SA Rugby has announced a bumper domestic competition schedule for senior and junior teams for 2026, which kicks off with a rebranded Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 in February, while dates for the Carling Currie Cup, the SA Cup, and the FNB Youth Weeks have been locked in.
The momentum in the women’s game gathers speed with the establishment of the Pick n Pay Women’s Super Leagues 1 and 2 competitions. Plans are also on the cards for the creation of an elite competition, earmarked for local women’s franchise teams, while two SA Schools teams for girls will be named for the first time after the FNB U18 Girls Week.
There is also alignment for boys’ and girls’ participation at the annual FNB Youth Weeks, with U18 and U16 schoolboy and girls’ players taking part in their national weeks at the same time at one venue.
The FNB U18 Craven Week and FNB U18 Girls Week are set to take place from 6 to 11 July at Grey High School in Gqeberha, while the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week and FNB U16 Girls Week will be hosted by Kearsney College in Durban (29 June to 3 July).
Following the U18 weeks, the SA Schools team will face an ‘A’ team in Gqeberha on Thursday 16 July, with the top girls involved in this match for the first time, following on the naming of the inaugural SA U18 Girls team for two matches late last year.
SA Rugby also confirmed that the status quo will remain for the 2026 edition of the SA Cup. This means the same 10 teams will return for another exciting instalment, with the format remaining unchanged. This competition will kick off on 7 March with a single round of matches, and the final will be staged on 23 May.
The top four teams at the end of the SA Cup league phase will again qualify for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division, where they will be joined by the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Fidelity ADT Lions and DHL Western Province. The other six teams from the SA Cup will then contest the annual Carling Currie Cup First Division.
SA Rugby and its member unions are exploring changes to the men’s age-group provincial competitions, Following a thorough review of the current structure. Details will be confirmed in due course, while the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week for this year is also still in the planning phase.
Last year, the Hollywoodbets Sharks (SA Rugby U21 Cup), Border Bulldogs (SA Rugby U21 Shield) and Vodacom Bulls (SA Rugby U19 Cup) won their respective age-group competitions, while DHL Western Province will defend their title as top team at the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week at Queens High School in Johannesburg during September.
For club players, the Betway Women’s Club Championship is returning for a second season, from 19 September to 26 September, while the hugely popular Pick n Pay Gold Cup is due to start from 26 September, with the final on 24 October.
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said the announcement of the confirmed competition structure for 2026 follows an intense period of planning by the governing body, provincial unions and key stakeholders.
“In a year when we will see the Springboks take on the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry on home soil, as well as the new Nations Championship, we are once more extremely pleased to announce these confirmed local competitions,” said Oberholzer.
“I’d like to commend everyone involved in this exhaustive planning process, including the provincial union presidents, CEOs and coaches, for working so hard in collaboration with our High-Performance and Operations Departments to produce an incredibly detailed and workable schedule for the entire local season.
“I also want to thank our broadcast partner SuperSport for again getting onboard with these plans in what promises to be an epic season of local rugby action.”
All fixtures, venues and kick-off times will be confirmed in due course on the SA Rugby website.
2026 SA Rugby competition schedule
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division
Participating teams: Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, DHL Western Province, Fidelity ADT Lions and the top four qualifiers in the SA Cup
Defending champions: Suzuki Griquas
Opening round: 18 July (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final)
Final: 12 September
Carling Currie Cup First Division
Participating teams: The six teams who missed out on the Premier Division at the end of the SA Cup
Defending champions: NovaVit Griffons
Opening round: 13 June (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final)
Final: 25 July
SA Cup
Participating teams: Airlink Pumas (defending champions), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Border Bulldogs, Eastern Province, Toyota Cheetahs, Suzuki Griquas, NovaVit Griffons, Leopards, SWD Eagles, Valke
Opening round: 7 March (single round of matches with two semi-finals and a final)
Final: 23 May
Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1
Participating teams: Isuzu Bulls Daies (defending champions), Sanlam Boland Dames, Border Ladies, Eastern Province Queens, Free State Women, Golden Lions Women, Sharks Women, DHL Western Province
Opening round: 15 February (single round of matches with a final)
Final: 4 April
Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 2
Participating teams: Pumas Women (defending champions), Griquas Women, Griffons Women, Leopards Women, Limpopo Blue Bulls Women, SWD Eagirls, Valke Women
Opening round: 4 July (single round of matches with a final)
Final: 22 August
Pick n Pay Gold Cup
Participating teams: 32 clubs from the 15 provincial unions
Defending champions: Naka Bulls
Opening round: 26 September (knockout format)
Final: 24 October
Betway Women’s Club Championship
Participating teams: 16 clubs from the 15 provincial unions
Defending champions: Kwaru
When: 19 to 26 September (knockout format)
FNB Youth Weeks
FNB U18 Craven Week & FNB U18 Girls Week
Venue: Grey High School, Gqeberha
When: 6 to 11 July
SA Schools matches (boys and girls): 16 July
FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week and & FNB U16 Girls Week
Where: Kearsney College, Durban
When: 29 June to 3 July
LyRz
New Zealand has produced many rugby legends, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Jonah Lomu. Richie McCaw, a former All Blacks captain, is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, having played in 148 test matches and leading the team to two Rugby World Cup victories. Dan Carter, a fly-half, holds the record for the highest points scorer in international rugby. Jonah Lomu, a powerful winger, gained worldwide fame during the 1995 Rugby World Cup for his incredible speed and strength.
Eye Devil
A freak accident ended the life of a promising young batsman from India in 2015. Ankit Keshri was captain of the Bengal U-19 team. Keshri collided at full-force with teammate Sourav Mondal when they both ran to catch the ball. Although he was hospitalized after the incident, he later died of a heart attack during treatment.