SA rugby set for 'big awakening' next season as more European competition looms

Regardless of what happens in the final round of United Rugby Championship (URC) fixtures later this month, it has now been confirmed that South Africa will field three franchises in next season's European Rugby Champions Cup. 

The Sharks, Stormers, and Bulls still have much to play for in terms of log position and home ground playoff advantage in the URC, but the fact that they have secured their ticket to the grandest, most prestigious rugby competition in Europe already makes this maiden URC season a South African success story. 

That, after all, was the dangling carrot of South Africa's move into Europe, with giants like Montpellier and Saracens now set to travel to these shores. 

There is also the obvious commercial benefit that comes with playing in the Champions Cup - which resembles its footballing equivalent in its relationship with Heineken - and that, too, should justify the initial decision to break away from Sanzaar and Super Rugby. 

Listening to Stormers coach John Dobson after his side's 20-13 win over Leinster on Saturday night, however, it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. 

Far from it. 

Fielding competitive sides in both the URC and the Currie Cup has already been a challenge for South Africa's franchises this season, with the quality of the domestic competition suffering somewhat along the way. 

The Currie Cup has effectively become a URC training academy for the four premier sides, but even then, the depth of the Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Bulls has been stretched by the fact that each union in this country can contract a maximum of 50 senior squad players. 

If one throws in a third senior competition in the Champions Cup, then stretching a squad that far becomes even more of a concern. 

"One thing is getting