SA Rugby Confirmed As Shareholder In Vodacom United Rugby Championship
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) has confirmed that the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) has officially become the league’s sixth shareholder, joining the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Welsh rugby unions, along with CVC Capital Partners, in Pro Rugby Championship DAC, the company that operates the competition.
SA Rugby’s journey with the URC began in 2018, when the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings entered the then-PRO14. This relationship deepened in 2021, with the launch of the URC and the inclusion of South Africa’s four leading franchises — the Lions, DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and Vodacom Bulls.
Since then, South Africa’s participation has been a cornerstone of the competition’s growth, helping drive record broadcast audiences, digital engagement, and match attendances.
A milestone moment
Martin Anayi, CEO of the United Rugby Championship, praised South Africa’s impact and said this step had always been part of the plan:
“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.
From a fan’s perspective, nothing changes. But from a business standpoint, our URC team will now work even more closely with South African teams, partners, broadcasters, and stakeholders to continue elevating the league. This alignment across both hemispheres will create day-to-day efficiencies and open the door to exploring new ideas at a faster pace.
On behalf of our chairman, David Lynn, and the rest of our board, we extend our thanks to Rian Oberholzer, Mark Alexander, and the team at SA Rugby for reaching this point. Our five territories remain fully committed to the URC’s vision, and we look forward to building on the successes of the past four years.”
SA Rugby celebrates its northern hemisphere journey
For SA Rugby, the announcement marks the completion of a long-term vision that began nearly a decade ago.
“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,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“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 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. It has been good for our rugby and we look forward to many more years of success.”
Commercial support
The URC and SA Rugby also expressed gratitude to the competition’s key commercial stakeholders in South Africa — Vodacom (title sponsor), SuperSport (broadcast partner), as well as Qatar Airways, SA Breweries, and Outsurance — whose support has been instrumental in transforming the competition and expanding its global footprint.
About the Vodacom URC
Established in 2001 as the Celtic League, the URC has evolved into one of rugby’s most competitive and diverse leagues, uniting 16 teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. Teams compete across an 18-round regular season, with the top eight qualifying for the Play-Offs and ultimately the Vodacom URC Grand Final.
The league has become a true global powerhouse, drawing an accumulated broadcast audience of more than 175 million and nearing 1 billion digital video views since 2021. With its blend of fierce rivalries, international diversity, and dynamic style, the URC has established itself as rugby’s challenger brand — unpredictable, exciting, and deeply connected to its communities.