Could this radical idea bring the glory days back to the Currie Cup?
Poor attendance Very few people attended last weekend's Currie Cup clash between the Lions and Sharks at Ellis Park on Johannesburg. Photo: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix
Image: Alche Greeff/BackpagePix
Rugby YouTuber and TikTok content creator Jordan Buhrs has floated an idea on his channel that could resurrect the Currie Cup.
South Africa’s domestic competition kicked off last weekend with teams struggling for attendance.
In the United Rugby Championship era, the Currie Cup has struggled for relevance. In stark contrast to previous years, last year’s final between the Lions and the Sharks at Ellis Park did not attract a full house.
Buhrs, in a video posted on his TikTok channel Jordan Buhrs Rugby, suggested the tournament deserves a major shake-up to build up the hype and bring back its glory years.
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“I’ve been thinking about it, and here’s my idea: This year’s Currie Cup has seven rounds, followed by semi-finals and the final. But how do we turn it into a spectacle that fans can’t resist?
“I think we should take a page out of the HSBC SVNS Series playbook. Instead of the traditional home-and-away format, imagine this: seven stadiums, seven provinces, seven rugby festivals. Each round, all teams gather at the same stadium for four back-to-back games,” Buhrs said.
“A true Super Saturday. Picture this: Round 1 at Ellis Park with four games in a row. Round 2 at Loftus, Round 3 in Nelspruit, Round 4 in the Eastern Cape, and so on. Once the pool stages are done, then we return to the traditional way, with the semi-finals and final being hosted by the team who earned the home advantage.
“By creating a travelling rugby festival with music, food, fan zones, and non-stop action, we could give the Currie Cup the hype and attendance it deserves. It’s about making every round unmissable.”
IOL Sport