South African Rugby took a major step in its northern hemisphere journey on Wednesday, becoming the sixth shareholder in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

The URC confirmed that the South African Rugby Union has joined the Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh unions, along with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, as a shareholder in Pro Rugby Championship DAC, the company that operates the competition.

The move formalises a relationship that began in 2018 when the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings entered the then-PRO14. Three years later, the rebranded United Rugby Championship welcomed the Lions, DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, cementing South Africa’s presence in the league.

Since that expansion, the URC has reported steady growth in broadcast audiences, digital engagement and match attendances. South Africa’s four franchises have lifted the league’s competitiveness, with four different winners emerging in the first four seasons.

“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 URC chief executive Martin Anayi. “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.”

Anayi emphasised that while fans will not notice immediate changes, the alignment brings business advantages. “Our URC team will now work even more closely with South African teams, partners, broadcasters and stakeholders to continue elevating the league,” he said. “This alignment across both hemispheres will create day-to-day efficiencies and open the door to exploring new ideas at a faster pace.”

South African Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer hailed the development as a landmark moment. “This is a red-letter day for South African rugby and marks the completion of a journey that began eight years ago when we first contemplated a northern hemisphere future,” Oberholzer said. “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.”

Oberholzer pointed to the competitive balance of the league as proof of its strength. “The competition has gone from strength to strength, and with four different winners in the first four seasons of our participation, it has proved itself as arguably the most competitive league in rugby,” he said.

The URC and SA Rugby also thanked key South African commercial partners for their role in the competition’s success. Vodacom, SuperSport, Qatar Airways, SA Breweries and Outsurance have all contributed to the league’s growth in the country.

Founded in 2001 as the Celtic League, the United Rugby Championship now features 16 teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. Its 18-round regular season leads into an eight-team playoff and the BKT URC Grand Final.

The competition has become one of rugby’s most global platforms, with cumulative broadcast audiences surpassing 175 million and digital video views expected to pass 1 billion this season.

For South African rugby, Wednesday’s announcement signalled not just inclusion, but full partnership in the sport’s evolving landscape.

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