Could South Africa shift the balance of power in the new United Rugby Championship (URC) season?
The Stormers, Bulls, Lions and Sharks are rebuilding their rosters with three weeks to go to the new campaign.
Cape Town is at the epicentre, where the Stormers are creating what could be the league’s strongest team.
Kolisi, Kolbe join Western Cape super squad
The Stormers have already set themselves up as the team to watch in the new URC campaign.
No signing demonstrates this more than bringing national icon Siya Kolisi back to Cape Town after his time with the Sharks ended.
Alongside the legendary Springboks forward, speedster Cheslin Kolbe will also return from Japan.
The third big name on the list is monster prop Wilco Louw, who has switched allegiance from the Bulls.
Stormers coach John Dobson has made a point of downplaying talk of signing “marquee players.”
Instead, as reported by SuperSport, he has referenced Kolisi and Kolbe as returning home to help the team win trophies.
The additions to the Stormers’ ranks have been balanced against the loss of Dan du Plessis, Salmaan Moerat and Dylan Maart.
Sharks rebuilding team and squad identity
The departure of Siya Kolisi was a major blow for the Sharks, but the team has not sat back.
Instead, the Durban franchise has brought the mighty Thomas du Toit back from Bath to anchor the front row, while scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl has made a move from Saracens.
He has been brought in to replace Grant Williams, who left the Sharks for Japan’s Kobe Steelers.
Van Zyl will be joined at Hollywoodbets Kings Park by Gianni Lombard and Stephan Lewies.
Meanwhile, top-rated backline player Aphelele Fassi was granted a season-long sabbatical in Japan.
The signings come at an interesting time for the Sharks and head coach JP Pietersen.
With the club having recently rebranded, the team still needs to find a balance between new and existing stars.
Bulls trying to balance incoming and outgoing stars
Rebuilding for the new URC season has come with ups and downs for the Bulls.
On one hand, a set of new names is due to bolster the Pretoria side’s ranks.
These include Thaakir Abrahams, who joins the Bulls from Munster, and Dylan Maart, joining from the Stormers.
The team will also gain the experience of Hanro Liebenberg and Curwin Bosch.
However, the Bulls are also still dealing with the departures of several veteran players.
This includes Wilco Louw, who will turn out in the Stormers’ colours this season. Kurt-Lee Arendse is also gone, having signed for the Sagamihara Dynaboars in Japan.
Centre David Kriel, who is heading to La Rochelle in France, marks the third first-choice loss for the Bulls.
It remains to be seen how the team will stack up heading into the new URC season.
Lions prioritise URC consistency over signings
Compared to their local rivals, the Lions appear to be investing in a stronger core squad over big-name signings.
However, this does not mean the Johannesburg team have not made some major moves.
The club confirmed that prop Boan Venter is set to lace up for them after departing Edinburgh.
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He will join Boeta Chamberlain, Asad Moos, and Daniel Kasende in the red and white.
Balancing these signings, the Lions have lost Gianni Lombard and Darrien Landsberg to the Sharks.
Despite this, the team seems to be prioritising player development over breaking the bank for marquee stars.
Whether this strategy will serve the Lions in the long run is the biggest question for now.
URC 2026/27: Details of South African teams in the first round
All details are taken from the official URC website:
25 September 2026
Connacht vs Stormers, Dexcom Stadium, Galway – 20:45
26 September 2026
Lions vs Leinster, Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 13:30
Sharks vs Ospreys, Kings Park, Durban – 16:00
Zebre Parma vs Bulls, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – 18:30
WHICH SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE IN URC ACTION THIS SEASON?
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