South African rugby fans have been scratching their heads for years wondering why their top teams—Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers—never seem to give the Champions Cup their full attention.
While these sides thrive in the United Rugby Championship (URC), they often fall short when it comes to Europe’s elite competition. Now, that might be about to change.
According to SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer, the upcoming Club World Cup could be the wake-up call South Africa’s teams need to truly commit to the Champions Cup.
South African Teams Have a Champions Cup Problem
It’s no secret—South Africa’s franchises have been accused of treating the Champions Cup like a second-tier competition.
Despite having strong squads, teams like the Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers have often rested key players during Champions Cup fixtures, clearly putting their energy into the URC instead.
The results speak for themselves. None of the three teams made it past the Champions Cup pool stages this season.
All three ended with just five points each and missed out on the knockouts entirely.
Yet, in the URC, they’ve thrived—clinching second, third, and fifth in the standings, and now heading into the quarter-finals.
Club World Cup Could Be the Game Changer
Oberholzer believes that a Club World Cup might finally provide the motivation these teams need to take European competitions more seriously.
If qualification into the Club World Cup is linked to Champions Cup success, teams might no longer have the luxury of choosing one competition over the other.
“I think this will force our teams to approach the Champions Cup with the seriousness it deserves,” Oberholzer said.
But, he admitted, there’s still a long way to go before anything is official.
Money Matters Are Still Murky
While the idea of a Club World Cup is generating excitement, the financial picture isn’t clear yet.
“The financial aspect is something that still needs to be figured out,” Oberholzer explained.
“We’ve only seen projections at this point, but if they’re accurate, this could be a big win for all involved.”
Right now, there are no formal structures, no broadcasting deals, and no sponsorships locked in.
That means the real financial impact of the tournament can’t be measured yet.
Oberholzer even admitted that the announcement may be a bit premature, since so many key details are still being worked out.
EPCR Is On Board and Ready to Roll
Despite the early stage of development, excitement is building behind the scenes.
Dominic McKay, chairman of the Champions Cup, confirmed that talks are well underway.
“This is something we’ve been discussing at EPCR for the last two or three years,” McKay said.
“Now we’re really starting to bring the vision together.”
He added that recent meetings with their board and general assembly have all been overwhelmingly positive, with stakeholders from multiple leagues and seven rugby unions eager to make the Club World Cup a reality.
What Could This Mean for South African Rugby?
If everything falls into place, South African clubs may no longer be able to ignore the Champions Cup without consequences.
A prestigious, global Club World Cup—where only the best teams from competitions like the Champions Cup qualify—would give URC sides a major reason to bring their A-game in Europe.
This shift could ultimately level the playing field between the northern and southern hemispheres, both competitively and commercially.
More eyes on the matches, more revenue, and—most importantly—better rugby all around.