Complete Rugby Calendar: Every Major Rugby Tournament Explained 

If you’re new to rugby or simply wondering how all the rugby tournaments fit together, you’re not alone. Between local leagues and international championships, there’s always something happening.  

South African teams compete across several competitions throughout the year, both locally and internationally with the Springboks. So, you might be wondering how you can keep up with all this chaos. Well, we have you covered.  

Here’s everything you need to know about the biggest rugby union tournaments South Africa participates in. Keep reading to find out when they’re played, how they work, and why they matter.  

United Rugby Championship (URC) 

The URC is a 16-team professional rugby competition that features the best talent from five nations. It blends Northern Hemisphere rivals with South African rugby. So, the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbet Sharks, DHL Stormers, and Fidelity ADT Lions go up against each other as well as clubs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Italy.  

It typically runs from September to June. This makes it the longest-running competition in the South African rugby calendar. The URC consists of a regular season where every team plays 18 matches. The top eight teams qualify for the knockouts, and the top two teams make it to the Grand Final where an overall winner is crowned.  

During the competition, the South African teams play each other with the goal of winning their Shield. This, along with the overall winner, determines qualifications for European competitions.  

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 

As the oldest domestic rugby competition, the Currie Cup is steeped in South African rugby history. The Premier Division consists of the Bulls, Stormers XXIII, Sharks, Lions, Toyota Cheetahs, Airlink Pumas, Suzuki Griquas, and a qualifying provincial team from the SA Cup. This year that team is the Boland Kavaliers.  

The Currie Cup usually takes place between July and September. Teams play each other during the regular season. Here, the top four teams progress to the semi-finals, where the winner of each match meets in the Currie Cup Final.  

SA Cup 

Established in 2024, the SA Cup replaced the Mzansi Challenge as a way to bridge the gap between pre-season and the start of the Currie Cup. It typically features 10 provincial teams, minus the ones who participate in the URC.  

The top four teams in the SA Cup join the URC teams in the Currie Cup Premier Division. The remaining six teams compete in the Currie Cup First Division.  

The SA Cup is usually played between March and May. For this reason, it is seen as kicking off the domestic rugby season.  

Investec Champions Cup 

As Europe’s premier club rugby tournament, the Investec Champions Cup is a significant event in the world of rugby. It’s known for its high-quality matches involving 24 teams competing in four pool stages. The top teams advance to the knockout stages.  

South African teams qualify through the URC to compete against the best clubs from England, Scotland, France, Wales, Ireland, and Italy. In the 2026/27 season, the Bulls, Stormers, and Sharks qualified for the Investec Champions Cup. Matches run from December through May.  

EPCR Challenge Cup 

The Challenge Cup is Europe’s second-tier professional rugby competition. It gives teams who do not qualify for the Investec Champions Cup an opportunity to compete for a trophy in the European league.  

The tournament runs from December to May with a structure that closely mirrors the Champions Cup. This season, the Cheetahs and Lions qualified for the EPCR Challenge Cup.  

Nations Championship 

As the new kid on the block, the Nations Championship replaces traditional July tours. Instead, it brings together the leading rugby nations in a structured international tournament where the northern hemisphere takes on the southern hemisphere.  

Here, 12 teams compete in cross-hemisphere fixtures during July and November. The tournament consists of two hemisphere groupings with six teams in each group. The northern hemisphere consists of nations from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy. The southern hemisphere consists of nations from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, and Japan.  

Each team plays three matches in July and three matches in November. After the six rounds of matches, the teams within each hemisphere grouping are ranked from one to six. The competition ends in a Finals Weekend which takes place in November. It’s here that the Nations Champion is crowned.  

Rugby World Cup 

Once every four years we get to experience the magic that’s the Rugby World Cup. Nations from around the world compete for the revered Webb Ellis Cup and the title of World Champions.  

The expanded 24 team format of the upcoming 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia allows for more nations to compete for the coveted title. The tournament is divided into two stages, the pool stage and the knockout stage. In the pool stage, teams are divided into four pools. Here, they play each other once, where bonus points apply.  

The top teams advance to the knockout rounds. This includes the round of sixteen, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the final.  

The Springboks currently hold the number one position in the world. This comes after their fourth World Cup win.  

World Rugby Junior World Championship 

Showcasing the best talent the U20s have to offer, the World Rugby Junior World Championship has produced countless Springbok stars. These include players such as Handre Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Steven Kitshoff.   

This year’s tournament, held between June and July, has been expanded to include a 16-team format. Nations are divided into four pools of four teams each. After three pool matches, teams are divided into knockout brackets based on their finishing position. The teams with the highest points advance to the semi-finals and then the winners advance to the final.  

British and Irish Lions Tour 

Once every four years, the British and Irish Lions tour either South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia. The British and Irish Lions are made up of top players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They take on the host nation for a three-Test series.  

Their most recent tour consisted of them going to Australia in 2025. Here, Australia won 22-12 in the final Test in Sydney. Their next Tour will take place in 2029 in New Zealand.  

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Rugby season is a busy time for rugby fans. Something is happening almost every week on the rugby calendar. This means that there is a game for virtually every fan. From the Springboks to the provincial sides, understanding these rugby tournaments makes it easier to follow the sport and appreciate the significance of every match.  

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is the biggest rugby tournament? 

The Rugby World Cup is the largest and most prestigious rugby tournament. It’s held once every four years. Nations from around the world compete for the title of World Champion.  

Which rugby competition do South African teams play in? 

South African teams compete in the United Rugby Championship, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup and the Currie Cup. The Springboks compete in major international tournaments such as the Nations Championship and Rugby World Cup. 

What is the oldest rugby competition in South Africa? 

The Currie Cup is the oldest rugby competition in South Africa. It began in 1891.  

What replaced the Rugby Championship in 2026? 

The Nations Championship has replaced the Rugby Championship in 2026. This means that the Rugby Championship will not take place this year.  

Which rugby tournament is played every year? 

The URC, Currie Cup, SA Cup, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, and the World Rugby Junior World Championship are annual competitions.