Despatch and Roodepoort will open the 2014 edition of the Cell C Community Cup Easter Play-offs on Thursday at 11h15 at Outeniqua Park in George where the battle begins between South Africa’s top eight club rugby teams for the historic Gold Cup.

GAP Management Despatch (the defending champions), Roodepoort, Western Province side Hamilton’s, Jonsson College Rovers, Kempston Old Selbornians, Refreshhh! Centurion, Roses United and Rustenburg Impala will participate in the Cell C Community Cup Easter Play-offs, which reaches its climax with the Cup Final on Monday, April 21.

The matches will take place over three days; Thursday, Saturday and Monday respectively, and all 12 fixtures will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Four of the teams participated in the inaugural tournament last year, whilst Hamilton’s, Kempston Old Selbornians, Refreshhh! Centurion and Roses United will make their debut in the Easter Play-offs over the next few days.

“It is fitting that the defending champions will kick off the second edition of the Cell C Community Cup,” said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.

“This will add to the excitement around the event and the atmosphere at Outeniqua Park where fans will have the luxury of seeing the best domestic club teams in action. In the last few months 20 teams have gone head-to-head for places in the Cell C Community Cup Easter Play-offs and the top teams will now have the opportunity to prove that they have what it takes to be crowned the champions.

“SARU and tournament hosts, South Western Districts Rugby, have been working hard in the last few months to ensure that the tournament is a success, so this is an exciting time for us and for club rugby in South Africa,” explained Roux.

Jonsson College Rovers, the 2013 runners-up, will meet newcomers Kempston Old Selbornians in the second match at 13h30, whilst Roses United will take on Rustenburg Impala at 15h45 and Hamilton’s go up against Refreshhh! Centurion at 18h00 in the final match of the day.

“I wish all eight teams good luck for the tournament, and I hope the sides participating in the Cell C Community Cup Easter Play-offs for the first time will enjoy this experience,” added Roux.

“With all the matches being broadcast on SuperSport this is a fantastic opportunity for the teams to showcase their talent and the quality of club rugby in South Africa.”

2014 Cell C Community Cup Easter Play-offs fixtures – Day One (Thursday, April 17):

11h15: Gap Management Despatch v Roodepoort
13h30: Jonsson College Rovers v Kempston Old Selbornians
15h45: Roses United v Rustenburg Impala
18h00: Hamilton’s v Refreshhh! Centurion