South African Rugby Union (SARU) CEO Rian Oberholzer believes the introduction of the proposed Club World Cup could be the push South African teams need to take the Champions Cup more seriously.
In recent seasons, South Africa’s top sides—the Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers—have been criticized for placing greater emphasis on the United Rugby Championship (URC). This often means resting key players during Champions Cup fixtures, which some argue has contributed to their poor performances. None of the three teams, all finishing with five points, progressed beyond the Champions Cup pool stages. In contrast, all have secured spots in the URC quarter-finals, finishing strong in their league standings.
Oberholzer Welcomes Club World Cup Idea
Oberholzer is optimistic about the Club World Cup concept, viewing it as a potential way to narrow the gap between northern and southern hemisphere rugby clubs.
However, he is clear that there is still much work to be done before the tournament becomes a reality.
“The financial side of things still needs to be worked out,” Oberholzer said. “So far, only estimates have been made, but if those figures hold true, the Club World Cup could be financially rewarding.”
He added,
“No formal structures are in place yet. No broadcasting deals or sponsorship agreements have been secured, so the true financial impact remains to be seen.”
Oberholzer cautioned that the announcement is a bit premature, with many important details still unresolved.
Champions Cup Leaders Share Optimism
Meanwhile, Dominic McKay, chairman of the Champions Cup, spoke positively about recent talks surrounding the future of the sport and the Club World Cup project.
“We’ve been discussing this idea at EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) for the past two to three years, working through the logistics to see how it could be delivered,” McKay said.
He continued,
“Recently, we’ve had productive meetings with our Board and General Assembly—which includes representatives from three leagues and seven unions—and everyone is united in the goal to bring a World Club Cup to life through EPCR.”
