After nearly a decade of championing fair play and sponsoring South African rugby match officials, OUTsurance is proud to announce our partnership with the United Rugby Championship match officials. This sponsorship comes on the heels of the successful launch of OUTsurance Ireland and is a major step forward in establishing our footprint in the northern hemisphere.
What is the United Rugby Championship?
The United Rugby Championship (URC) is one of the most competitive global club rugby leagues in the world. The league brings together 16 teams from five powerhouse nations— Ireland, South Africa, Wales, Italy, and Scotland — to compete across two hemispheres to become the URC champion.[1]
In 2021, The Pro 14 league underwent a transformative shift and with the inclusion of four South African teams became known as the URC.
Rugby columnist Paul Williams noted that ‘the South Africans have revolutionised the quality of rugby in the URC and their contribution to TV audiences can’t be ignored.’[2]
This merger of the southern and northern hemispheres elevated the intensity and global appeal of the league — positioning the league as one of the best in the world.
OUTsurance’s legacy of supporting fair play
Our dedication to sport development goes far beyond branding — it supports the backbone of any sport, the match officials, who ensure fairness, safety and professionalism on the field.
We first partnered with the senior South African Rugby match officials in 2015, sponsoring kit, and match official development. In 2019, we expanded the initiative to include school and club match officials with the goal of promoting safe and fair play among young athletes. The company’s investment in sport expanded in 2024 with a South African Schools Netball (SASN) partnership, sponsoring attire for nearly 3,000 nationally accredited umpires. And, in January 2025, we extended our support to the South African Hockey Association, becoming the official sponsor of umpire kits for school, club, and national-level matches.
‘It’s an honour to be associated with South African match officials and now URC as well’ says Danie Matthee, CEO at OUTsurance. ‘We look forward to similar opportunities in the future and to expand our support for fair play and sport development.’
Why now? Why match officials?
OUTsurance Ireland launched last year and has since proven a popular choice with Irish consumers looking to get more OUT from their insurance.[3] This move increased the motivation to expand our match official initiatives to the northern hemisphere — making the URC partnership a natural next step for us.
Match officials are often seen as the unsung heroes of sport. They make split-second decisions, manage high-pressure situations, endure brutal criticism, and ensure the game is played fairly. By sponsoring match officials, OUTsurance is investing in the integrity of sport — not just in South Africa, but now across the northern hemisphere.
The future is green and purple
As the new URC season kicks off, fans from South Africa and now Europe as well, will see the match officials sporting our brand-new kit, proudly showcasing the signature OUTsurance colours.
We’re excited to be part of this journey and look forward to continuing our support for match officials, athletes, and the spirit of the game — wherever it’s played.
[1] About | URC | United Rugby Championship
[2] Why a Premiership/URC merger needs to happen: Paul Williams column - Rugby World