The Springboks will kick-off the new format competition against the Pumas when the all-new “The Castle Rugby Championship” launches in 2012 – the replacement for the Tri-Nations series, SANZAR announced on Tuesday.
An agreement confirming Argentina’s participation was signed in Auckland recently by the SANZAR Joint Venture partners after several months of negotiations with the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The new-look tournament has been given a new name and a new fixture line-up with two Tests on each match day. Each participant plays home and away matches against each of the other three participants.
The Boks open their inaugural Castle Rugby Championship campaign against the Pumas in South Africa on August 18 before taking part in the first Castle Rugby Championship match on the South American continent a week later. The match venues will be announced in due course.
Here is the schedule for the games:
18 August 2012:
- Australia vs New Zealand
- South Africa vs Argentina
25 August 2012:
- New Zealand vs Australia
- Argentina vs South Africa
1 September 2012:
- Travel Bye
8 September 2012:
- Australia vs South Africa
- New Zealand vs Argentina
15 September 2012:
- Australia vs Argentina
- New Zealand vs South Africa
22 September 2012:
- Travel Bye
29 September 2012:
- South Africa vs Australia
- Argentina vs New Zealand
6 October 2012:
- South Africa vs New Zealand
- Argentina vs Australia
What do you guys think about the match schedule?
In other words, who travels easiest, and who has to do the hardest yards.
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Never mind the travel, that logo is making me pretty tired, looks like something done in the eighties. It’s about a catchy as the ‘Funeral March’ at a wedding
….and that dreadful name, surely they could have come up with something a bit catchier than that
Back to the rugby, all the away games in a row – tough times for the boks
I see the promotional work around trying to get the public excited about the Pumas is at full steam ahead – Greg Peters – “The Pumas,as they showed at the world cup, play an exciting and different brand of rugby” (Dan Retief) – yeah, like the second league!
I hear that Conrad Jantjies is now also off to France – wow, when will the exodus end
7 @ Just For Kicks:
Interesting, where did you see that?
8@ grootblousmile:ruggaworld.com
Honestly, I like the idea of the travel bye’s. And flying from East to West, which is what I presume the Boks will do, doesn’t take that much out of you.
Honeslty, I think the Boks and Argies have it nice too be playing at home in the last two weeks of this long and tough comp.
@ Just For Kicks:
Who the hell cares about the name or the logo. It could be called the Fantastic 4 with a rip off of the X-Men logo for what its worth.
Anyway, glad Castle got the sponsorship. Its a name that suits rugby. At least more than Vodacom or Lilette.
@ Just For Kicks:
Honestly, even without the promo cogs turning, I am rating the Pumas. Sure they won’t win it in their first few years. But just give it some time. 20 years and they could be as much of a force in world rugby as Aus or France.
Interesting times, or more of the same (results) for the Bokke?
“Travel too strenuous”, “Too long away from home”, “The boys miss their families” etc etc.
If we don’t get the right coaching staff we may as well stay at home and give the opposition “walkovers” on the away legs.
Recent history says we just can’t compete in Australasia, and believe me, the Agries won’t be a walkover in South America.
A lot of comments have been made about our travel schedule, but rather a long tour than having to fly back and forth. The guys are professional players and must understand that touring is part of an international rugby players’ life.
If the Lions could win in Australasia this year after last year’s season and traditional victory, then the Bokke should be able to do that, but obviously the coach will have a big influence on the touring ethos and attitude, and the senior players will also have to guide the youngsters. There will have to be a mixture of training, organised excursions and functions, plus a fair amount of free time.
Looks like it is Deon Carsons who is signing for the Stormers
@ Greenpoint-Gunner:You’re quite right, to a degree. To rugby fans, who gives a damn, but surely the use of the logo’s/names, etc. are like ads. There to promote the game, and to bring new followers into the game. If I saw an ad like that, I really don’t think it would inspire me to have a look at the event. It’s like a bad poster advertising a movie, or bad packaging, it does the product no favours at all. In my mind, the logo they are using, even dulls the Castle logo, and again, that is not good for the Castle brand. But do agree, I don’t think Lillets Rugby Championships would go down too well, so thanks SAB for that!
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