The Currie Cup will return to a strength-versus-strength format this year following a decision by a special general council of SA Rugby on Friday.

The Premier Division of the Currie Cup will be cut from nine to seven teams, with the winners of an eight-team First Division (including a representative team from Namibia) set to play a promotion challenge series against the last-placed Premier Division team.

The Boland Cavaliers and EP Kings, who came seventh and ninth on last year's log respectively, have been demoted to the First Division, with the Pumas, who came eighth, staying up because they had the best record of the bottom three sides in the competition over the past five years.

The EP Kings are now the only South African Super Rugby anchor union in the Currie Cup First Division. They are joined there by franchise partners, SWD and Border.

The new format will see the return of midweek rugby, with each of the teams scheduled to play a number of weekday matches during the season.

The Currie Cup Premier Division will include the Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Western Province, Sharks, Blue Bulls, Griquas and Pumas.

The Currie Cup First Division will feature Boland, the Griffons, Valke, Leopards, Eastern Province, Border, SWD and the Weltwitschias from Namibia. They will play a single round.

The tournament kicks off on 12 August, the week after the final of Super Rugby, while the final will takes place on 28 October.

Photo: Anne Laing/HM Images