EP must retain its exciting, revamped strength vs strength Top 12 format for club rugby to prosper, Progress head coach Elroy Ligman says.
Ligman gave the slimmed-down format a thumbs up ahead of the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 semifinals this weekend.
The old format, where all 32 teams played in one division, proved to be unwieldy and produced mismatches, which tarnished club rugby’s image.
After a round of 22 league matches for each team, the season reaches a climax on Saturday when the knockout phase kicks off with two mouth-watering showdowns.
Champions Gardens face arch-rivals Progress at the Central Field in Kariega, and Harlequins travel to the Sport Complex in Humansdorp to face Kruisfontein United.
There were tight finishes in several Top 12 matches in 2024, with the outcome hanging in the balance until the final moments.
“The Top 12 has proved to be very interesting this season,” Ligman said.
“It is nice to play strong teams every week and you know you have to perform at your best otherwise you will lose.
“Joubertina stepped up against us and we lost to them earlier in the season.
“So Top 12 means better rugby for the region and it will go from strength to strength.
“I think EP should stick to this for the next couple of years because it is working and teams have to be on point every week.
“Playing strength vs strength every week will improve the competition and make it better.
“It is not that you want to write some teams off, but they still have a lot of learning to do in the Adams Cup or lower leagues before they make the step up.
“Now it is tough for them to make the step up and it can’t be good for morale if your club is losing by big margins every week.”
The expanded 36-team three-tier Grand Challenge saw clubs playing in the Top 12, Middle 12 and Bottom 12 divisions.
There is promotion and relegation between all three Grand Challenge divisions and the top two Adams Cup teams have been given the incentive of promotion to the 12-team Grand Challenge bottom division.
The new format offers ambitious clubs throughout the Eastern Cape a pathway to climb the ladder from the lower leagues.
The prospect of being sent down to a lower division or the reward of climbing up to a higher tier ensured there was drama at both ends of the league table right up until the last day of the season.
There are big financial considerations for clubs that can draw bigger crowds to the home games if they play in the upper echelons.
After a lengthy debate, it was agreed by clubs that the Grand Challenge would be expanded from 32 to 36 clubs, with 12 teams competing in each of the three sections (top, middle and bottom).
There was some opposition to enlarging the competition to 36 clubs because some believed it could lower standards.
In 2023, all 32 clubs competed for the trophy and they were split into four groups before the knockout rounds.
It is hoped the new format will make it easier for club players to make the step up if they are called to play for the EP Elephants Currie Cup First Division team.
HeraldLIVE
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