The Assupol Super Club Series Kicks-Off

The Assupol Super Club Series, played for the fifth consecutive year, kicks-off at various venues across Gauteng, Limpopo and the North West province on Saturday, February 12, 2011. The Super Club Series is an annual club rugby series that pits more than a thousand amateur clubs players linked to provincial sides in a five week competition.

The amateur rugby tournament has been expanded this year to include 20 clubs, across provincial borders, and will culminate on March 26. Participants include top clubs of the Blue Bulls (7), Limpopo (1), Pumas (2), Falcons (5), Leopards (3) and the Lions (2).

Supported by title sponsor, Assupol Life Limited, the Super Series affords 1760 club players from top clubs across the country, the opportunity of playing rugby at a higher level of competition than afforded by the leagues on offer.

Tournament mechanics

Unlike the Varsity Cup, where only first teams are involved, the Assupol Super Club Series provides for four teams from each club (the first, second, third and U21 teams) to compete against four pools of five clubs. In the semi-final and final matches, the top of the log teams in each pool will compete against each other for the title of the Assupol Club Series Champion 2011.

Assupol Life is actively involved in sports development at grass-roots level.

“We believe that sportsmen should be properly trained and empowered from the early stages of their youth, in order to create a solid foundation of future senior rugby teams,” said Gert Wessels Group Sales Director. “As part of our commitment to playing a major role in sports development, Assupol Life will provide financial sponsorship to each club participating in the tournament. And because the correct quality of adjudication is included as a key factor in sports development, we will also make a contribution towards the participating referees,” Wessels concluded.

Semi-final match of the Series will take place on March 19 and finals on March 26, 2011.

Since the inaugural competition five years ago, clubs from the Blue Bulls have reigned supreme, with the Centurion first team successfully defending its two-year title against the Pretoria Police. The Pretoria Police will most likely attempt to overturn the results of the previous two years. The Silver Falcons (semi-finalists in the 2010 Carlton last year), Naka Bulle and Harlequins are not to be discounted. Brits and Oostelike Eagles from the Bulls will be newcomers to the Super series.

The Assupol Super Club Series has through the years managed to narrow the gap between amateur and professional rugby. The practice of contracting junior players often creates the perception that without a contract, they will be unable to get into the system. The Super Series has become essential in the drive towards sustaining and developing club rugby in South Africa and identifying burgeoning talent.

The tournament should be a huge motivator for players, not only from the 20 clubs in this year's competition, but also to others looking to make their mark in the sport.