How South Africa can remain competitive and reinforce their position as a world super power
“You do not have to change. Survival is not mandatory” – W. Edward Deming
For the game to function optimally in South Africa in order to serve the current needs there are three extremely important aspects that need to be considered cautiously and with much insight and oversight.
The history, a workable hierarchy and economic survival are of cardinal importance.
Cognizance of these three aspects can provide a long-term survival policy that can be taken out for the game.
If not, there can possibly be a shorter and stormy lifespan for rugby in the offing.
1. History
The history and reason for the existence of the game is of cardinal importance. A rugby organization must never be alienated from its roots because the reason for its existence will always play an essential role in the survival thereof. The origin of sport, or games, was and will always be rooted in a social-community context with the game as binding factor. It binds people that have been brought together as the result of their participation therein. That goes for both participants and spectators alike.
2. Hierarchy
Here we have to do with the model for the development of players (human material) that can possibly play on a professional level in order to make a living. To ensure this possibility, there must be a normal flow of human material through the game. The system must be capable of providing the players with the necessary schooling (training) to ensure that they can develop to the highest level of the game in order to enable them to compete optimally on the playing field. This schooling model must be positioned in such a way that the necessary qualities of strength vs strength can compete to develop the players and also ignite the imaginations of the spectators.
This model must also contain a promotion-relegation function so that the different levels represent a quality-driven competition that is driven by real market forces to ensure a future featuring true strength vs strength in South Africa. The competitions must derive from geographical means in order to ensure cost-effectiveness so that the current needs may be served. This means that the normal market forces can develop spontaneously in future to ensure strength vs strength. The principle of such a free- market system can develop to its fullest consequences over time. Remember that this model must be capable of withstanding the evolution of time. There are certain population and demographic realities in South Africa today that developed spontaneously and that were not present in the same geographical context in the past. The move towards urbanization is but one dimension of this reality.
The competitions must thus be presented at different levels as they represent different markets each with their own specific needs. E.g. A (International). B (Provincial), C (Districts or Towns), E (Juniors or Schools) etc. There are different levels at which the game’s development needs to be adapted. This division of the hierarchy is not necessarily the Alpha and Omega of a future dispensation. New systems will and must develop from this so that the needs of time can be satisfied in terms of the corresponding market forces. No one can expect that any given system must exist for the future of time.
This system must have a factor of promotion and relegation built in so that teams can move between levels and centres of gravity of community movements, numbers and qualities of the game can be accommodated.
There needs to only a single hedged competitor, namely the International A-Level of Springbok rugby. The wider the base of the pyramid, i.e. participation of the game at different levels, the better the performance of the game at different levels of the pyramid should be given that the correct attention (training methods and competitions) is given to the players in the system.
3. Economic survival
The third and very important aspect of the game is the economic survival and viability of each participating organization. Similar to a free economic model, each organization must be capable of being run professionally without restrictions and hedging. The geography of where the game is being played will not necessarily determine the quality of the product. The standard of delivery is determined by the quality of the product as a result of the business model of the specific organization.
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And now the commercial side of the story. The specific organization as described above must be a financially viable one in order to ensure survival. Its products must therefore be utilized in a profitable manner. And as such, the game must also be representative of the process. From the smallest company to the large businesses. The game cannot be deprived of its principles.
The future economic success of the game is definitely located outside the box and not in any given model as it is being managed today. A good example of a success story in this context is that of Manchester United that is currently a listed company on the London Stock Exchange. Each organization should be capable of structuring its own economic model. There will, without doubt, be smaller models in future that will outdo larger models solely as a result of better management and optimalisation in comparison to larger models. And that is how it must be.
People are the most important asset of a rugby organization, but also potentially the biggest risk. Each participant taking part in the organisation must make a larger contribution to its economic activity than that which they take out. Otherwise, the model cannot work. Simply put: the stadium cleaner, field gardener, administrative clerk, executive manager, president, coaches and players must follow suit. If I am an investor that owns the club I need to make a return on my capital investment. My initial investment of ZAR100 must grow on an annual basis. Then my stream can keep flowing. If my stream flows stronger as a result of successes I will retain my investment in the sector or increase it. If there is no profit, I must review my investment by means of innovation or withdraw.
The next question is how to organize the structures in the system as there are only 52 weeks in a year. The sun must be able to shine on each of the levels and – the pinnacle of the rugby pyramid – the Springboks, must be involved throughout the pyramid. That means that the systems must associate, synchronise and talk with one another from Junior to Springbok level. This does not mean that the Springboks have to be involved for 52 weeks of the year all over. But each of them must be committed at each level throughout.
As an example of the above, the following:
International rugby, which is the biggest asset to SA rugby, must be looked after and the Springboks should not play more than 26 matches in total per annum. There should also be a four-week rest period built into the plan. There must also be a six-week conditioning period as a pre-season programme. It will optimalise the players’ careers and thus rugby’s largest source of potential income in the international market. The Springboks should play approximately 19 percent of the available 42 playing weeks of the year:
Thus eight Tests per annum. The top A-class Springbok thus participates in eight matches.
Super Rugby is viewed as a very important schooling platform for future A-class Springboks. Approximately 19 percent of the available playing time should also be allocated to this level. Thus, also 8 matches and the A-class Springboks should only participate in 6 of these matches, thus totalling 14 matches. The B-class Springbok may play all 8 matches bringing his total to 8 plus the matches he may be selected to play at the higher level.
The rugby world is getting a shake-up and South Africa could be on the outs from #SuperRugby.https://t.co/Ny1QsBZrd0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 30, 2020
The Currie Cup competition is the engine room of development of SA players in order to enable them to progress to the highest level. In this competition they will play a maximum of 16 matches.
The A-class Springbok must participate in 6 of these matches which brings his total 20. The B-class Springbok must play in 10 of the matches and will thus participate in 18 matches plus those that he may me selected for at Springbok level. The Currie Cup player thus plays all 16 matches.
The Premium Club Competition represents a level that is of utmost importance for the development (and especially also the psychological development) of competing players as they are also going to play against Springboks and Currie Cup players. The clubs also act as a supporting and feeding base to players eager on promoting to Currie Cup level. Their matches should be played in the beginning of the season.
The A-class Springbok must participate in 4 of the matches per annum bringing his total matches to 24 in a single year. The B-class Springbok also plays 4 matches, thus 22, plus those he gets selected to play for the Springbok teams. Currie Cup players must play 8 of the 10 matches in this competition. They therefore play a total of 24 plus those they play in the Super Rugby competition and the Springboks.
A secondary club competition can be organized after the first two months of the season so that club players can still participate for a further 10 to 14 matches so that the economic activities of the club can remain in tact.
It is important that each competition that forms part of the pyramid as described above is self-sufficient to enable it to have a reason for existence in the free market system.
For an economic activity to function optimally, we also need to ponder the potential limitations in the current SA rugby model.
The aim of the view as expressed herein is to stimulate further thought and discussion so that the wonderful game of rugby’s continued survival can enjoy the attention that it deserves.
– Dawie Snyman/Rugby365
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments