Next year they'll be 'bigger, better': SA teams add 'extra flavour' to European competitions

The first season of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby with South African teams ended on Saturday as holders La Rochelle edged Leinster in the showpiece event in front of a sold-out Lansdowne Road crowd.

For the South Africans, there was a touch of disappointment that none of their five franchises got beyond the quarter-finals in either competition.

In the Champions Cup, the Bulls reached the last 16 while the Sharks, led by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, and the Stormers went a round further.

In the second-tier Challenge Cup, the Cheetahs qualified for the knockouts before defeat to eventual winners Toulon, and the Lions lost to runners-up Glasgow in the last eight.

READ: Champions Cup double 'just the start' for O'Gara's La Rochelle

Glasgow were led to the final by ex-Springbok flyhalf Franco Smith, who has spent time as a coach and player in his home country as well as Italy and now Scotland, and he welcomed the South African presence in the competitions.

"It adds a little bit of extra flavour," Smith told reporters after the loss to Toulon.

"From a rugby perspective they add more physicality."

Outfits from the republic have been involved in European domestic competition since 2017, with four now competing in the United Rugby Championship against teams from Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales.

Until their integration in the two European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) organised tournaments this term, the South Africans sides either had a weekend off during the competitions' rounds or they played against each other.

"It would be unfair to the rest of the URC teams if they had a bye week when we play in the EPCR," Smith said.

"That is important," he added.

On Saturday, two Springboks, in the shape of backs Dillyn Leyds and