EP Rugby releases provisional fixtures for 2015

EP Rugby supporters in Nelson Mandela Bay are in for a feast of top class rugby this year based on the provisional fixtures list recently made available. 

The EP Kings are currently preparing for the Vodacom Cup tournament, which officially kicks off on the weekend of the 21^st of March, with a home match against Kenya at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

 In preparation, the Kings have lined up two pre-season friendlies ahead of the tournament, playing the Cheetahs on the 6^th of March and the Golden Lions on the 14^th of March at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

“We are still waiting on final confirmation on dates and times from SA Rugby, but we now know which teams we will be playing on which weekend,” said EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous.

Crous said the EP Kings will play four of their seven Vodacom Cup matches at home this year, playing against Kenya’s Tusker Simba (21 March), DHL Western Province (11 April), SWD (25 April) and Natal (8 May) at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. Away games include Border (28 March), Free State (18 April) and Boland (2 May).

Supporters can also expect an action packed Currie Cup Premier Division line up, with the Kings once again taking on the top provincial teams as they enter their final preparations for Super Rugby next year.

Crous said they had lined up two mid season friendlies ahead of the tournament, playing DHL Western Province on the 25^th of July and the Vodacom Blue Bulls on the 7^th of August.

The Kings kick off their ABSA Currie Cup campaign with a home game playing against arch rivals, the Emirates Golden Lions, on the weekend of the 15^th of August.

They play a total of five home games in the ABSA Premier Division, including the Emirates Golden Lions (15 August), the Steval Pumas (29 August), the Cell C Sharks (5 September) the Toyota Cheetahs (26 September) and the still to be determined qualifier (17 October).

Away games will be against the Cell C Sharks (22 August), the Emirates Golden Lions (12 September), the Steval Pumas (19 September), DHL Western Province (3 October) and the Vodacom Blue Bulls (10 October).

“Adding to the excitement, both EP U19 and U21 teams have secured their spot in the respective premier divisions, meaning supporters will be treated to two curtain raisers for four out of five home games during the Currie Cup competition,” said Crous.

“This means that our supporters will be treated to a festival of rugby at our Currie Cup home games, with these curtain raisers giving us the opportunity to showcase the amazing up and coming talent of this region,” he said.

Crous also encouraged supporters to show their support for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Varsity Cup team, the NMMU Madibaz, who kick off their 2015 FNB Varsity Cuppresented by Steinhoff campaign on the 16^th of February.