Sharks way or the highway: Don't expect SA teams to reach URC-EPCR title nirvana anytime soon

Should the Sharks break their trophy drought by triumphing in the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Gloucester at the end of the month, it would be handy to keep in mind that - in all likelihood - they won't finish higher than a lowly 12th in the URC this season.

It's a contrast that perfectly illustrates the reality staring South Africa's franchises (and probably their English, French and Irish counterparts, too) squarely in their face regarding the increasingly mythical feat of completing the URC and European double: prioristing one tournament over the other arguably be unavoidable.

Even before the completion of another game if unfulfilling campaign up north, the Bulls and Lions had made it clear that the URC was their main focus.