Why South Africa may not host a Champions Cup final anytime soon
The Champions Cup trophy.
A South African city will not be hosting the Champions Cup final any time soon as it’s simply too expensive an exercise for them to do that.
According to a Netwerk24 report, Cape Town has turned down European Professional Club Rugby’s (EPCR) offer for the rights to host the Champions Cup final, which is worth around $16 million.
Meeting held in South Africa
The decision-makers of the EPCR held a meeting with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in South Africa about the possibility of a final being hosted in the country in the future.
SARU helped them by meeting with Cape Town’s adjudicators, however, those decision-makers in Cape Town are not willing to pay the huge sum for the rights to host the final.
Toulouse win extra-time thriller against Leinster to claim SIXTH Champions Cup title
The 2024/25 season’s Champions Cup final will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
French heavyweights Toulouse are the tournament’s defending champions after claiming a 31-22 victory over Irish province Leinster at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in this year’s final.
South African teams involved in the Champions Cup since 2022/23 season
South African teams have been playing in the tournament since the 2022/23 season with the Bulls, Stormers and Sharks competing during that season although the latter side failed to qualify for last season’s tournament.
The Sharks were relegated to the less glamorous Challenge Cup competition last season and went on to win that tournament courtesy of a 36-22 triumph over Premiership outfit Gloucester in a thrilling final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Winning the 2023/24 Challenge Cup has earned the Sharks a place in the 2024/25 Champions Cup where they will compete with fellow South Africa teams, the Bulls and Stormers.