The development of women’s rugby in South Africa will take another step forward when the second instalment of the Betway Women’s Club Championship kicks off in Alberton, Gauteng, on 20 September.
The week-long event – which will take place just weeks after the Springbok Women played New Zealand’s Black Ferns on home soil for the first time, at the nearby FNB Stadium – will once again be held at Alberton Rugby Club south of Johannesburg, after the Golden Lions Rugby Union’s excellent staging of the historic inaugural event there last year.
“The event is firmly aimed at elevating the domestic women’s rugby further and developing the women’s game nationally at grassroots level,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer.
“We could not have hoped for a better inaugural championship and the objective now is to build on those solid initial foundations.
“There was that rare feeling last year that only comes around every so often, that this was history unfolding before us, in real time. I have no doubt things will get even better second time round.”
Kwaru, the pride of Eastern Cape women’s rugby, made history last year when they became the first team to win the tournament, beating four-time defending Boland champions, Walker Babes, 17-14 in an all-coastal final to bring the curtain down on a watershed week for the women’s game in the country.
After the final, Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, noted: “The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship will be long remembered as a landmark day in the history of women’s rugby in South Africa.” There is every indication that the 2026 edition will write another colourful chapter in this fast-unfolding saga.
Jason Shield, Head of Sponsorship at Betway Africa, said: “The return of the Betway Women's Club Championships is an important step forward in the continued growth of women's rugby in South Africa. Last year’s inaugural tournament demonstrated the incredible talent that exists across the country and highlighted the value of creating a platform where players can compete, develop and get the exposure they deserve.
“At Betway, we're proud to support an initiative that strengthens the pathway for women and contributes to the long-term growth and sustainability of women's rugby in South Africa,” Shield added.
This year’s draw is also unchanged from 2025. Sixteen top women’s club teams – one from each of the 15 provincial unions and Kwaru – will play three days of rugby, on 21, 23 and 25 September, in a format similar to that of the FNB Youth Weeks.
The teams will be split into two divisions of eight teams each, based on the rankings from last year’s tournament. All the Premier Division matches on the first two days will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SA Rugby’s YouTube channel.
Betway Women’s Club Championship 2026 fixtures (day one – Monday 21 September)
First Division:
08h30: Welkom (Griffons) v Nelspruit (Pumas)
09h40: Sol Plaatjie University (Griquas) v University of Limpopo (Limpopo)
10h50: Potch Dorp (Leopards) v NWU Vaal (Valke)
12h00: Titans (SWD) v Middelburg Stormers (EP)
Premier Division:
13h10: Harlequins (Blue Bulls) v Collegians Valkyries (Cheetahs)
14h20: Busy Bees (WP) v Pirates (Lions)
15h30: Walker Babes (Boland) v Mqanduli Sharks (Border)
16h40: Kwaru (EP, defending champions) v Durban University of Technology (KZN)
