SA RUGBY
UNDER-23 CUP
OVERVIEW
ABOUT
The new SA Rugby Under-23 Cup competition kicked off in March 2026 with the Vodacom Bulls XV, Lions XV, Hollywoodbets Sharks U23, and DHL Stormers XXIII playing each other home and away over a period of two months. The top two teams progressed to the Final, which took place on Friday, 15 May at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where the Bulls were crowned champions after they beat the Lions by 33-32 in a pulsating clash.
THE HISTORY
In 2026, the new SA Rugby Under-23 Cup competition was established, to ensure emerging players are optimally prepared for senior rugby. The four Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers - played each other over a double-round, with the new competition aligning with the SA Rugby U20 Cup and the SA Rugby U21 Shield competitions. The changes were made to ensure a better pipeline for players coming out of school and into the junior ranks, before progressing to senior rugby.
SA RUGBY UNDER-23 CUP TABLE
SA RUGBY UNDER-23 CUP TOP PLAYER STATS
