Moana Pasifika exit could open door for South African team in Super Rugby

podcast in 2025. “Especially, guys want derby games and all of that.

At present, the Cheetahs are competing in the Challenge Cup as an invitational team, while also taking part in domestic competitions such as the Currie Cup.

Their recent acquisition of Faf de Klerk has sparked speculation about a potential long-term move into a major league, with the URC and Super Rugby appearing to be the most likely options.

Bringing De Klerk back from Japan is unlikely to have come cheaply, which has led to questions about why he would join a club outside a top-tier competition, especially given the strong demand for his talents.

South Africa already has four teams in the URC, but there is precedent for collaboration with Oceanic sides, as the Cheetahs competed in Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017.

Steyn, a Rugby World Cup winner in 2007 and 2019 with the Springboks, played for both the Cheetahs and Sharks domestically, and also had spells abroad with clubs such as Montpellier and Racing 92 in France, as well as Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan.

Despite his experience overseas, he has stated a preference for South African teams not to compete in the northern hemisphere.

While acknowledging the significance of the URC, Steyn admitted he is not fond of the timing of the competition and still favours Super Rugby.

“So the last couple of months, I realised that the URC is quite a big thing,” he said on the Behind The Ruck

“For me personally, I think we should go back to the old Super Rugby.”

He also highlighted his appreciation for the traditional touring format, where teams would play several away matches in one trip, reducing constant travel and concentrating it into a single period.

“I just think there was something else (with that tournament). It was something different. I think the young guys of today definitely miss out.

“If you think of when we went on tours and four and five-week tours, it was one tour, not every second week on a plane. (It’s) A stupid thing, this new calendar that we are in. If you have kids, you never have off.

“You can’t go on holiday. When do you go on holiday? And then December. Normally, we went away in December. Now you have to play.

“I remember when I got to France the first time, I had to play on Sundays and Sundays. My dad was angry because you don’t play on a Sunday.

“Now we freaking play over Christmas and all of that.”