Next year’s Currie Cup is set to have a new format and be brought forward in the rugby calendar.

According to the Sunday Times, the teams will be split into two pools and play a double round of league matches before the playoffs. This year’s format, which saw seven teams play just a single round of league games, was heavily criticised.

‘From what I understand, we will play in two pools,’ Cheetahs coach Franco Smith told the newspaper. ‘The Super Rugby franchises will compete in one pool, which gives the whole thing a different look. The Pro14 franchises will play in the other, so that will be us and the Kings, as well as Griquas and the Pumas.

‘There will be a double round before we have the knockout stages and the final.

‘It looks like we will start [the Currie Cup] on 23 July and finish on 9 September. That hasn’t been confirmed yet.’

Next season’s Pro14 is set to start on 27 September, because of the World Cup, which would allow the Cheetahs to play their best team in both competitions.

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