Historic new women's tournament ready for lift-off

Raiders of Johannesburg will make history on Monday when they take the field for the first-ever women’s national club championship match, in the inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship (WCC).

The Longdale-based club, whose roots can be traced back as far as 1889, will play newly-formed Sol Plaatje University Rugby Club in a match that signals a new era for women’s rugby in South Africa and a significant boost for women’s rugby development.

The week-long event – which takes place on the back of the Springbok Women’s best-ever performance at the recently-held Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, where they reached the quarter-finals – will be held at Alberton Rugby Club in Ekurhuleni, south of Johannesburg.

The tournament will feature 16 women’s club teams – one from each of the 15 provincial unions and wildcards Raiders – playing three days of rugby in a format similar to that of the FNB Youth Weeks.

“There is a palpable sense of excitement ahead of the Betway Women’s Club Championship, and that rare feeling that only comes around every so often, that this is history unfolding before us, in real time,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer.

“The first-ever men’s national club championship kicked off precisely 50 years ago and it is now our challenge – which we take on with determination and with the support of sponsors such as Betway – to close that half-century gap with as much energy as we can muster.

“It is therefore apt that Raiders’ history-making appearance will come just two days after their men’s team play Northam Wolves in the Round of 16 in the Pick n Pay Gold Cup – the modern incarnation of an event that felt as pioneering in 1975 as the Betway Women’s Club Championship feels in 2025.”

The event is firmly aimed at elevating the domestic women’s rugby further and developing the women’s game nationally at grassroots level.

SA Rugby’s General Manager for Participation & Development, Ian Schwartz, said the Betway WCC marks an historic milestone for women’s rugby, through being able to provide a vital platform for players to showcase their talent at a level just below provincial rugby.

“This isn’t just about building competitions and hoping for the best, it’s about understanding what is required and then creating the pathways to match, so that women can play, dream and rise, with a clear line of sight to success,” said Schwartz.

“We are very grateful to Betway for joining us on this journey and demonstrating their support in such a strong and positive way for the women’s game in South Africa.

“This competition was designed to provide meaningful opportunities for players in their home provinces and to reflect the true depth of development across South Africa. This is not just about winning matches; it’s about building a sustainable pipeline for women’s rugby. Every province has a responsibility to nurture its own talent and every club has a role to play in that journey.”

Betway Head of Marketing, Mark Rowles, echoed the thoughts of Oberholzer and Schwartz, adding that the company’s extension of its current support provided to the world champion Springbok Men, world champion Blitzboks and the Springbok Women, to include grassroots development, comes at a pivotal period in the history of women’s rugby in South Africa.

“The Betway Women’s Club Championships will provide a vital platform for the next generation of women to showcase their unbelievable talent and hopefully emulate their senior national team on a global stage like the Springbok Women did at the Rugby World Cup.

“The rise of women’s rugby has been long in coming, but now that it has happened, things are proceeding at what seems like an exponential rate and we are privileged to have front row seats as history unfolds before our eyes.”

The 16 teams will be split into two divisions of eight, based on their provincial participation in the Women’s Premier and First Divisions. Each club will play three matches over five days.

Betway Women’s Club Championship fixtures (day one – Monday, Alberton Rugby Club)

First Division

8.30am: Sol Plaatje (Griquas) v Raiders (wildcard, Lions)

9.40am: Titans (SWD) v Welkom (Griffons)

10.50am: Embalenhle (Pumas) v University of Limpopo (Limpopo)

12pm: Potch Dorp (Leopards) v Kempton Park (Valke)

Premier Division

1.10pm: Mqanduli Sharks (Border) v Kwaru (EP)

2.20pm: Harlequins (Bulls) v DUT (Sharks)

3.30pm: Walker Bay (Boland) v Collegians Valkyries (Cheetahs)

4.40pm: Van der Stel Evergreens (WP) v Pirates (Lions)