Super Rugby South Africa: A Lost Chapter of Glory

From its genesis in 1996 as Super 12 through to its peak years as Super Rugby in the early 2010s, South African Super Rugby teams—the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, and Lions (and previously the Cheetahs/Southern Kings)—were integral to the competition’s identity and appeal. The Springboks’ combinations of power, flair and dominant physicality enthralled fans worldwide.

By 2020, though, that era ended abruptly—Super Rugby South Africa franchises disengaged, altering the landscape forever.

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Why Did South Africa Leave Super Rugby?

The defining moment came in September 2020—that is when South Africa left Super Rugby—when the South African Rugby Union (SARU) formally withdrew its four franchises from SANZAAR’s Super Rugby venture, risking long-standing ties with New Zealand and Australia.

Several reasons were cited:

• New Zealand’s decision to unilaterally launch a post-Covid domestic Super Rugby Aotearoa competition—with minimal input from SARU—was described by South Africa as “a unilateral approach” that forced their exit.
• Logistical burdens, calendar misalignments, and financial concerns—including poor broadcast returns—further strained South Africa’s commitment.
• Post-Covid, joining Europe’s Pro14, and eventually the United Rugby Championship (URC), offered better alignment with time zones, improved player welfare and sponsorship possibilities.

In short, why did South Africa leave? Super Rugby was a series of structural and strategic misalignments between unions.

After the Move: South Africa Super Rugby Team News & URC Life

Once the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions entered the URC in the 2021–22 season, the South African Super Rugby team news turned to how they’d adapt:

• The Bulls won the first URC Grand Final in 2022, beating the Stormers—remarkable considering their CURRIE CUP-level pedigree only two years earlier.
• These sides also stepped into European competition for the first time: Cheetahs and Kings in the Challenge Cup and the four franchises in the Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, competitions like the rugby super league table in South Africa—i.e., historical Super Rugby standings showing SARU sides dominating the standings—are now relics of pre-2021 seasons.

Will South Africa Return to Super Rugby? —Voices & Rumours

A growing chorus from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific commentators suggests nostalgia, if not earnest interest, in a return. Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said recently he would “love to see South Africa back” in Super Rugby—calling it a site of fierce competition and reaffirming that the sport suffers in its absence.

Stephen Donald, the ex-All Black, urged organizers to prioritize bringing back Paris/Bulls/Cape Town teams rather than expanding to “Mickey Mouse” US markets, emphasizing the quality and rivalry lost when South Africa’s return to Super Rugby didn’t happen after 2020.

However, the political landscape presents challenges. Frans Steyn, director of rugby at the Cheetahs (a former Super Rugby franchise ousted in 2017), recently lamented that politics are blocking a path home, claiming he’s been told, “Somebody cuts off the line and doesn’t talk to you anymore,” when he tries to engage in discussions about South Africa’s return to Super Rugby.

So, when did South Africa leave Super Rugby?

To answer clearly: South Africa officially pulled its Super Rugby teams out in September 2020, following a vote by provincial unions and citing New Zealand’s independent reordering of the competition as the tipping point.

Since then, the four top franchises have thrived in URC and European competitions, while the Cheetahs and Kings remain on the outside.

The Big Question: Will South Africa Return to Super Rugby?

As of mid‑2025, there are no official plans or publicly confirmed timelines for South African franchises to rejoin SANZAAR competitions.

Here’s what’s holding things up:

• Calendar conflict between URC (European season) and Super Rugby (Southern Hemisphere summer).
• Television and radio rights, logistics and business structures are already embedded.
• Lack of political consensus—SARU prioritized URC rather than returning to SANZAAR full-time; New Zealand and Australian fans and broadcasters have adapted.

That said, rugby pundits still ask: will South Africa return to Super Rugby someday? Only SARU and SANZAAR can answer—and as yet, they haven’t mapped out a revival plan.