The SARU must seize this opportunity to create a strong domestic competition

The new ICASA regulations: Summer Olympics, Paralympics, FIFA World Cup (men and women), Rugby World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, ICC World Cup, ICC T20, Netball Word Cup, Commonwealth Games, IAAF Championships, Super Rugby, All Africa Games, COSAFA Cup, CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, MTN 8, Telkom Knockout, Nedbank Cup, Currie Cup, TAFISA World Sports for All Games….. If DSTV or Super Sport broadcast any of these they will have to make it available on free to air channels. Why will DSTV/Super Sport continue paying to host these? Where will the sports bodies get their money from?

Great read Corne, however, news that SA Rugby is committed to the RC long term was a statement issued by SANZAR, not by SA Rugby and is completely misleading!!! Expect SA Rugby to keep all their options open and their participation in the RC to be extended to 2023, where-after they will make further decisions that will inevitably be in the best interest of SA Rugby. As for the relationship with SANZAR, well, as far as SA Rugby is concerned there is no relationship anymore, NZ made sure of that. I could not believe what I was reading when NZ announced that they were kicking SA out of Super Rugby. Besides that the timing could not have been worse, the way it was done felt like a dagger through the heart of all us Super Rugby loving South Africans. NZ got this one horribly wrong, then, just for fun, went ahead and trampled all over the Aussies. Cut snake / last straw that breaks the camel’s back scenarios inevitably unfolded in the corridors of SA Rugby. Well karma is a ‘you know what’ and read today that NZ reporting a $40 mill loss for 2020. Just speculating here but maybe COVID-19 had something to do with that? From a South African perspective, our rugby prospects have exploded now that we are out of Super Rugby. Super Rugby no longer interferes with the Currie Cup competition so all indications are that it is making a come-back. I believe SA Rugby will adjust the calendar appropriately so that it regains its old status and ensure Super Sport get value for their money. Cheetahs may become a planning problem because SA Rugby are seriously looking at the USA and of all places Russia! I have a hunch that what SA Rugby decide to do next with the Cheetahs will lead to a home for all 4 of our remaining franchises - so keep an eye on them. Apparently there is good money to be made competing in Russia with the added bonus of another route into the Euro Champ's. The USA are talking about bidding for the RWC in the future so they may want SA Rugby participation to kick start rugby over there and who better than the free flowing Cheetahs to bring it to the USA. I have been following the Pro14 avidly since the Kings and Cheetahs made the move and I truly believe that this is the best competition for SA's 4 main Franchises. Something I am enjoying is the rivalries between the clubs, very similar to our provincial rivalries, but without any Blue Bulls supporters so not as much fun. SA participation will be a huge boost for the competition, will open the door to participation in the Euro Champ's and in the long run the financial benefits will allow our franchises to retain more of their best players. Between us, I think the quality of rugby is a lot better than the impression most Southerners have and I expect our franchises to not have it all their own way. One area that we will have to improve in if we want to dominate the Pro16 will be on the coaching front (hint, hint Mr. Scott Robertson & the Stormers). Lastly, time to stop worrying about development. The required changes implemented at grass roots level are finally bearing fruit and we are starting to not only seeing more and more players coming through, but also some seriously red hot talent! Watching schools rugby and Varsity Cup the last couple of years has been a real eye opener and I believe we are on track to start churning out a lot more top quality players.

Why would you replace Italy? You would get rid of Wales or Scotland before them. Italy is one of the largest economies in the world, it has a big population and is a delightful trip for rugby supporters. They will come good sooner or later, they just need to keep building. Australia should be thrown out of the Bledisloe Cup/Tri/Quad nations by that logic, we have not been able to beat NZ in two decades now. The only people who seem to be getting a game with the Wallabies these days are Pacific islanders who get a scholarship. Really worrying signs for union here. And people scoff when Italy or Japan loads it's teams with ringers. Take a look at your own backyards! As for South Africa, the white rugby playing population is not increasing so what future do they have in the sport? Most of SA's population has no money and playing sport is a leisure pursuit.

Cedric for a team that have "come back" as you call it...Where are they?

CPM are you aware that NZR has been talking to CVC for a fair while now too?

I don’t disagree with you on the viewership numbers issues. Ad revenue drives salaries and budget for all big time sports. Having never done the flights discussed I can’t speculate on that. As to the spectacle, it would be a shame to lose SA teams from super rugby. I think the Celtic teams would have a hell of a time handling a full strength Lions or Stormers squad.

I take it you are a Wallaby supporter Dave?

EFF, sadly you are right, but corrupt governments aren’t exclusive to Africa only.

Admirable Corne, not necessarily wise, but admirable. I gave up on South African governments, the current one is as corrupt and incompetent as the previous governments.... including apartheid governments. It is a cultural problem instead of serving the people, South African governments enrich themselves the moment they get power.

Blues fan, Saffas don’t emigrate because we think the water or rugby is better in Australia. There are many good reasons people uproot themselves and start a new life far from family and friends. The big difference is that very few that emigrated will ever return to South Africa which is a huge vote of no confidence in the future of the country.

South Africa will play Pro 16 anyway as NZ kicked them out of Superugby. There will be a competition between Currie Cup and test rugby anyway.

Like in Zim, the moment the ANC may loose the election they will play the race card. We already see evidence of this. The ANC will leave South Africa like Mugabe left Zimbabwe, bankrupt, divided and disgruntled. Just like they left State Owned Enterprises like Eskom and South African Airways. It is more likely that South Africa will default on their debt with very small reserves than the ANC will loose an election.

Hi Jonty, I believe Super Sport will release the five episode documentary across the world soon, there were a few guys who put some of the episodes up on youtube, but could not find them today, I suspect copyright in all its glory at play there. Mark Alexander was speaking on SuperSport last night saying they must save the Eastern Province rugby union, but he didn’t go in much detail. Thus far there isn’t much information regarding how they plan to develop rugby in the undeveloped areas.

I am of the generation where as a boy, I stood on two upturned Coke bottles between the shoulders of my Dad and my uncle on the grass slopes of Ellis Park watching the All Blacks vs The Springboks. Hennie van Zyl, Wing, Springboks. Don Clarke, Full Back, All Blacks. Later years. Running onto the field after an international to touch the Springbok jersey of you favorite player. Then the Apartheid years where travelling Boks had to carry out their fitness regime in the corridors of their hotels because of the anti apartheid demonstrators. We learnt who our Rugby friends were in those days. "Bugger the politics! Come and play Rugby man". New Zealand, U K, France, Scotland and many others. Strangely though, not the Wallabies. Then our banning. We missed two World Cups. 1995, Welcome back, we won our first World cup we contested. Affirmative action. Guys who didn't deserve to play, played. Finally, after years of Rugby and political evolution, we land up convincingly winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with the first black Springbok Rugby Captain, and a gentleman at that. South African Rugby has returned. Politics? The ANC haven't got long to go. You heard it here first. Watch. With all our trials and tribulations, we have still managed to win three World Cups even though we were not allowed to compete in two World Cups. The Springboks have come back. World Rugby knows it, and more importantly, New Zealand knows it. The bad news, Rugby World, is the fact that both Jake White and Rassie Erasmus are coaching Rugby in South Africa right now.

Like I said, many, not all of them.

Corne, I don't think those leaving South Africa overstate the fear factor. Once you have buried the bits and pieces remaining of two of your farming neighbors then New Zealand sounds like hevan on earth.

I agree.. I questioned the single team concept all along.. Surely Argentina can put together 2 decent sides.. There has been so much discussion around SR, The RC.. The path forward for SA, Aus and NZ.. Argentina seemingly left out.. That's just so not right.

Maybe you should be asking CVC that question, it is they who are pushing for NH inclusion and the Pro Unions are all for it.

I couldn’t agree more. It’s time to completely dump the down under kissing cousins.

When Jurie announced the result of the vote Sky’s stock price took a dump and it was Robinson who gave some half-hearted statement about how everyone was still committed to the RC. You do know that right now Jurie is having serious discussion with CVC, you know the same CVC that invested big time into Premiership rugby and ProX. And you do know they want to buy into the 6N/7N big time too. So why would SA in SANZAAR be party to such a dumb statement.