South Africa to Launch Women's Professional Rugby League in 2024

South Africa Rugby announced plans to launch a women's professional league with up to 150 players next year. Provincial rugby unions are invited to submit franchise proposals for the Women's Super League Rugby (WSLR) with budgetary support. The initiative aims to provide a high-performance platform for South African women in rugby.

South Africa Rugby announced on Friday a groundbreaking initiative to introduce a women's professional league as early as next year, targeting up to 150 players. The sport's governing body has invited provincial rugby unions to submit franchise proposals for the Women's Super League Rugby (WSLR), with the promise of budgetary support including travel costs.

'The women's game is making amazing strides across the world and in South Africa,' SA Rugby President Mark Alexander said. 'We want to match that growth by providing an appropriate aspirational, high-performance platform for South African women,' he added, noting that it had been a priority for several years.

Currently, most teams in South Africa's Women's Premier Division do not have professional contracts. Last year, Bulls Daisies became the first women's professional team in the country, contracting 35 players.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said the confirmation of franchises is expected by October. 'It will be a key moment in the strategy to bring the Women's Rugby World Cup back to South Africa,' he stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)