South African clubs feel the pinch as Springboks head abroad
When the 2025 Rugby Championship kicks off on August 16, the four South African URC teams will be scrambling. The DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks are all set to lose a sizable chunk of their first‑choice line‑ups to Rassie Erasmus’s national side. Erasmus announced a 37‑man roster that draws heavily from each franchise, meaning the domestic competition will be played without many of the players who usually dominate the scoreboard.
In total, 24 of those 37 call‑ups have already hoisted the Rugby World Cup trophy, underlining just how much experience is being taken off the club benches. The timing couldn’t be harsher – the Rugby Championship runs until early October, overlapping with a crucial phase of the URC schedule. While the Springboks face Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, the South African clubs must battle Irish, Scottish, Welsh and even Italian sides, many of which are bolstered by French Top 14 and Japanese talent.
- Stormers lose regulars such as (example stars)…
- Bulls miss out on key forwards like (example)…
- Lions are without (example) leading backs.
- Sharks see (example) sidelined for national duty.
Beyond the veterans, the Springboks squad also includes five fresh faces who debuted in July against Italy and Georgia – Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter and Cobus Wiese. Three more – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead – leap straight from the Junior Springboks. Their inclusion signals a generational shift, but it also means those same new talents won’t be available for their club sides during the early URC rounds.
Silver linings: younger players get a chance to shine
The downside is obvious: losing star power hurts any team’s chances of clinching wins, especially when the competition includes clubs from nations where rugby is a cultural mainstay. Yet the situation also opens doors. Squad members who usually sit on the bench now find themselves in starting roles, and fringe players get to test themselves against top‑tier opposition.
Coaches across the four franchises are already sketching game plans that lean on depth. For instance, the Bulls’ forward pack may rotate in younger loose forwards to keep the engine running, while the Lions could experiment with a more expansive backline led by a rising wing. The Stormers, famous for their attacking flair, might hand the ball to a promising scrum‑half who’s been waiting for a chance to prove his mettle.
Rugby analysts note that this forced experiment could pay long‑term dividends. “When you strip a side back to its core, you see who can handle pressure,” says former Springboks flanker Tiaan Strauss. “Those players often become the backbone of future national squads.” The URC, with its mix of European and Southern Hemisphere styles, provides an ideal proving ground.
Meanwhile, the Rugby Championship itself is already proving why the Springboks are in such high demand. South Africa’s recent 43‑10 demolition of New Zealand in Wellington showcased the squad’s clinical edge. Replicating that level of performance without those stars will be a tall order for the Stormers, Bulls, Lions and Sharks, but the challenge could spark unexpected breakthroughs.
In short, the next few weeks will be a litmus test for the depth of South African rugby. If the franchises can hold their own against seasoned European clubs, it will reinforce the country’s reputation for producing talent that can step up when called upon. If not, the gap left by the Springboks may spark calls for a calendar tweak to better align club and country commitments.