Boland Rugby Union launches the Sanlam Boland Top 12 alongside regional play-off tournaments
- Boland Rugby
- Sep 25
- 4 min read
The Boland Rugby Union is proud to announce the launch of the 2025 Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition – the pinnacle of club rugby in the region – along with three additional premier regional tournaments: the Super 10 (Streekuitdaag), the Super 16 (Gemeenskapskild) and the Super 8 (Vroueliga). Every match across the four knockout tournaments kicks off on 11 October, with the semi-finals on 15 November and finals on 22 November being played at the Boland Rugby Stadium in Wellington.
The defending champions, Robertson Town RFC, will host three matches, as will five other teams who finished top in their respective Boland club rugby regions' Grootuitdaag competitions. Teams that finished in the second place will play three away and two matches in front of their home crowds.
In the first round there is a repeat of the 2023 Sanlam Boland Top 12 final, with Robertson Town hosting Safcol United, while Roses United welcomes Vredenburg. Worcester Villagers travel to face the in-form side from the Overberg, Botrivier. In Round Two, Roses United travel to Boland Park to face the 2024 runners-up, Worcester Villagers, in what will prove to be an entertaining encounter. The 2023 champions, Safcol United, host the Noordweste champion, Delicious NW, while Vanrhynsdorp Eagles welcome Botrivier to the Matzikama Municipality.
“The Sanlam Boland Top 12 brings about hope and it creates a healthy platform for Boland's young talent to be showcased," said Bennie van Rooi, president of the Boland Rugby Union. "We celebrate the energy and passion of every supporter, management team member, player and coach.
"All of which would not be possible without any of our sponsors, thanks to Sanlam, Santam, Vuma, Tekkie Town, Heineken Beverages, Rainbow Chickens and our newest partner, Mama’s Pies. Through these partnerships, we can elevate the platform. This season promises unforgettable rugby for our communities.”
The Boland Rugby Union is delighted to announce Mama’s Pies as a new sponsor partner for the 2025 Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition and broader rugby structures across the region.
Mama’s Pies, a proudly South African favourite and part of RFG Foods (Pty) Ltd, joins Boland Rugby as a Level 4 sponsor, further strengthening the Union’s growing family of commercial partners. With its headquarters based in the Boland, between Paarl and Franschhoek, Mama’s Pies is perfectly positioned to contribute to the growth of community rugby across the province.
“We are very excited to be part of this incredible community," said Jana Lategan, Brand Manager at Mama's Pies. "By supporting not only the players but also the ‘Mama’ behind each player, as well as the spectators and everyone involved, to make the tournament possible. Mama’s Pies is a South African favourite and we look forward to being part of the heartbeat of Boland rugby.”
Mama’s Pies has emphasised that their sponsorship recognises the crucial role of women in rugby, from mothers who patch up their sons after a tough match, to the partners who support their loved one’s training late into the evenings, to the passionate fans cheering on from the sidelines. The company believes that without the support of women, there is no sport.
This partnership extends beyond the flagship Sanlam Boland Top 12 into the broader rugby ecosystem, including the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and club rugby competitions throughout the region. Following the Kavas’ recent successes in the Carling Currie Cup, sponsor interest in Boland Rugby has grown rapidly, and Mama’s Pies is among the leading brands investing in the future of the Union.
Van Rooi welcomed the partnership: “We are proud to welcome Mama’s Pies into the Boland Rugby family. Their brand values of care, nourishment and community align perfectly with the spirit of our Union.
"This sponsorship is about more than visibility; it is about strengthening the role of family, supporters and especially women in our game. We thank Mama’s Pies for believing in the power of rugby to unite communities.”
This year’s Sanlam Boland Top 12, widely regarded as the Grootuitdaag, will feature the following confirmed clubs:
Robertson Town RFC (Defending champions)
Villagers Worcester RFC (2024 runners-up)
Safcol United RFC (2023 champions)
Botrivier RFC (newcomers)
Saldanha Bay RFC (2019 & 2022 back-to-back winners)
Roses United RFC (the only unbeaten team of the 2025 season)
Vanrhynsdorp Eagles RFC (returning Noordweste side)
Delicious NW RFC (back in Sanlam Boland Top 12 after 2023)
Hillcrest United RFC (Semi-finalist in previous Top 8 format, in 2017)
Vredenburg RFC (returning Weskus side)
Wesbank RFC (returns to the Sanlam Boland Top 12 since 2023)
Abbottsdale RFC (returning Swartland side)
The teams are divided into two groups, with no teams from the same Grootuitdaag region placed in the same group. Teams that won their respective leagues will have three home games and two away matches, while the second-placed sides will be on the road for three games, with two of their five matches played at their home ground.
Quintin van Rooyen, CEO of Boland Rugby (Pty) Ltd, said: “The Boland Rugby competitions embody both heritage and innovation. By launching the Top 12 alongside the Super 10, Super 16 and Super 8, we are building a sustainable competitive pathway for men’s, women’s and community rugby. Our focus is on strengthening the Boland brand while growing the game across every corner of our union.”
“At Sanlam, we are proud to continue our association with the Boland Rugby Union through the Sanlam Boland Top 12," Heinrich Punt, General Manager of intermediaries at Sanlam. "This competition reflects the values of perseverance, teamwork and community that we as an organisation deeply believe in. Supporting the Top 12 is about more than rugby – it is about enabling opportunities, building stronger communities and ensuring that the future of our game remains bright across the Boland.”
Viwo Jack, Chairperson of Robertson Town RFC, 2024 Champions, said: “As last year’s winners, Robertson Town RFC is honoured to defend the title in what promises to be the toughest season yet. Every club has earned their spot, and the intensity will be immense. For us, the Top 12 is about honouring our supporters and giving back to our community through the game we love.”
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