SA Rugby Becomes A Shareholder 

In Vodacom United Rugby Championship

The United Rugby Championship (URC) confirmed that the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) has officially become the league’s sixth shareholder. They now join the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Welsh rugby unions, along with CVC Capital Partners, as shareholders in Pro Rugby Championship DAC, the company that operates the league.

SA Rugby’s involvement with the competition dates back to 2018, when the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings joined the PRO14. In 2021, the launch of the URC welcomed South Africa’s four major franchises – the Lions, DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and Vodacom Bulls – marking a new era for the tournament.

Since then, the Vodacom URC has achieved remarkable growth in broadcast audiences, digital engagement, and matchday attendances, with South African rugby playing a pivotal role in this success.

URC CEO Martin Anayi said:

“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. 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.”

He added that, from a fan perspective, nothing changes immediately, but closer collaboration with South African teams, partners, and broadcasters will allow the league to innovate and grow faster.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer hailed the moment as a “red-letter day” for South African rugby:

“This marks the completion of a journey that began eight years ago when we first contemplated a northern hemisphere future. 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.”

The URC and SA Rugby also expressed gratitude to key South African commercial partners – title sponsor Vodacom, broadcast partner SuperSport, as well as Qatar Airways, SA Breweries, and Outsurance – for their role in supporting the competition’s growth.

About the United Rugby Championship
The URC is one of rugby’s most competitive and diverse leagues, bringing together 16 teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. Since its rebrand in 2021, the Vodacom URC has become a global force in professional rugby, attracting more than 175 million broadcast viewers and driving over 1 billion digital video views.