SA Rugby Under-23 Cup
Current season or competition: 2026 SA Rugby Under-23 Cup | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2026 |
| Inaugural season | 2026 |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Holders | Bulls (2026) |
| Most titles | Bulls (1) |
| Related competition | Currie Cup, SA Cup |
The SA Rugby Under-23 Cup was created in 2026 for junior player development and senior players returning from injury or who need game time for the four United Rugby Championship franchises - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers who do not currently feature in the SA Cup.[1][2]
A key element of the tournament is the strategic allowance of up to seven over-age players (senior players) in each 23-player match-day squad, with a maximum of four of those players included in the starting line-up.[3][4]
Teams
| SA Rugby Under-23 Cup teams | |
|---|---|
| Team | Sponsored name |
 Bulls | Vodacom Bulls XV |
 Lions | Lions XV |
 Sharks | Hollywoodbets Sharks U23 |
 Stormers | DHL Stormers XXIII |
Finals
The results of the finals played in the SA Cup competition are as follows:
| SA Rugby Under-23 Cup finals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-Up |
| 2026 | Bulls | 33-22 | Lions |
Overall record
The overall record for the teams in the SA Rugby Under-23 Cup competition is as follows:
| SA Rugby Under-23 Cup overall record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Name | Champions | Runner-Up | Semi-Final | Years Champion |
| Bulls | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lions | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Stormers | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
See also
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby creates new competition for URC franchises", rugby365.com, 3 May 2026
- ↑ "SA Rugby revamps provincial age-group competitions", https://supersport.com, 3 May 2026
- ↑ "New SA Rugby U23 Cup set to strengthen pathway", sarugby.co.za, 14 April 2026
- ↑ "Inaugural SA Rugby U23 Cup kicks off to boost player pathway, talent development". Kick Off. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.