Rescheduling of South African R6 & R7 Home Games

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   Eight United Rugby
Championship games postponed over November and December that were due to take
place in South Africa have been rescheduled for two weekends in March.

These R6 and R7 fixtures
involve the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls who
will host games while Cardiff Rugby, Munster, Scarlets and Zebre Parma will all
travel to South Africa across the weekends of March 11 and March 18.

The initial postponements centred on travel restrictions caused
by the onset of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and ahead of rescheduling these
games all parties are satisfied with the recommendations of United Rugby
Championship’s Medical Advisory Committee, Sports & Regulatory Committee
and senior management. Additionally, the level of travel restrictions from the
UK, Ireland and Italy to South Africa having been eased for some time and it
has been noted that SA Rugby and their franchises have been operating URC and
Currie Cup fixtures with no disruption so far in 2022.

After review of the
repatriation process that occurred in December, the URC will ensure that
significant on-call measures are in place in the unlikely event of such
circumstances occurring again. Additionally, the league’s direct relationship
with the relative government and health departments has also been strengthened.

The league would like to
express its gratitude to all of the teams involved for their contributions to a
thorough consultation process and to our broadcast partners who have assisted
to the difficult task of scheduling these fixtures across Guinness Six Nations
weekends.

Martin Anayi, CEO, United Rugby Championship, said: “I would
like to say special thanks to the teams, broadcasters and support staff
involved in rescheduling these games. These fixtures hold a huge significance
in South Africa who are eagerly awaiting the first visit of URC teams to their
stadiums which have not hosted international opponents since early 2020. 

“Having been on the ground alongside other members of the URC
management team in December when these games were postponed, we were fully
aware of the circumstances that isolation presented. Player welfare remains
paramount to rugby’s success and after much internal consultation we believe
that our clubs and players are confident that contingences now exist that – no
matter how unlikely to be needed – can expedite any future process.

“With 12 of our teams due to tour South Africa before the end of
the season we know they will receive a warm welcome off the pitch. Through a
sporting lens, Covid has thrown a lot at us but we’re very optimistic that the
effort and co-ordination involved to get back on track should reward us with a
lot of entertaining rugby and a tremendous finish to the first URC season.” 

Rescheduled
Fixtures for R6 & R7

Round 6 
Friday, March 11
Cell C Sharks v
Scarlets, KO 17:10 (UK) / 19:10 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Saturday, March
12
Vodacom Bulls v Munster,
KO 14:05 (UK) / 16:05 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Sunday, March 13
Emirates Lions v
Cardiff Rugby, KO 14:00 (UK) / 16:00 (SA)
Live on SuperSport,
S4C, Premier Sports, URC.tv

DHL Stormers v
Zebre Parma, KO TBC
Live on
SuperSport, Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Round 7 
Friday, March 18
Vodacom Bulls v
Scarlets, KO 17:10 (UK) / 19:10 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Saturday, March
19
Emirates Lions v
Munster, KO 12:00 (UK) / 14:00 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, RTÉ, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Cell C Sharks v
Zebre Parma, KO 16:30 (UK) / 18:30 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Sunday, March 20
DHL Stormers v
Cardiff Rugby, KO 12:00 (UK) / 14:00 (SA)
Live on
SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports, URC.tv

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Transvaal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 30-Mar-2016 Status: Offline Points: 40234	Post Options Post Reply Quote Transvaal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rescheduling of South African R6 & R7 Home Games Posted: 13-Feb-2022 at 5:21am
	Eight United Rugby Championship games postponed over November and December that were due to take place in South Africa have been rescheduled for two weekends in March. These R6 and R7 fixtures involve the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls who will host games while Cardiff Rugby, Munster, Scarlets and Zebre Parma will all travel to South Africa across the weekends of March 11 and March 18. The initial postponements centred on travel restrictions caused by the onset of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and ahead of rescheduling these games all parties are satisfied with the recommendations of United Rugby Championship’s Medical Advisory Committee, Sports & Regulatory Committee and senior management. Additionally, the level of travel restrictions from the UK, Ireland and Italy to South Africa having been eased for some time and it has been noted that SA Rugby and their franchises have been operating URC and Currie Cup fixtures with no disruption so far in 2022. After review of the repatriation process that occurred in December, the URC will ensure that significant on-call measures are in place in the unlikely event of such circumstances occurring again. Additionally, the league’s direct relationship with the relative government and health departments has also been strengthened. The league would like to express its gratitude to all of the teams involved for their contributions to a thorough consultation process and to our broadcast partners who have assisted to the difficult task of scheduling these fixtures across Guinness Six Nations weekends. Martin Anayi, CEO, United Rugby Championship, said: “I would like to say special thanks to the teams, broadcasters and support staff involved in rescheduling these games. These fixtures hold a huge significance in South Africa who are eagerly awaiting the first visit of URC teams to their stadiums which have not hosted international opponents since early 2020. “Having been on the ground alongside other members of the URC management team in December when these games were postponed, we were fully aware of the circumstances that isolation presented. Player welfare remains paramount to rugby’s success and after much internal consultation we believe that our clubs and players are confident that contingences now exist that – no matter how unlikely to be needed – can expedite any future process. “With 12 of our teams due to tour South Africa before the end of the season we know they will receive a warm welcome off the pitch. Through a sporting lens, Covid has thrown a lot at us but we’re very optimistic that the effort and co-ordination involved to get back on track should reward us with a lot of entertaining rugby and a tremendous finish to the first URC season.” Rescheduled Fixtures for R6 & R7 Round 6 Friday, March 11 Cell C Sharks v Scarlets, KO 17:10 (UK) / 19:10 (SA) Live on SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, URC.tv Saturday, March 12 Vodacom Bulls v Munster, KO 14:05 (UK) / 16:05 (SA) Live on SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, URC.tv Sunday, March 13 Emirates Lions v Cardiff Rugby, KO 14:00 (UK) / 16:00 (SA) Live on SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports, URC.tv DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma, KO TBC Live on SuperSport, Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC.tv Round 7 Friday, March 18 Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets, KO 17:10 (UK) / 19:10 (SA) Live on SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, URC.tv Saturday, March 19 Emirates Lions v Munster, KO 12:00 (UK) / 14:00 (SA) Live on SuperSport, RTÉ, Premier Sports, URC.tv Cell C Sharks v Zebre Parma, KO 16:30 (UK) / 18:30 (SA) Live on SuperSport, Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC.tv Sunday, March 20 DHL Stormers v Cardiff Rugby, KO 12:00 (UK) / 14:00 (SA) Live on SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports, URC.tv