Sponsors are increasingly recognising the benefits of investing wisely in women’s sport, and grassroots women’s rugby is a recent recipient of this welcome development with Betway signing on as SA Rugby’s Women’s Club Champs naming rights sponsor.
The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship is a pioneering competition that will see sixteen club teams drawn from all fifteen provincial unions, plus one wild card, that will play each other over three match days.
The aim of the championship is to continue the growth with the event aimed at elevating the domestic women’s rugby further and developing the game nationally at grassroots level. Meanwhile, the U20 Women’s Tournament will also see an increased number of participating teams as Betway comes on board as the title sponsor.
Both tournaments will take place in the week of 5-10 October in Gauteng – the Betway Women’s Club Championship at Alberton Rugby Club; and the U20 Women’s Tournament at Queens High School.
“As a partner and sponsor of all SA Rugby Teams excluding U20s, we are constantly seeking ways to add value to all of the teams in the SA Rugby portfolio. Working closely with SA Rugby, we have identified a gap in the women’s game at club rugby level and have addressed that by forming the Betway Women’s Club Championship.”
Betway Africa Head of Sponsorship, Jason Shield
“Through the BWCC, we have created a platform where so many more amateur players will be exposed to a higher level of rugby. This will form a base for SA Rugby to identify talent for the future,” he said.
Shield added that Betway is always on the lookout as to how they can support women’s sport.
“Investing in women’s sport is vitally important, and as a brand, we will continue to identify opportunities in the women’s sports going forward.”
“The Betway Women’s Club Championship marks an important milestone in the development of women’s rugby, providing a vital platform for players to showcase their talent at the level below provincial rugby,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“We’re not just building competitions – we’re creating pathways for women to play, dream, and rise, and we are very grateful to Betway for coming on board as title sponsor and showing strong support for the women’s game in South Africa.”
The competition will feature 16 teams from across South Africa. Similar to the Pick n Pay Gold Cup, teams from the FNB Varsity Cup are not eligible, although women’s teams from three other tertiary institutions that did not participate in the Varsity Cup have been included amongst the 16 competitors.
They are Durban University of Technology (Sharks), Sol Plaatje University Rugby Club (Griquas), and University of Limpopo (Limpopo Blue Bulls).
They will be joined by Walker Bay (Boland), Mqanduli Sharks (Border), Harlequins (Bulls), Kwaru RFC (EP), Collegians Valkyries (Free State), Pirates (Lions), Van der Stel Evergreens (WP), Welkom Rugby Club (Griffons), Potchefstroom Dorp (Leopards), Embalenhle RC (Pumas), Titans (SWD), Kempton Park (Valke), and the wild card team, Raiders (Lions).
The teams will be split into two divisions of eight, based on their provincial participation in the Women’s Premier and First Divisions. Teams will play three matches each during the week in Alberton.
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Meanwhile, this year’s U20 tournament marks a new milestone, with a record 14 teams confirmed to participate, up from 12 that played last year, with the Pumas and a Northern Invitational XV joining the action next month.
“This tournament is of strategic importance as it serves as a critical platform for the development of women’s rugby and a vital step in the pathway to the Springbok Women’s team.
SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer
“It also serves as a vital recruitment platform, enabling unions to scout and strengthen their First and Premier Division squads with emerging talent from across the country.
“These two tournaments really underline our Participation & Development Department’s mantra of #GrowTogetherPlayTogether.”
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The 14 participating sides will also be split into two groups, according to the Women’s Premier and First Divisions. Tier 1 at the 2025 U20 Women’s Tournament in Johannesburg will consist of the Bulls, Boland, Border, Eastern Province, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks and Western Province. Tier 2 will feature Griquas, Limpopo Blue Bulls, Pumas, SWD, Valke and the Northern Invitational XV.
Matches in both tournaments will take place on 6, 8 and 10 October.
Day One Betway Women’s Club Championship, on Monday, 6 October 2025
First Division Fixtures
08h30: Sol Plaatje (Griquas) vs Raiders (Wild card, Lions)
09h40: Titans (SWD) vs Welkom (Griffons)
10h50: Embalenhle (Pumas) vs University of Limpopo (Limpopo)
12h00: Potch Dorp (Leopards) vs Kempton Park (Valke)
Premier Fixtures
13h10: Mqanduli Sharks (Border) vs Kwaru (EP)
14h20: Harlequins (Bulls) vs DUT (Sharks)
15h30: Walker Bay (Boland) vs Collegians Valkyries (Cheetahs)
16h40: Van der Stel Evergreens (WP) vs Pirates (Lions)
U20 Women’s Fixtures
08h30: Valke vs Northern Invitational XV
09h40: Pumas vs Limpopo
10h50: SWD vs Griquas
12h00: WP vs Sharks
13h10: Lions vs Cheetahs
14h20: Border vs Boland
15h30: Bulls vs EP
Main Photo Caption: Sponsors recognising the importance of their role in women’s sport is one of the biggest catalysts for growth, and SA Women’s rugby is the latest recipient of this support as SA Rugby confirmed a brand-new club competition for women. Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship will see 16 club teams drawn from all 15 provincial unions, plus one wild card, playing each other over three match days. Graphic: Supplied
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