The Bulls will fly the SA flag in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarters, but it is time for the local franchises to pile their resources into winning the Champions Cup or step away from it.
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Should all four South African franchises qualify for next year’s EPCR Champions Cup via the Top 8 of the United Rugby Championship (URC), they must shift their focus from just competing in the European knockout to fighting for the title.
Over the last couple of seasons, since joining the European sides, there has been no proper attempt from the South African sides to go for the trophy in the elite club competition in the Northern Hemisphere.
They’ve been a breath of fresh air added to the URC, but competing in both tournaments hasn’t happened. The focus has always been on the URC and ending amongst the Top 8 for a play-off spot and a chance to win the championship.
The Stormers have been in two finals and have won one, while the Bulls were beaten at the final hurdle twice already.
So there have been plenty of good showings by the SA franchises since joining the URC shortly after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, there have been no questions asked about their participation in the URC because out of all the finals played since 2022, a South African side has been involved in each one.
More specifically, all three finals were played within the borders of Mzansi. That shows how competitive the local teams have been.
Why hasn’t it translated to the Champions Cup then?
Well, the straightforward answer to that question is that no SA team has decided to actually challenge for the Champions Cup with their strongest side while putting fewer resources into the URC over the last few seasons.
Everything has been URC-focused and losing (heavily) in the Champions Cup group stages. So-called “B” sides have pitched up overseas for away clashes in most of the Champions Cup matches.
Only the Stormers, when they reached the quarters in 2023, fielded a top side against Exeter. The Bulls sent an understrength side for last year's quarter-final and was smashed by Northampton Saints.
It should not be that way.
It’s time for every local side to send their best overseas, whether for the two group matches or playoffs should they qualify again at the end of the season. It doesn’t matter what their position in the URC is then, the best available SA players must play for the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions.
Should the four local sides not do that in next season’s competition, it’s time for them to be dropped from the roster and booted into the Challenge Cup for 2026/27, so that they can try from there to qualify for the Champions Cup.
It might sound harsh, but that could be a solution to getting the strongest SA teams competing.
Yes, it is tough to front up in both the URC and the elite level of European club rugby, especially with the challenge of squad depth in South Africa. But just as the franchises are prioritising their “daily bread” in the URC as Stormers boss John Dobson calls it, it’s time that competition takes a back seat for them to challenge for the highest honours in European club rugby.
If they are not willing to do that during next season and win only three of their 12 pool games again, are the SA sides deserving of their place in the elite club rugby tournament?