The South African Rugby Union has officially become a shareholder in the United Rugby Championship, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s global expansion, the league announced Wednesday.
SA Rugby now joins the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Welsh rugby unions, alongside CVC Capital Partners, as the sixth shareholder in Pro Rugby Championship DAC, the company that operates the international competition.
The development represents the culmination of a strategic partnership that began in 2018 when the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings first joined what was then known as the PRO14. The relationship deepened substantially in 2021 with the launch of the Vodacom URC, which welcomed four additional South African franchises: the Lions, DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and Vodacom Bulls.
Dramatic growth fuels partnership
Since the South African teams’ integration, the championship has experienced remarkable expansion across multiple metrics, including broadcast viewership, digital engagement, and stadium attendance figures.
“There is no doubt about the hugely positive impact South African rugby has had on our league, and confirmation of their addition as a shareholder was always part of the roadmap,” said Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO.
Anayi emphasized that the partnership reflects South African rugby’s forward-thinking approach. “In 2018 and again in 2021, South African rugby showed vision and courage in reshaping where their teams competed, and this milestone is a testament to that foresight.”
While fans can expect continuity in the competition format, the new shareholding structure promises enhanced business collaboration between hemispheres. The arrangement will enable closer cooperation between URC operations and South African teams, partners, broadcasters, and stakeholders.
“This alignment across both hemispheres will create day-to-day efficiencies and open the door to exploring new ideas at a faster pace,” Anayi explained.
‘Red Letter Day’ for South African rugby
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer described the development as a “red letter day” for South African rugby, representing the completion of an eight-year journey toward northern hemisphere competition.
“There have been doubters over the years, but the vision we shared with Martin Anayi and the URC team has now come to pass, and we look forward to growing the competition as full partners with our colleagues in the north,” Oberholzer said.
The CEO highlighted the championship’s competitive balance, noting that four different teams have claimed victory in the first four seasons of South African participation, establishing the URC as “arguably the most competitive league in rugby.”
Both organisations expressed gratitude to key South African commercial partners whose support has been instrumental in the competition’s transformation. Title sponsor Vodacom, broadcast partner SuperSport, and additional sponsors Qatar Airways, SA Breweries, and OUTsurance have provided crucial backing for the league’s expansion.
The shareholding announcement solidifies South Africa’s commitment to northern hemisphere rugby competition and sets the stage for continued growth in what has become one of rugby’s premier international championships.
