- The rugby leagues for Super Leagues A, B, and C have been finalised for 2024.
- This season is historic as two Stellenbosch teams will compete in Super League A.
- Van der Stel-Evergreens, newly promoted to Super A, and UWC will face fierce competition next year.
With the club rugby season officially done and dusted, the teams for Super Leagues A, B and C are finalised for next year.
The other teams playing in the regional competitions – Northern Southern and City Leagues – will be announced at a later date.
All eyes will be on the new teams in the different leagues next year to see if they will be competitive enough, while the competition between old foes will continue.
In Super League A, history is being made as it will be the first time in 20 years that Stellenbosch will have two teams competing in the same league with Maties and newly promoted Van der Stel-Evergreens in action.
In three years, they progressed from the regional competition to Super League A under the guidance of Alastair Siegelaar and his team.
Siegelaar was appointed as the Director of Coaching at VDE with Phil Cronje, former coach of Hamiltons and SK-Walmers, as the new head coach. Cronje will be assisted by Gerard Matroos, Selwyn Ruiters, Regan Marcus and Nathan Barry as technical advisors.
The other newbie in Super A is UWC, who won Super League B at City Park after beating VDE in the final. The students are currently preparing for the Varsity Shield and were the favourites to win Super B after being log leaders for most of the season.
Relegation
VDE and UWC replaced NTK and CPUT who were relegated to Super B. It was no easy road for VDE to progress to Super A as they had to beat Kraaifontein twice in a space of two weeks to qualify and also had to make sure to beat their Nemesis, Hamediehs, in the quarters at home to play Kraaifontein in the semis. Their neighbours Franschhoek was again in action in the play-offs for the fourth time and again fell short at the last hurdle. Since the establishment of VDE in 2017, it has been remarkable to progress from the regional competition to Super A within seven years. The only other team who achieved this was St Georges. They progressed to Super A under the guidance of the late Wilbur Kraak. The side is still one of the teams to reckon with in Super A.
In Super B Macassar, Primrose and Goodwood were promoted from Super C and they replaced Strand, Langa and All Saints, who were relegated to Super C. Strand struggled to be a force in Super C after their performances of the previous year. Macassar battled the past three years to move out of the “cemetery league” as Super C is known in communities because it usually takes a team five years to get out of the league.
They are in the same boat as Franschhoek, who also battled the past three years to move out of Super B and their encounter next year will be one for the books.
In Super C Delft, Violets and Caledonian Roses were promoted from the regional competition and replaced Blue Jets, Masiphumelele and Paarl, which will be in action in the regional competition.
Super League team
- Super League A: Hamiltons, Durbell, Villagers, False Bay, Helderberg, St. Georges, Unimil, Maties, Brackenfell, Kuils River, Ikeys, SK -Walmers, Tygerberg, UWC and VDE.
- Super League B: Kylemore, Kraaifontein, Franschhoek, Belhar, Bellville, Hamlets, Collegians, Hamlets, Vineyards, Hands and Heart, Hamediehs, Macassar, Primrose, Goodwood, NTK and CPUT.
- Super League C: Strand, All Saints, Langa, Atlantis, Gardens, Busy Bees, Eersterivier, Pniel-Villagers, Rangers, Scottsdene-Central, Delft, Violets, Caledonian Roses, Young Peoples and Strand United
