South African rugby coach Allister Coetzee will only be able to select overseas-based players who have more than 30 international caps in a policy aimed at protecting the domestic game.
The country has suffered a “player drain” in recent years as clubs in England, France and Japan provide lucrative alternatives for young South Africans.
The new ruling, which will be put in place after the three-match home series with France in June, will not apply in World Cup years, South African Rugby said on Friday.
“We are sending a message to young players that if they wish to play for the Springboks, then they must remain in South Africa,” the president of SA Rugby Mark Alexander said.
“But we have also retained flexibility for the coach to select exceptional players who may be based overseas provided they have a proven track record of 30 Tests for the Springboks,” he added, saying the policy would be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the national coach.
Recent Boks player who would be affected include Saracens prop Vincent Koch and Ulster back-row forward Marcell Coetzee.
Twelve of the Boks’ 31-man squad for the 2015 World Cup were contracted to overseas-based clubs, while 40 players from South Africa’s six Super Rugby teams signed contracts with teams outside of the country at the end of the 2016 competition.
New Zealand do not allow players playing outside the country to feature for the All Blacks, while Australia relaxed their zero-tolerance rule ahead of the World Cup in England 18 months ago.
Players with 60 or more caps are now able to represent the Wallabies, enabling coach Michael Cheika to select the Toulon pair of centre Matt Giteau and wing Drew Mitchell for the showpiece tournament.
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly and you have players like Jantjies, Jaco Kriel, Warren Whiteley playing in Japan in the off season so the Lions are going through a lot of their pre season without key players.
davSA
Guest
You beat me to it Bakkies. SARU mistakenly think playing for the Boks is every young players aspiration . Smell the coffee . What most now aspire too is an overseas gig and possibly being able to represent another test country. Here we are in a new season and the same old negative stuff already starting to swirl around the Boks. So I'm going to kick off with a satirical conversation between Coach Coetzee and his video analyst : Analyst : Coach we are leaking tries . Our opposition are outscoring us 2 to 1. Coach : How do you know this ? Analyst : Analysis Coach : Oh ! Analyst : And the players are confused with the Game plan. Coach : Oh I suppose its your analysis again. Analyst : No the players told me. Coach : You're fired ! Analyst: Why ? Coach: For not meeting official ANC Good News , News content of 70%. ( Coach phones Mark Alexander SARU CEO) Coach : I fired our video analyst . SARU Chief : Why ? Coach : For being a disloyal South African . SARU Chief : Never mind I will call the Sports Minister to recommend a government approved replacement . (Replacement arrives for training and introduces himself.) Coach : What's your experience . Replacement : None yet . Coach : Welcome on board.
Bakkies
Guest
A weak currency, indecisiveness in the coaching ranks and far stricter transformation policies is not going to keep players in the country. Coetzee already is struggling making consistent selections and it's going to be tougher as the Boks aren't meeting their transformation targets. If you are a young player with a family why stay out of blind loyalty with all that insecurity?