South African teams will compete in European rugby competitions from next season

The announcement followed initial agreement last summer between organisers EPCR and the United Rugby Championship

Siya Kolisi of Cell C Sharks arrives before the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Cell C Sharks at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

European club rugby chiefs have confirmed that South African teams will compete in both the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup from the 2022-23 season.

The announcement followed an initial agreement last summer between organisers EPCR and the United Rugby Championship, which began this season as a 16-team league with the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers as member clubs, that South African teams would be allowed to qualify for European competition.