The 2012 Currie Cup Rugby tournament's Premier Division will be contested by six teams instead of the usual eight Currie Cup teams.

The decision was taken last year by the president's council of the South African Rugby Union.

SARU president Oregan Hoskins confirmed to newspaper Rapport that the provincial unions' presidents agreed last year to change the format of the Currie Cup Premier Division for 2012 from eight to six teams.

The decision was made as Super Rugby season is expected to finish in August in 2012 as there is a break in June for the June International tours.

After the first season of the Six-team Currie Cup format the last placed Premier Division Currie Cup team will face a play off with the winner of the First Division in a promotion-relegation match.

The Currie Cup is the word's oldest running Rugby tournament and the current champions are the Natal Sharks.