The 2013 Fidelity Security club rugby Premier Division competition kicks off with a bang on Friday evening with Harlequins up against Varsity College in the curtain-raiser to the Vodacom Super Rugby clash between The Sharks and the visiting Crusaders side from New Zealand at KINGS PARK. Indeed it is always great to see the clubs in action in The Shark Tank.

The game scheduled for a 4.50pm kick-off sees two sides of unknown quantities facing each other, which should make for an interesting contest. Both sides also have new faces on their respective coaching staff with former Jonsson College Rovers Second’s XV coaches Sam Vermaak and Grant Simpson taking over the reins of the First XV at the Durban North club and we wish them well.

In the games on Saturday, Rovers who meet their hosts Marshall Security Crusaders, will have their work cut out after a hectic Easter Weekend in George at the play-offs of the Cell C Community Cup competition, which saw the 2012 Moor Cup champions being narrowly beaten 26-24 by GAP Despatch from the Eastern Province Kings in a gruelling final. Undoubtedly the tournament would have left the KZNRU champions battered and bruised and they now have barely enough time to regroup. Certainly they will be hurting and smarting after their narrow loss and will want to rectify a few of their floors that were noticeable in their gut-wrenching loss against the side from Uitenhage.

In the other games, SA Home Loans Durban Collegians will travel to Empangeni to play Thanda Waterstone Zululand Rhinos with their new coaching staff who have another former Rovers coach in the mix, Robin Swanepoel, now with his old club’s neighbours, while Ricoh Maritzburg Collegians are at home against FNB UKZN Impi at Woodburn. All the games kick off at 3.30pm.

In the opening rounds of the South Section First Division, Hillcrest entertain Ballito Dolphins tomorrow evening at Shongweni with the kick-off at 8.30pm, while on Saturday, Richards Bay host Amanzimtoti and Jaguars are at home to Westville.

In the North Section, Volksrust travel to Vryheid and Piet Retief face the Highlanders in Newcastle with all the games kicking off at 3.30pm.

In the Under 20 ‘A’ league, Jaguars meet their visitors Durban Collegians tomorrow evening at 8pm while on Saturday, Quins are at home to Varsity College, Rovers travel across the Umgeni to meet Crusaders and Maritzburg Varsity entertain their Durban counterparts with all games scheduled for a 3.30pm start.

- Jos Robson