Donal Lenihan: A Champions Cup without South African involvement is fine by me
WINNER: James Crombie's super picture of Matthieu Jalibert's try for Bordeaux Bègles against Toulouse has been named the Investec Champions Cup “Out of the Ordinary” Photograph of the Year. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho
- Irish Examiner 29/04/2026
ON the eve of what promises to be a brilliant Champions Cup final, word has emerged that the South African Rugby Union is strongly considering a withdrawal of their provincial sides from the Champions and Challenge Cup in two seasons' time.
I’m not sure how regularly their rugby chiefs peruse this column, but three weeks ago I expressed the opinion that both tournaments would be better served if SARU decided to confine their participation exclusively to the URC not least due to the welfare of their players, especially for the Springbok contingent who are still aligned to the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship in August and September.
SARU president, Mark Alexander, admitted as much when he said “our players are overworked,” at the union's annual conference in Cape Town this week. Given the strength of their sides, the fact that a South African team is yet to reach a quarter-final of the Champions Cup after four years involved tells its own story.
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Any decision to withdraw is complicated by an existing participation agreement and cannot be implemented overnight. There’s also a possibility that Alexander is posturing in an attempt to generate more badly needed funding from their involvement in the premier tournament.
I’m firmly of the belief that their withdrawal would be good, not only because the Champions Cup would revert to a “European” competition but it would facilitate a badly-needed revamp with a reduction in participants to 16 clubs, making it more elite and, as a consequence, more competitive.
As always with these decisions, it’s not straightforward. South Africa could resolve one problem but, from a financial perspective with even less broadcast revenue if their provinces attempt to fill the void with a revamped Currie Cup, may well create another. Professional rugby will not survive without money and every union is feeling the pinch.
As for a restructured “European Cup” it would be a case of “back to the future” with more jeopardy and less clubs likely to send a second string side to away fixtures, a practice that has severely damaged the tournament's reputation in recent years.
How ironic then that we were treated to an electrifying final round of URC action last weekend with teams not already qualified so focused on securing a place in the top eight of the knockout phase but, of even more importance, a slot in next season’s Champions Cup and with it, a financial windfall in the region of €1m.
Of all the clubs, given they’d never failed to qualify for Heineken/Champions Cup rugby at any stage since its inception, the pressure on Munster entering their final game against the Lions was massive. Having Jack Crowley, Alex Nankivell and Fineen Wycherley withdraw before kick off asked serious questions of Clayton McMillan’s squad which they answered in spades.
What they lacked in technical efficiency, Munster more than made up for with traditional grit, determination and character. I’ve been championing the cause of Evan O'Connell all season and, despite being called in at the last minute for only his second start of the season, he delivered a performance of real quality in tandem with taking the responsibility for calling the line out.
Despite all the off-field distractions that will persist until the independent review in the wake of the Roger Randle affair is published - I’m presuming it will be but wouldn’t bet on it - what Saturday night’s performance confirmed is there is promising young talent coming through.
The reward for Munster’s brave stand is a vastly more demanding assignment against the Bulls at altitude in Pretoria. Winning there will prove a big challenge but, either way, will be a valuable experience for the younger players in the Munster squad.
Hopefully the likes of Crowley, Beirne, Nankivell and Edwin Edogbo will be back in harness by then. Whatever happens, the players have bought time for the organisation to finally get their house in order, to address the structural and organisational shortcomings with Champions Cup rugby secured.
For Munster to remain a part of that, big changes are required. Saturday night’s gritty win has bought Munster time. The players have done their bit but much more is required for the province to compete on equal terms with the top tier of the European game.
From an Irish perspective the performance of the weekend was, once again, delivered by Connacht who mixed an incredible defensive stand with some exhilarating attacking rugby against an admittedly limited Edinburgh side in the Scottish capital.
The change in mindset instilled by new head coach Stuart Lancaster was incapsulated by a marvellous break out try, launched off an explosive carry from No 8 Sean Jansen off a defensive five metre scrum having already completed a brilliant defensive stand and finished brilliantly by Josh Ioane.
Despite finishing in eight place, Connacht are still not guaranteed Champions Cup rugby next season. A win for Ulster in F riday night's Challenge Cup final against Montpellier will catapult Richie Murphy’s men into that slot at the expense of their near neighbours from the west.
Ulster will have their work cut out to deliver a win in Bilbao given the loss of two experienced campaigners in Ireland’s player of the Six Nations Stuart McCluskey and their captain Iain Henderson.
Whatever the outcome, one of Ulster or Connacht will be relegated to Challenge Cup rugby next season. How unfortunate that one outstanding achievement by one Irish province could prove so costly for another.
I’m in Bilbao to witness two Irish provinces compete for silverware where the pressure on Leinster will be far more acute than their northern counterparts. Ulster’s ever-lengthening injury list looks set to derail their chances against a Montpellier side currently sitting second in the competitive Top 14 with 15 wins from their 24 games to date.
On the flip side, Leinster have strengthened their options with a number of players returning from sick bay over the last few weeks. Last Saturday’s facile 68-14 win over a hapless Ospreys side will carry no relevance to what they will face at Estadio San Mames Saturday. What it did was facilitate the timely return to arms of James Lowe and Jordan Larmour, both of whom have been out of action for some time.
Despite scoring two tries in an impressive return, it seems unlikely that Larmour will make the cut. Lowe is a different animal. His experience of playing against the electric Louis Bielle-Biarrey may be a factor when Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber sit down to select their side. At the very least with Tommy O'Brien, Leinster’s most consistent performer all season, a doubt, Lowe’s return merits serious consideration.
The other big take away from the Ospreys game was the fact Ciaran Frawley played the entire second half at out half. Harry Byrne looks certain to start in the pivotal role on Saturday, but Frawley’s greater versatility makes him a better option off the bench than Sam Prendergast if Cullen opts for a 6/2 split.
One potential issue is Frawley’s complete lack of game time at out-half this season which proved a major factor in his decision to depart for Connacht. Placing Prendergast out of his comfort zone on the wing nearly cost Leinster dearly against Toulon in the semi-final which should prompt a rethink on the composition of their bench for the final.
So much for Cullen and Nienaber to ponder before the team announcement Friday if they want to break their losing sequence at the final hurdle in this tournament.
