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Port Elizabeth - EP Rugby supporters in Nelson Mandela Bay are in for a feast of top class rugby this year based on the provisional fixtures list recently made available.
The EP Kings are currently preparing for the Vodacom Cup tournament, which officially kicks off on the weekend of March 21 with a home match against Kenya at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
In preparation, the Kings have lined up two pre-season friendlies ahead of the tournament, playing the Cheetahs on the 6th of March and the Golden Lions on the 14th of March at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“We are still waiting on final confirmation on dates and times from SA Rugby, but we now know which teams we will be playing on which weekend,” said EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous.
Crous said the EP Kings will play four of their seven Vodacom Cup matches at home this year, playing against Kenya’s Tusker Simba (March 21), Western Province (April 11), SWD (April 25) and Natal (May 8) at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. Away games include Border (March 28), Free State (April 18) and Boland (May 2).
Supporters can also expect an action packed Currie Cup Premier Division line-up, with the Kings once again taking on the top provincial teams as they enter their final preparations for Super Rugby next year.
Crous said they had lined up two mid season friendlies ahead of the tournament, playing Western Province on July 25 and the Blue Bulls on August 7.
The Kings kick off their Currie Cup campaign with a home game playing against arch rivals, the Golden Lions, on the weekend of August 15.
They play a total of five home games in the Premier Division, including the Golden Lions (August 15), the Pumas (August 29), Sharks (September 5), Cheetahs (September 26) and the still to be determined qualifier (October 17).
Away games will be against the Sharks (August 22), the Golden Lions (September 12), Pumas (September 19), Western Province (October 3) and the Blue Bulls (October 10).
“Adding to the excitement, both EP Under-19 and Under-21 teams have secured their spot in the respective premier divisions, meaning supporters will be treated to two curtain raisers for four out of five home games during the Currie Cup competition,” said Crous.
“This means that our supporters will be treated to a festival of rugby at our Currie Cup home games, with these curtain raisers giving us the opportunity to showcase the amazing up and coming talent of this region,” he said.
Crous also encouraged supporters to show their support for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Varsity Cup team, the NMMU Madibaz, who kick off their 2015 FNB Varsity Cup campaign on February 16.
Provisional fixtures:
Please note that these are provisional fixtures and dates are subject to change. Final fixtures, including kick off times, will be confirmed closer to each tournament.
Pre-season friendlies (NMB Stadium):
6 Mar: EP Kings v Free State Cheetahs
14 Mar: EP Kings v Golden Lions
Vodacom Cup
21 Mar: EP Kings v Tusker Simba (Kenya)
28 Mar: Border v EP Kings
11 Apr: EP Kings v Western Province
18 Mar: Free State v EP Kings
25 Apr: EP Kings v SWD
02 May: Boland v EP Kings
08 May: EP Kings v Natal
16 May: Quarter-finals
23 May: Semi-finals
30 May: Finals
Mid-season friendlies (NMB Stadium)
25 Jul: EP Kings v Western Province
07 Aug: EP Kings v Blue Bulls
Currie Cup Premier Division
15 Aug: EP Kings v Golden Lions
22 Aug: Sharks v EP Kings
29 Aug: EP Kings v Pumas
05 Sep: EP Kings v Sharks
12 Sep: Golden Lions v EP Kings
19 Sep: Pumas v EP Kings
26 Sep: EP Kings v Free State
03 Oct: Western Province v EP Kings
10 Oct: Blue Bulls v EP Kings
17 Oct: EP Kings v Currie Cup qualifier
24 Oct: Semi-finals
07 Nov: Final
