South Africa’s rugby union will scrap a rule that requires overseas-based players to have at least 30 test caps to be eligible for Springboks selection as part of a “radical” overhaul of its contracting system.
The 30-cap rule was instituted at the start of 2017 in an attempt to stem a growing tide of players turning their back on South Africa to sign more lucrative contracts at clubs in Europe and Japan.
SA Rugby said the rule would be shelved in a new model which will see home-based players get top-up payments from the governing body according to a new ranking system.
“We have been agonising over how to keep players in the country since the game went professional more than 20 years ago and the bottom line is that the Rand is too weak and the economy of South African rugby too small to compete,” Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said via a media release.
“A South African player can earn more from a two-month contract in Japan than he can if he were to win the World Cup with the Springboks this year. That’s the reality we have to face up to.”
SA Rugby is to significantly grow their number of contracted players with a focus on succession planning to ensure those who do leave the Bok set-up are more easily replaced.
“In recent years we have focused on trying to retain a small number of high profile players. But it has been a small group and many of those players end up leaving anyway.
“Last season those contracted players only appeared for 38 per cent of their available time.
“Once we have done our work, the new strategy could see as many as 75 players in Springbok succession planning and being financially rewarded for it.”
Erasmus also warned overseas clubs he would rigorously enforce the World Rugby’s Regulation 9 that guarantees players are available for national team duty 14 weeks of the year.
The Boks have in the past compromised with clubs to allow them to retain players during the Rugby Championship and November Internationals.
“If the clubs don’t like that then they have the option of not signing the player,” Erasmus said.
He believes the new measures are essential if the Boks are to remain a force in world rugby, and the franchises competitive at Super Rugby level.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Possibly another thing that SA could do, to stop the player drain, is scrap their ridiculous Quotta System. As that in itself, is one of the reason that many seek off shore contracts.
taylorman
Roar Guru
And coach, and to be future coach, though I thought Anscombe was average. If this mornings match was supposed to provide a hint at the World cup possibilities it failed. No side is putting together two or three tests together that suggests a strong campaign. The ABs arent really either but I dont think theyre as erratic as the NH sides, and oz and SA have had a reasonable start to Super rugby, and may also be boosted by ‘returnees’. Looks like its confirming a close race, only really because no ones dominating, or even remotely consistent. Whne the NH sides are off, theyre really off.
Bluesfan
Agreed - and when you read a recent report that stated that 14 out of a Scotland sqaud of 23 learnt from rugby away from Scotland, what it means to represent your country is changing. Look at Wales - directed around the field by a Kiwi 10/12 combo...
Bluesfan
Still think majority of the Boks still play in SA - Just look at the number of Boks in the Stormers squad: Kitshoff Kolisi Peter Steph De Toit Frans Malherbe Etzebeth De Allende Willemse Now if those players can shoot off up north, pick up pounds and still play for the Boks - where would that leave the Stormers etc? And then think about the number of Bok players in the Lions, Bulls and Sharks. Pretty interesting stuff because by allowing a player with zero caps to play off shore and play for the Boks - will be pretty interesting what happens to SA Super and Boks rugby - will it strengthen the boks but weaken the super teams? And more importantly what does it mean for Oz/NZ rugby - good point about the Sunwolves, as think you are right in that by having them in the comp - allows you to access Asian dollar.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Short term, In world cup year, one reason the SH will have stronger sides than normal…’things’ happen each world cup cycle to combat the NH drain on the south and frankly, they need to be taught a lesson….yet again. So thats the good part. Long term, its an inevitable slide and when it gets to the point of only important matches held in the north, many will give up watching. Baabaas rugby everywhere is rubbish. The beauty of sides representing the areas they grew up in was that rugby had its own culture, and each is different. Now, players collected from all over the world to represent a ‘club’ and if the boss from Toulon is an example of rugbys gatekeepers, then its a long slide to the bottom for this sport.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
All fair points. But on the other side of the coin, how many players have stayed in SA, turning down overseas offers, in order to play SR and represent the Springboks? I would think the quantity is small, and they may only get representative call up because the top 1st or 2nd picks are already overseas. So in reality I don’t think this will result in a mass exodus Fromm SA, and with factoring regulation 9, overseas clubs may be more reluctant to pursue SA talent. It is interesting that Super Rugby has historically chased the Rand over AUD and NZD to be lucrative, but clearly that is changing too. Hence the Sunwolves, unlikely as it is, may hold the answer for the future of SR by unlocking the Asian dollar for SR.
Bluesfan
SA the first of the 3 Sth Unions to accept financial reality and now offically pick players from off-shore. For SANZAR - Where will this leave the Super comp? If you are a Springbok player - why play Super rugby vs. generate more cash playing Nth or in Japan and still get picked for the Boks. Seems a no brainer for a player because SA Union can never match the $$ on offer up north. In lots of ways this could be the biggest news of the weekend - bigger than Wales over England, Brumbies crushing Chiefs - because potentially this changes the way that Sth Hemisphere rugby is structured. For example - how much will the TV rights for Super rugby be worth - if the majority of the top SA players depart for the Nth and the higher salaries. Especially when you see the crowd at the Sharks/Blues game - top quality sides with big name stars playing and yet very small crowd on a beatiful day.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Wasn’t this already scrapped last year?