SA Rugby in the pound seats as international rivals struggle to make ends meet
Image: Supplied
South African rugby is set to buck the global trend and report a profit of more than R100 million for 2025, clearing 2024's losses and ensuring the 15 member unions receive their full funding, while support for the Springboks and all national teams continues unchecked.
This good news emerged from the annual meeting of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in Cape Town on Thursday.
Last year, South African rugby recorded a loss of R93 million due to its investment in northern hemisphere rugby competitions, but SA Rugby has already wiped out that deficit with a strong start to 2025.
This is in contrast to many rival countries, who are under severe financial pressure. Other international federations have lost as much as R913 million, with five other Tier One nations reporting losses of between R588 million and R181 million. The next 'best' performance after South Africa's was a loss of R126 million, members at the meeting were told.
SA Rugby's continued investment into membership of northern hemisphere competitions led to a group loss in 2024, but the organisation had already wiped out that deficit with a strong start to 2025 - more here: https://t.co/QpaxQWKUHR 👍 pic.twitter.com/razDpovx84 — Springboks (@Springboks) June 5, 2025
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said that participation in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) came at a net cost of R124 million in 2024.
'We have been investing in the long-term future of South African rugby to become full members of the URC for the best part of eight years,' said Oberholzer. 'It has come at a significant cost to the sport, but there is no doubt that it has been the right thing to do.
'Once we fulfil certain membership obligations this year, we will begin to reap the on- and off-field rewards of such investment.
'If we had not undertaken this journey, we would have been reduced to playing only domestic competitions, which would have had catastrophic high-performance as well as financial ramifications for rugby in South Africa.
'It has been a tough financial road, but we have annually outperformed our global peers since the pandemic, while taking on the unusual cost of our investment into the URC and EPCR.
'Reporting a loss can never be desirable, but the irony is that we are more than satisfied with our position,' said Oberholzer.
'We had budgeted for a loss in 2024 in the expectation that the members would approve the private equity transaction that they had sought, releasing funds to cover the deficit.
'When that did not happen, we continued with our planned commercial reset and other revenue generation plans, which have borne fruit. We are in the very rare position among our international peers of continuing to be debt-free and confident of posting a surplus in 2025.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Fans hail Thabo Cele despite Kaizer Chiefs' Toyota Cup defeat
Kaizer Chiefs supporters were full of praise for their top midfielder, Thabo Cele, following his performance against Asante Kotoko on Saturday. After the match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout was needed to separate the two sides. Asante Kotoko won 3-2 after an intense shootout at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The 28-year-old Bafana Bafana player orchestrated the midfield alongside Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo. Amakhosi dominated play, especially in the first half, but poor finishing let them down. Although Kaizer Chiefs lost their second successive Toyota Cup match, Thabo Cele has been heavily praised for his performance. Overall, Chiefs looked sharp and competitive compared to what they displayed in the Netherlands. 'I have seen enough, we have player of the season loading here. Thabo Cele is a proper footballer,' @Romeo20040 tweeted. 'Thabo Cele is a very skillful midfielder, if you're not careful when marking him you'll break your ankle,' @PrinceSobayeni1 tweeted. 'Thabo Cele is the only player I would really consider writing their surname on my new Kappa thing, I haven't admired a Chiefs like this in a very long time, Infact the last player I admired like this was Doctor Khumalo,' @Ta_Fitty tweeted. Kaizer Chiefs will open their 2025/16 season against Stellenbosch on 10 August. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Orlando Pirates can replace Mofokeng says Vilakazi
Orlando Pirates supporters have begun to feel excited for Relebohile Mofokeng's anticipated move abroad, and Benedict Vilakazi feels no different. The 20-year-old from Sharpville had another quality season for Orlando Pirates with 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games, earning recognition as one of South Africa's most promising young talents. His dynamic performances in the Betway Premiership since his promotion in May 2023 have attracted several European clubs. Among the suitors are Rangers in Scotland, Wolverhampton Wanderers in England and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Time and TV channel: Kaizer Chiefs vs Asante Kotoko Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng against Cape Town City FC in the Betway Premiership. Image: Sowetan 'Sometimes it's good to keep players but you don't have to keep them in a manner that they end up losing their value themselves, they always say too much of a thing is not good, it turns to be sour,' Vilakazi said as quoted by Soccer Laduma . Orlando Pirates news: 11 players signed, 11 gone 'I remember (Steve) Komphela used to say, 'When you've got milk in the fridge for a long period, it turns sour, does it mean you don't use it? That sourness becomes inkomazi (fermented milk), you won't pour it in a tea but you'll use it in pap, you'll still benefit'. 'It will give Orlando Pirates an open eye to say, 'we did find Mofokeng, we have an eye for quality players, we found Nkota, here is (Mbekezeli) Mbokazi, it shows they do have an eye. It says go back again Orlando Pirates, you can release 'president' and find somebody else, do what you do best, so it doesn't make us to say 'Oh Mofokeng is gone, it's gonna take us ten years (to replace him)'. No, it's not gonna take us ten years,' the Orlando Pirates all-time leading goal-scorer added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Latest talk: Orlando Pirates and Relebohile Mofokeng move
Relebohile Mofokeng has continued to attract interest from clubs in Europe after 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 games last season. His dynamic performances in the Betway Premiership since his promotion in May 2023 have attracted several European clubs. Among the suitors are Rangers in Scotland, Wolverhampton Wanderers in England and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. According to Steve Lekeolea, the anticipated move abroad will require careful coordination between the player and Orlando Pirates management. ADVERTISEMENT STEVE LEKOELEA ON RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG'S POTENTIAL MOVE Orlando Pirates can replace Mofokeng says Vilakazi Orlando Pirates superstar Relebohile Mofokeng in the Betway Premiership Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs. Image: IOL 'It's a decision that will ultimately be made by Irvin Khoza and the club regarding whether they will allow him to play overseas,' said Lekoelea via Kick Off. 'Personally, I believe Rele wants to move abroad, especially since his friend Mohau Nkota has already signed with an overseas team. Time and TV channel: Kaizer Chiefs vs Asante Kotoko 'However, he's hesitant to push for a move because he doesn't want to damage his relationship with Orlando Pirates. I don't think he wants to burn any bridges. 'He understands the significance of Pirates as a major club, and they are committed to handling matters professionally. Before any deal is settled with interested teams, they want to ensure that both the club and Rele are satisfied. That's my opinion. 'We can claim that he is ready for overseas play, but the reality is that it always depends on a player's mental and physical fitness. The atmosphere abroad is quite different from that of local leagues. ADVERTISEMENT 'However, I believe in his talent; he is a good player. If given at least four games to adjust, overseas teams will truly see the best of him. I am confident that a wise decision will be made for the boy's future,' the Orlando Pirates legend concluded. DO YOU AGREE WITH THE ORLANDO PIRATES LEGEND? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
