Cape Town - First Division champions, the SWD Eagles, say they need to play their Currie Cup promotion-relegation match against the Free State Cheetahs before the end of the month.

The Eagles are set to face the Free State Cheetahs in a promotion-relegation match, but according to Netwerk24, they cannot play the game after October 31 because their players will no longer have contracts and medical cover.

The Eagles won the Currie Cup First Division title when they beat the Valke 36-27 in the final in George last Friday, while the Cheetahs finished bottom of the Currie Cup Premier Division.

SA Rugby is yet to confirm a date for the promotion-relegation match and the possibility exists that the match could be scheduled after the Eagles’ requested date.

South Western Districts, like many of the other smaller unions in South Africa, earlier this year opted to contract their players only until October 30. This came after SA Rugby’s decision to cut the budgets of smaller unions by 52%.

The Cheetahs had a torrid Currie Cup, losing all six of their games, but are likely to strengthen their team with PRO14 players when they face the Eagles.