The Council rejected a proposal from Eastern Province that they be incorporated into the top-flight immediately. However, Council approved a motion that the top South African team in the First Division be automatically promoted to the Premier Division at the end of the 2022 Carling Currie Cup season, creating an eight-team Premier Division.
In addition, the promoted team will be entrenched for two seasons (until the end of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup season) when the bottom team in the Premier Division will be automatically relegated in favour of the top South African team in the First Division, which will also be entrenched for two seasons before promotion/relegation at the end of the 2026 season.
The 2022 competition will kick off on the weekend of 14/15 January. The unusual kick off has been prompted by the realignment of the South African domestic rugby calendar to dovetail with the northern hemisphere season following the expanded entry of four teams into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The change means that the Carling Currie Cup final will be played on 25 June, which will mark the end of the season for senior professional players appearing in the Carling Currie Cup and the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The Carling Currie Cup First Division fixtures will be confirmed in the New Year.
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 2022(all fixtures are subject to change; venues and kick-off times to be confirmed)
Friday/Saturday 14/15 January
- DHL Western Province vs Sigma Lions
- Toyota Cheetahs vs Tafel Lager Griquas
- New Nation Pumas vs Vodacom Bulls
Wednesday 19 January
- DHL Western Province vs Vodacom Bulls
- Cell C Sharks vs Tafel Lager Griquas
- Sigma Lions vs New Nation Pumas
Wednesday 2 February
- Cell C Sharks vs DHL Western Province
- Vodacom Bulls vs Toyota Cheetahs
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs New Nation Pumas
Friday/Saturday 18/19 February
- Sigma Lions vs Cell C Sharks
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs DHL Western Province
- New Nation Pumas vs Toyota Cheetahs
Friday/Saturday 4/5 March
- Toyota Cheetahs vs Sigma Lions
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs Vodacom Bulls
- New Nation Pumas vs Cell C Sharks
Wednesday 16 March
- Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks
- Toyota Cheetahs vs DHL Western Province
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs Sigma Lions
Wednesday 23 March
- DHL Western Province vs New Nation Pumas
- Cell C Sharks vs Toyota Cheetahs
- Sigma Lions vs Vodacom Bulls
Wednesday 6 April
- Vodacom Bulls vs DHL Western Province
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs Cell C Sharks
- New Nation Pumas vs Sigma Lions
Friday/Saturday 15/16 April
- DHL Western Province vs Toyota Cheetahs
- Cell C Sharks vs Vodacom Bulls
- Sigma Lions vs Tafel Lager Griquas
Friday/Saturday 6/7 May
- Cell C Sharks vs New Nation Pumas
- Sigma Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs
- Vodacom Bulls vs Tafel Lager Griquas
Friday/Saturday 13/14 May
- Vodacom Bulls vs Sigma Lions
- Toyota Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks
- New Nation Pumas vs DHL Western Province
Friday/Saturday 27/28 May
- Sigma Lions vs DHL Western Province
- Vodacom Bulls vs New Nation Pumas
- Tafel Lager Griquas vs Toyota Cheetahs
Friday/Saturday 3/4 June
- DHL Western Province vs Tafel Lager Griquas
- Cell C Sharks vs Sigma Lions
- Toyota Cheetahs vs New Nation Pumas
Friday/Saturday 10/11 June
- DHL Western Province vs Cell C Sharks
- Toyota Cheetahs vs Vodacom Bulls
- New Nation Pumas vs Tafel Lager Griquas
18 June
- Carling Currie Cup Semi-Finals
25 June
2 July