SA sides have been worthy of URC place - Henderson

There have been fresh rumours about the inclusion of South African sides in the URC

Irish international Iain Henderson has backed continued South African involvement in the United Rugby Championship.

The 2024-25 URC campaign, which begins on Friday night, will be the fourth for the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks in what was once a northern hemisphere competition.

Reports during the off season suggested talks have been held over a British and Irish league, but the Ulster captain believes exposure to the South African sides has raised standards across the league.

"The South African teams have added a different element to the competition," he told BBC Sport NI.

"The Stormers and Bulls have done incredibly well and got to most play-offs.

"I do feel that pushes other teams in our league to really up their game. The South African aspect has been really positive."

Having played in various iterations of the domestic competition, Henderson takes talk of impending change with a pinch of salt.

"It's been talked about for years and years and years," said the 32-year-old.

"Whenever you hear new news about a brand new tournament, the clickbait that it is can seem exciting.

"But the guys involved in making those decisions will do it with the best intentions."

Henderson, who won the first of his 81 Test caps against South Africa in 2012, missed Ireland's drawn series against the Springboks this summer through a toe injury.

Recovered after his surgery and available for selection by head coach Richie Murphy in the season opener at home to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, the two-time British and Irish Lions tourist is feeling the benefits of a rare uninterrupted pre-season.

"It's been a long time since I've been here from the very start of preseason with various tours and things," he said.

"It's been great to be here and watch the lads coming through, seeing Richie growing a new group together. I've loved it and I've felt good through it all."

With the departures of Craig Gilroy and Luke Marshall in successive summers, Henderson is now Ulster's longest tenured player and is entering the last season of his deal with the IRFU.

His form in pre-season, however, has been drawing admiration from his team-mates and he is already looking forward to "what lies beyond" the upcoming campaign.

"We trained today and I was moving about better than I ever was," he said.

"Jacob [Stockdale] gave me a compliment on it, believe it or not.

"I feel like I've plenty left in the tank and I'm excited about what the season holds ahead of me and what lies beyond that."