Boland are aiming to become South Africa’s fifth international rugby franchise – a move that could come at the expense of the Cheetahs.
The Cavaliers are back in the Currie Cup Premier Division for the first time since 2016, and see their return as a step towards competing on the international stage, potentially alongside the Stormers as a second Western Cape-based franchise.
“There is room for two international franchises here,” Boland head coach and former Cheetahs boss Hawies Fourie told Rapport. “Our schools in the Western Cape are incredibly good and competitive. Most of the schools that play good rugby are actually in the Boland region, in Stellenbosch and Paarl.
“If you had an international franchise in the Boland, I believe we would get a lot of those players into our system. They would want to stay here rather than go to other unions. It’s definitely a possibility, but there’s still a lot of water that has to flow into the ocean before something like that can happen.
“If you look at the Lions and the Bulls, they’re about 40 or 50km apart and both play in the United Rugby Championship. So there’s no reason why the same thing can’t work here.”
Boland CEO Quintin van Rooyen added that they were not in a position to bid for a URC spot during SA Rugby’s most recent selection process, but hopes they’ll be ready when the next opportunity arises.
“Important things for us include financial sustainability,” he told Rapport. “I think we are moving in the right direction. We have the right shareholders.”
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A consortium comprising companies controlled by South African billionaires Patrice Motsepe and Johann Rupert, and the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, have a 74% stake in Boland’s professional rugby arm.
The Cavaliers have also secured backing from sponsors including Sanlam, Santam, Rainbow, Vuma, Amstel and Tekkie Town.
Photo: Michael Sheehan Photography
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