Exclusive: Could South Africa Host a Champions Cup Final? EPCR Opens the Door for 2028 and Beyond

As the EPCR Champions and Challenge Cups resume this week with the playoffs, South African rugby has continued to make its presence felt. While no South African teams feature in the Champions Cup playoffs this season, three out of the five South African sides are competing in the Challenge Cup. 

EPCR Chairperson Dominic McKay has warmly welcomed the South African sides to the fold, reflecting on the growing role South Africa is playing in these prestigious European club competitions.

McKay’s Visit to South Africa: Strengthening Bonds

McKay recently visited South Africa, where he took the time to engage with SA Rugby, visit various unions, and meet with Investec, the title sponsor for the EPCR competitions. 

McKay’s visit underscored the importance of building stronger connections between South African rugby and the European club competitions.

"We make regular trips to our EPCR families, all eight countries involved. Part of those trips are with the unions, of course to spend time with SARU [South African Rugby Union], spend time with the [participating] teams, Investec and some of our sponsors and Supersport," McKay explained.

He went on to highlight the warmth and enthusiasm with which South Africa had embraced the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, with growing awareness of these competitions among South African fans. 

McKay and EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud also took the opportunity to thank SARU, Supersport, and the teams for their professionalism and commitment since South Africa's integration into the EPCR family.

"Sometimes we take for granted, we have 30 years as the greatest club competition in the world. We take this for granted because we are used to it [status] in Europe. We do recognise, we are on a new journey with the South African public and clubs," McKay acknowledged.

The EPCR’s Growing Impact in South Africa

The inclusion of South African sides has had a significant positive impact on the EPCR competitions, as seen in the record-breaking season the organization experienced last year. 

With clubs now spanning across eight countries, including South Africa, the EPCR has seen its viewership and attendance numbers soar.

"We have 32 clubs within 8 countries across Europe, Georgia and South Africa. And we represent three leagues [Top 14, Premiership and URC], so it is a different mix of needs, wants and ambitions but that's formulated together to form the greatest club competition in the world," McKay explained, reflecting on the league's growing success.

Raynaud echoed similar sentiments, particularly praising the South African teams for their strong performances. "It has been a record-breaking season. We beat attendance records, television records, and our social media engagement records, and South Africa increased their TV and audience numbers by 33%," he said.

Raynaud also highlighted the strong performances of the South African teams, particularly the Sharks, who have made a successful return to the Champions Cup after excelling in the Challenge Cup.

"A great story for the Sharks living the Challenge Cup and getting back into the Champions Cup competition this season," Raynaud noted.

With South Africa being a rugby-mad nation, the EPCR recognizes the potential for further growth, both from a TV and commercial perspective.

Logistical Challenges and Improvements

Despite the overwhelming positives, the integration of South African sides into the EPCR has not been without its challenges, particularly in terms of logistics and scheduling. With teams now playing across two hemispheres, the logistics of travel and fixture scheduling have been complex.

"We have 42 clubs, 3 leagues, and 2 hemispheres. This will come with its challenges and one of the challenges is traveling," McKay explained. 

"We have significantly improved the traveling arrangements every season. We have aligned our calendar with the URC, and we have improved the kick-off times to accommodate different elements."

While the EPCR continues to make adjustments to improve the experience for all involved, the organization remains committed to ensuring that the competition continues to thrive across its expansive network of clubs.

Future EPCR Finals in South Africa?

With the ongoing success and growing presence of South African sides in the EPCR competitions, a natural question has arisen: Could South Africa potentially host the EPCR finals in the near future?

McKay responded thoughtfully, noting that the EPCR is actively encouraging cities and countries to submit bids to host the finals. 

"We started a process to encourage people to put in a bid to host the finals. Historically, we moved it from one European country to another. We changed that with our new strategy, and we were blown away by the level of interest from different cities and countries," he said.

While the final for the 2025/26 season has already been confirmed for Cardiff, McKay revealed that South Africa could be a potential future host. 

"There is no reason why we couldn't see a potential bid coming in from South Africa. We have had great conversations with SARU and other parties in South Africa to potentially host a final in South Africa. Our finals have been locked in for the next three years, so it would be for 2028 and onwards."

With South Africa’s rugby culture continuing to grow in prominence on the world stage, it is clear that there is potential for the country to host the EPCR finals in the future, adding another exciting layer to the already electrifying global rugby landscape.

As the Challenge Cup playoffs begin, and the Champions Cup continues to draw attention, it’s evident that South Africa’s involvement is adding significant flavor to European rugby. With more teams, improved logistics, and the potential for South African cities to host future finals, the partnership between the EPCR and South Africa promises to continue to thrive.