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South Africa Takes its Seat at the URC Table

Big news from the United Rugby Championship this week: South African rugby has officially joined the URC boardroom as the league’s sixth shareholder. That means SA Rugby now sits alongside the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Welsh unions, as well as CVC Capital Partners, as part of the company that runs the league.


South Africa’s northern hemisphere adventure started back in 2018, when the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings dipped their toes into the PRO14 waters. Fast forward to 2021, and the Vodacom URC launched, bringing in the Lions, Stormers, Sharks, and Bulls to shake things up.

Since then, the league has exploded in popularity, more eyes on the games, more clicks online, and more fans filling stadiums, and you can bet South African rugby has been at the heart of that growth. A huge shout out needs to go to their social media team too who have taken to growing the game rather than gate keeping and work with creators such as Rugby Punt-it to bring you as much great content as possible with their URCGO program.


URC CEO Martin Anayi had plenty of praise for the milestone:

“There’s no doubt South African rugby has made a massive impact on our league. Bringing them in as shareholders has always been part of the plan. Back in 2018 and 2021, SA Rugby showed real guts and vision by switching up where their teams competed, and now we’re seeing the results.
For fans, it’s business as usual on the field. But behind the scenes, this makes it easier for our URC team to work closely with South African teams, broadcasters, sponsors, and partners. It’s all about speeding up ideas and making things happen across both hemispheres.
On behalf of our chairman David Lynn and the board, thanks to Rian Oberholzer, Mark Alexander, and the SA Rugby crew for making this happen. The five territories remain fully committed to the URC’s vision, and we’re pumped to build on everything we’ve achieved so far.”

The URC has been nothing short of a revolution for South African rugby. Playing in a northern hemisphere league has pushed the teams to raise their standards, creating more intense, high-stakes matches week in and week out. The competition’s mix of styles, conditions, and rivalries has sharpened players, tested coaches, and given fans a level of drama and excitement that domestic rugby alone couldn’t deliver. I don't think any of us are looking back and longing for the days of Super Rugby.


Beyond the on-field action, being part of the URC has opened doors for growth off the pitch. From increased exposure to international audiences to stronger commercial partnerships, South African rugby has benefited from new revenue streams, better broadcast coverage, and opportunities to showcase the sport to the world. It’s not just about wins and losses anymore, it’s about building a sustainable, high-profile platform for rugby in South Africa.


For fans, it’s meant epic clashes against some of Europe’s toughest teams (through the Champions and Challenge Cups), fresh rivalries, and moments that will be remembered for years. With SA Rugby officially a shareholder, there’s an even greater chance to shape the league’s future, influence decisions, and ensure South African rugby continues to thrive at the highest level.


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