Faf du Plessis, Jonty Rhodes and Heinrich Klaasen have combined to purchase the Rotterdam franchise ahead of the first European T20 Premier League, a 33-match tournament scheduled from 26 August to 20 September across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Du Plessis and Klaasen will not only sit in the boardroom; they intend to take the field, with du Plessis confirmed as captain. The trio finalised their bid last week, describing the move as an “easy business decision” that also speaks to their shared ambition to push cricket deeper into Europe.
“For me, the entry point was there’s obviously a lot of leagues around the world, and as someone like myself, who is called a circuit player, as someone that can play in different leagues around the world, you want to make sure you align with the ones that are the best,” du Plessis said. “This really excited me around the opportunity of being part of something and growing something in a league that’s starting fresh, in a tournament that’s starting new, and then building something that is very South African. I want to use the experience that I’ve picked up around the world in terms of all the different leagues and just bringing that to build a team that’s part of a tournament that’s hopefully very successful and that can grow European cricket.”
Rotterdam are the fifth of six ETPL teams to confirm ownership. Amsterdam were first out of the blocks, backed by Steve Waugh. Belfast quickly followed, with Glenn Maxwell buying in. Edinburgh have support from New Zealand pair Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum, while Chris Gayle holds a stake in Glasgow. Dublin remain the last slot to be filled, although league organisers say talks are “well advanced”.
Rhodes, who has coached Sweden and spent time promoting the game in Germany, Italy and France, hopes the venture will add a distinctly South African flavour without losing sight of the league’s wider purpose. “We saw the announcement of the first three teams, and there was a big Australian and New Zealand focus. So we’ve kind of come in now with a big South African focus as well, just to add a little bit of a needle in some of the games that we’re going to be playing against the Aussies and the Kiwis,” Rhodes said. “It’s not just a four-week period, but how can we have a positive impact on cricket, not just in Rotterdam with our franchise, but Europe as a whole. So that’s a huge focus for us as a franchise.”
The playing roster is already attracting quality. Steven Smith, Mitchell Santner, Mitchell Marsh and Netherlands captain Scott Edwards have publicly committed, and negotiations with Tim David are ongoing. In that context, Klaasen felt the chance to invest was obvious. He described it as a “no-brainer”, and early projections suggest each squad will boast at least four marquee internationals, complemented by emerging European players.
League organisers are positioning the ETPL as a mid-summer alternative to established competitions such as the Hundred and the CPL. Each side will play ten group fixtures before a short finals series; squads are capped at 18 players, with a minimum of six locally based cricketers to encourage regional development. The standard T20 regulations apply—20 overs per side, powerplay restrictions in the first six overs, and a maximum of four overs per bowler.
Analysts note that staging matches in three countries could test logistics, though the compact window should help. The league also avoids a direct clash with the men’s Champions Trophy qualification window, giving centrally contracted players an opportunity to participate.
Financial details remain under wraps, yet one source close to the deal said franchise fees sit “comfortably below” those in the IPL or SA20, reflecting both risk and opportunity. Du Plessis acknowledged as much, arguing that success will hinge on community engagement as much as television ratings. The Rotterdam owners plan coaching clinics and school visits during the build-up, mindful that local buy-in is critical in a market where cricket fights for space.
By bringing together household names and a fresh European audience, the ETPL hopes to offer something slightly different—less hype, more discovery. For now, the new Rotterdam trio appear content simply to get started. As Rhodes put it with a grin during a video call: “Now the real work begins—sorting out kit colours and deciding who has to field at backward point.”
