All ten Founder Club places are taken. If you run a padel club in Cape Town, it would be easy to read that and assume the league is full. It is not, and if you want to enter your club, there is still time.
Due to demand, the 2027 Summer League now has room for 20 clubs. Eleven places are taken, so nine are still open, and every one of them is a full place: the same six divisions, the same fixtures, the same R180,000 prize pool and the same shot at Finals Weekend as the clubs that entered first.
Yes, there is still time to enter. Club entries for the 2027 Bear Digital Cup Series close on 30 November 2026, or sooner if all 20 places fill. 11 of 20 places are taken. A club that enters now gets a full place in all six divisions, plays the same fixtures and competes for the same R180,000 prize pool. Entry is R3,000 per division, or R18,000 per club.
What a full place means
Founder Club status went to the first ten clubs to enter, and it is a title they keep for good. Everything else is the same for every club in the league:
| First ten clubs | Clubs entering now | |
|---|---|---|
| Squads in all six divisions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group-stage fixtures (a full group of 10 means 9) | ✓ | ✓ |
| About half your fixtures at home | ✓ | ✓ |
| A shot at the R180,000 prize pool | ✓ | ✓ |
| Top four in each group go to Finals Weekend | ✓ | ✓ |
| Four of the nine shirt sponsor spots to sell | ✓ | ✓ |
| 70% of the profit on your club’s merch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entry fee | R18,000 | R18,000 |
| Founder Club title | ✓ | Taken by the first ten |
Why enter your club
The Cup Series was built to be good for clubs, not just players. Here is what your club gets:
What you need to enter
- ✓Your own venue with at least two courts for home fixtures. The Cup Series is for recognised padel clubs, and two venues cannot combine to enter as one club.
- ✓A squad in all six divisions: Men’s and Women’s Premier, Challenger and Social. Entry into all six is compulsory.
- ✓Two to four players per division (four recommended), all aged 18 or older, each with a Playtomic profile and level.
- ✓Squads named by 31 December 2026. No new players can be registered after that date.
- ✓Club kit from Nordee, the league’s official kit partner, ordered at least six weeks before your first fixture.
- ✓A main contact who acts for the club with Cup Series Admin through the season.
- ✓The entry fee: R3,000 per division, R18,000 per club, paid by card or EFT in one payment. Court fees and playing kit are not included.
How to enter, step by step
The road from entry to Finals Weekend
Five reasons not to wait
- Places are first come, first served. Nine are open today, and entries close as soon as all 20 are taken.
- Selection takes time. Trials and scouting weekends need courts and Saturdays in November and December, before squads are due on 31 December. Our guide to how clubs pick their squads explains the options.
- Kit has a lead time. Shirts take about four weeks to make, so clubs should order at least six weeks before their first fixture. For a 6 February start, that means ordering by about 26 December, and earlier is safer over the festive season.
- Your sponsors need time too. Your four club spots are printed on the shirt, so the sooner you enter, the longer you have to sell them before the kit is made. Our guide to padel sponsorship in South Africa shows what brands look for.
- Players can only pick one club. Each player can represent just one club in the league, so the sooner you enter, the sooner you can start building your squads and give your best players a reason to stay.
Who is already in
Eleven clubs have entered so far: Padel X Somerset West, Virgin Active Padel Club – Lourensford, Welgemoed Padel, Aura Padel Club, The Racket + Ball Club – Bree Street, Atlantic Padel – Sunningdale, Atlantic Padel – Parklands, Virgin Active Padel Club – Epicentre, Eden Padel Club, Padel 365 – Century City and Padel 365 – Richmond Park. Meet them on the Teams page, or read about the ten Founder Clubs and the latest arrivals, Padel 365.
Nine places are still open. Club entries close on 30 November 2026, or sooner if all 20 places are taken.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cup Series full?
No. All ten Founder Club places are taken, but due to demand the 2027 Summer League has room for 20 clubs, and 9 places are still open.
Do clubs that enter now get a full place?
Yes. Every club enters all six divisions, plays the same fixtures, competes for the same R180,000 prize pool and can reach Finals Weekend.
How much does it cost to enter?
R3,000 per division, or R18,000 per club, paid by card or EFT in one payment. Court fees and playing kit are not included.
When do club entries close?
On 30 November 2026, or sooner if all 20 places are taken.
Can we enter if our venue only has two courts?
Yes. A club needs its own venue with at least two courts available for home fixtures.
Do our players have to be club members?
No. Players do not need to be members of the club or venue, but each player can only play for one club.
Is there a discount for entering early?
No. There are no discounts for Founder Clubs or early entry, so every club pays the same R18,000.