South Africa’s Springboks are set to become part of a powerful new commercial partnership involving 10 of the world’s leading rugby nations, in a move expected to significantly increase the sport’s global revenue and strengthen the financial position of participating unions.

The initiative, provisionally named F10, will bring together the four SANZAAR nations — South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina — and the six countries competing in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

The 10 unions plan to establish a new company to manage and collectively market the commercial and broadcasting rights of some of rugby’s biggest competitions.

These include the Six Nations, Rugby Championship, Nations Championship, British and Irish Lions tours, and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand.

The arrangement is designed to give the participating nations greater bargaining power when negotiating television broadcasting agreements and sponsorship deals.

Under the proposed structure, South Africa and other Southern Hemisphere countries will benefit from revenue generated by competitions traditionally dominated commercially by European nations. European unions will similarly receive a share of income from Southern Hemisphere competitions.

The new commercial arrangements are expected to begin affecting sponsorship deals from 2028, while television broadcasting rights will follow from 2030, when existing agreements expire.

However, the development has raised concerns about the growing financial divide between rugby's established powers and emerging nations.

Japan and Fiji, invited to participate in the Nations Championship, are reportedly expected to receive participation fees rather than shares of the central commercial revenue.

There are also concerns that the arrangement could protect the 10 founding nations from relegation, potentially limiting opportunities for developing rugby countries to reach the highest level.

For South Africa, the partnership could provide additional financial resources to support the Springboks and other national teams while strengthening the country's position in international rugby.

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