Dylan Bettencourt
Umqhudelwano we-United Rugby Championship (i-URC), okuwumqhudelwano ohlanganisa amaqembu aqhamuka e-Ireland, e-Italy, e-Scotland, e-Wales kanye neNingizimu Afrika, ubuzokwenzeka kuleli njengengxenye ye-African leg yalo mqhudelwano, kodwa ukutholakala kwegciwane elisha le-Covid elibizwa nge-Omicron kuholele ekutheni imidlalo eminingi ihoxiswe.
Nokho i-URC isiqhamuke nesixazululo okuwukuhlela amaqembu aseNingizimu Afrika adlale wodwa kuze kuvumeleke ukuya kwelinye izwe. Ama-derby asekhaya bekumele adlalwe ngoNhlolanja ngonyaka wezi-2022, kodwa alethwe kule mpelasonto.
I-Sharks izokwamukela i-Bulls ngoLwesihlanu ebusuku bese kuthi ama-Stormers abhekane nama-Lions ngoMgqibelo ebusuku.
“Amaqembu ethu amane abesebenza ngokuzikhandla futhi ngokubambisana kanye nabahleli bomqhudelwano sinqume ukuletha ama-derby amabili abehlelelwe ukuthi abe khona ekuqaleni konyaka omusha,” kusho uJurie Roux, ongumphathi (i-CEO) webhola lombhoxo eNingizimu afrika.
Amaqembu amane omhlaba abelibangise eNingizimu Afrika emidlalweni yawo ye-URC azithole ephakathi komdonsiswano we-Covid-19 njengoba emabili kuphela amaqembu akwazile ukugoduka.
I-Cardiff Rugby ne-Munster Rugby basaseNingizimu Afrika njengoba abahleli bemiqhudelwano besazama ukubabuyisela e-Europe.
“I-URC isaqhubeka nokweseka amaqembu amabili asele eNingizimu Afrika. Kunoxhaxha olusabalele lwalabo ababamba iqhaza abasebenza kanzima ukuqinisekisa ukuthi babuya bephephile,” kusho isitatimende se-URC.
UNgqongqoshe wezemidlalo wase-Ireland, uJack Chambers uthe iqembu le-Munster selivunyelwe ukuthi libuyele ekhaya, kodwa ilungu leqembu elingadalulwanga igama elihlolwe latholakala line-Covid-19 lizohlala ehhotela laseKapa kuze kuphele isikhathi sabo sokuhlukaniswa.
Oweqembu le-Munster odlala esayidini kuzofanele abekezele isikhathi sokuvalelwa yedwa izinsuku eziyishumi ngaphambi kokuba abuyele e-Ireland.
Umthombo wesithombe: @SARugbyMag