South African teams have benefitted the most from the URC - former RWC finalist
South African rugby teams have significantly benefited from joining the United Rugby Championship, with the Stormers winning the title in 2021/2022 and consistently reaching the finals, while also strategically exposing young talent and managing player welfare through extensive travel. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: Backpagepix
It’s one of the most persistent topics of debate in world rugby - who benefits most from South African teams in the United Rugby Championship (URC)?
In the 2021/2022 season, SA teams entered the URC - formerly the Pro14 - for the first time.
Since the SA sides debuted, only the Stormers (2021/2022) have won the title but have had a representative in the final every season since.
Former Rugby World Cup finalist for England, Anthony Watson, acknowledged the positive influence of the SA teams.
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“Undoubtedly, the nation that's benefited the most from being in that competition is South Africa itself,” Watson told IOL via Grosvenor Sport, who offer odds for the 2026 Six Nations.
“They get to expose their young talent to playing at the top level of European rugby whilst also having the ability to control when their frontline internationals play.”
The scheduling of the URC has always been the main bone of contention, as it means a whole lot more travelling with teams from South Africa, Ireland, Wales, Italy, and Scotland.
It’s often meant that the SA teams who do the most travelling, often select sides that are seen as weaker as the first-choice players have to be rested strategically throughout the long season.
“Sometimes they go away and play two or three games on the road and leave all their internationals at home. So, it's like a welfare piece and being able to care for the long-term implications of playing for their older players whilst also being able to expose young players to really top-level rugby.
“They've benefited the most for sure.”