Western Province Rugby’s club scene is falling further and further behind when it comes to nurturing amateur rugby and, should a stronger relationship between the Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU) and the Boland Rugby Union (BRU) form, there will be an even bigger distance between WP and their rivals up north when it comes to the health, popularity, and national influence of their respective club scenes.
As previously reported by TelecomAsia Sport, Western Province-affiliated clubs in Paarl recently met to discuss alternative options in terms of competitive participation, with administrators from Western Province-affiliated clubs in the region discussing the possibility of leaving the union, citing a lack of support from Western Province to Paarl Rugby as the primary reason.
The option for Paarl’s 14 rugby clubs to engage in discussions with the Boland Rugby Union (BRU) regarding inclusion in the 2025 season and the formation of a Wellington-Paarl sub-region to compete in Boland Rugby Union competitions was also laid on the table during the meeting.
But the unhappiness with WP stretches further than the borders of Paarl.
Overall, WP clubs allegedly have much less to show in terms of both financial backing and support than those of unions like the Bulls and Boland. Clubs we have spoken to anonymously have stated that they have not received any financial support from Western Province for a number of years and that they are solely responsible for covering their participation-related costs. In fact, having a say in the running of their governing body also comes at a cost, with a letter from November 9, 2024 stating that WP clubs had to pay a participation fee of R3000 to partake in the league, which directly influences their ability to vote at an Annual General Meeting.
While Boland are an entity on their own despite sharing the Bulls' owners, a stronger relationship with the Bulls – in addition to the possibility of Paarl clubs breaking away from WP - would put WP on the backfoot even more.
In an exclusive interview with TelecomAsia Sport, BBRU president Willem Strauss alluded to tightened bonds between the Bulls and Boland.
In June 2023, the majority shareholders in the Blue Bulls Company, Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe bought a majority stake (74 percent) in the BRU, making Boland the first non-franchise union in the country to get a majority private equity partner.
Prior to the move, as soon as whispers of a Bulls takeover of Boland by the business tycoons started traveling through rugby corridors and beyond, the main talking point was the possibility of Boland becoming a feeder to the Bulls.
But Remgro spokesperson Jannie Durand, at the time, assured that this wouldn’t be the case, highlighting that the focus was to elevate Boland to new levels and helping them become a world-class brand. And when you look at the support Boland have received and how well they have been equipped – literally – time has proven that their desire to invest in Boland wasn’t all talk.
We have got the same shareholders, I am also good friends with their leadership, so we talk to each other on a regular basis.
They also have a great competition there in the Boland Super 12, they have a huge support base…it’s probably the one place in the world with the biggest support base and a nursery for Springbok rugby.
We are thousands of kilometres apart, but there are always ways and means to make that relationship even stronger.
While club rugby is thriving in Bulls and Boland land, it’s a very different story for Western Province, who boast some of the biggest, oldest, and most history-rich clubs in South Africa.
The Bulls again showed their dedication to club rugby by launching the Castle Super League, a new competition that will feature teams from five provincial unions with big prize money up for grabs.
During the launch, Strauss announced that Vereeniging, Springs, Brakpan and NWU Vaal from the Valke, the Naka Bulle, Harlequins and Tuine Grizzlies from the Bulls, the Northam Rhinos and Louis Trichardt from Limpopo, the Northam Wolves and Louis Trichardt from the Leopards, and Sasol Secunda from the Pumas will all battle it out for R500 000 in prize money in the tournament that kicks off on 15 February.
Compared to club rugby in the Western Cape, however, the difference between the Bulls, Boland, and WP when it comes to incentive, innovation, and support to keep club rugby alive is vast.
