Currie Cup system entrenched until 2011

SA Rugby's President's Council got it right on Wednesday: the strength-versus-strength Currie Cup format has been retained.

In fact, not only has it been retained, but SA Rugby said in a statement after the President's Council meeting in Cape Town that it has been entrenched until 2011. That will please sponsors and broadcasters no end, while it will also mean that the public get to see quality rugby every weekend.

Boland will have a chance of getting into the mix at the expense of the Pumas, who finished last in the Premier Division this year. The two unions will meet in play-offs (home and away) after next year's Vodacom Cup has been decided.

There were moves afoot to change the format back to 14 teams, but staggering interest in this year's competition - with viewership for the final between the Cheetahs and Blue Bulls eclipsing that of any Springbok Test - meant that the President's Council would have angered the broadcasters, sponsors and public.

Competitions committee chairperson Harold Verster had consulted sponsors and broadcasters before tabling his proposals at Wednesday's meeting.

Leading Springboks will again not be involved next year, but the competition was a roaring success this season without them and brought some cheer as South Africa stumbled between crises on the international front.