EP Kings ABSA Currie Cup Fixtures announced

The much anticipated ABSA Currie Cup fixtures have been announced, confirming that the EP Kings will play their first Currie Cup Premier Division match against Western Province at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on the 9th of August.

EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous said the fixtures confirmed that top flight rugby would once again be part of Nelson Mandela Bay’s events calendar.

“We’ll be playing five home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with games against DHL Western Province, the Golden Lions, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and the Steval Pumas,” he said.

Crous said the team would also be playing away games against the Golden Lions, the Blue Bulls, Western Province, the Sharks and the Qualifier from the ABSA Currie Cup 1st Division playoffs, which would be finalised before the tournament began.

The Qualifying Competition, which will be contested by GWK Griquas, the Leopards, SWD Eagles, Boland Cavaliers, Down Touch Griffons, Border Bulldogs and Valke, will kick off on the first weekend of June and run until 19 July, when the top team on the log will be granted entry into the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division.

“Of course our ABSA Currie Cup U19 and U21 fixtures have also been confirmed, and it is really exciting to see the quality of teams that our U19 squad will be playing, having been promoted to the A division at the end of last year’s season,” he said.

The U19 games begin on the 12th of July, with an away game against the Blue Bulls, while the U21s start their competition on the 9th of August, playing an away game against the Valke.

“Having the fixtures in hand makes it real; it is a great opportunity for us and for the region. The players are putting in the hours to prepare for the competition and we are very excited about our return to Currie Cup Premier Division after a 12 year absence, and encourage the rugby fans of the region to come out and support us as we build towards regaining Super Rugby in 2016,” he said.