In a decade’s time, when South African rugby financially has never been healthier, it will all be because of the boldness of South African rugby’s national and franchise leadership to invest their future in Europe and say goodbye to the crazy travel schedule of Super Rugby and the 25 years of weighted disadvantages that restricted so much of the South African challenge.

SA’s front-line four regional powers have finally found a home in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and from next season the spin-off will be participation for three of the four in Europe’s elite Heineken Champions Cup. 

SA’s URC Shield winners, the Stormers, the fourth placed Bulls and the fifth placed Sharks will be a part of the 2022/23 Champions Cup knockout competition. It is a fabulous coontest with so much variety in terms of opposition and it is never the “same old”. ..