001. Whilst success cannot be guaranteed this week, Burger’s intention of staying in the Cape is excellent news for WP.
“It’s seldom that the opportunity of a final comes. People hardly remember the team that came second. We’d love our name on that trophy, but are up against a strong Sharks side.”
Burger said he was busy with matric when WP last won the trophy in 2001 and he was not at Newlands that day.
“I hope there are more Currie Cups for me. I love the competition and so does every player in South Africa. It’s a proudly South African competition and how we learned to watch rugby. I came to Newlands as a young boy to watch WP playing in the Currie Cup. There wasn’t anything else,” said Burger.
“The Currie Cup has a rich tradition and is something we as South Africans should cling to. Just look at how big the media interest in this final is. We’re really looking forward to it. There are players that have won the competition several times. We haven’t, but get the opportunity on Saturday.”
Top contracted Springboks won’t play in next year’s Currie Cup because of World Cup commitments. In 2012, Super rugby will stretch into the first week of August, which could place the Currie Cup under further pressure. The South African Rugby Union (Saru) is yet to make an announcement on the competition format from 2012 onwards.
Cape Town - Schalk Burger will be playing in his first Currie Cup final for Western Province on Saturday, but is hopeful that it won’t be his last.
While this year offers a last chance for a number of senior Springboks to win the trophy before they contemplate hanging up their boots or an overseas swansong after next year’s World Cup, Burger is rather eyeing a new WP contract.
“I’d like to stay in the Cape. The World Cup will herald the end of an era in South African rugby. Some of the senior players will probably move on or retire, but I’m still young and would like to keep playing. There is something positive happening at WP and I’d like to ride that wave,” said Burger.
“My contract runs until 2011, but I want to stay. Anything can happen and as a player you sometimes fall out of favour, but I enjoy the Cape.”
Burger (27) will run out in front for WP in Saturday’s final against the Sharks in Durban. Province last won the tournament in 2001. Whilst success cannot be guaranteed this week, Burger’s intention of staying in the Cape is excellent news for WP.
“It’s seldom that the opportunity of a final comes. People hardly remember the team that came second. We’d love our name on that trophy, but are up against a strong Sharks side.”
Burger said he was busy with matric when WP last won the trophy in 2001 and he was not at Newlands that day.
“I hope there are more Currie Cups for me. I love the competition and so does every player in South Africa. It’s a proudly South African competition and how we learned to watch rugby. I came to Newlands as a young boy to watch WP playing in the Currie Cup. There wasn’t anything else,” said Burger.
“The Currie Cup has a rich tradition and is something we as South Africans should cling to. Just look at how big the media interest in this final is. We’re really looking forward to it. There are players that have won the competition several times. We haven’t, but get the opportunity on Saturday.”
Top contracted Springboks won’t play in next year’s Currie Cup because of World Cup commitments. In 2012, Super rugby will stretch into the first week of August, which could place the Currie Cup under further pressure. The South African Rugby Union (Saru) is yet to make an announcement on the competition format from 2012 onwards.
