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SA Rugby issues statement after 2021 Rugby Championship agreement

By Online Editors
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The world champion Springboks are on track to rejoin The Rugby Championship in 2021 following what SA Rugby describe as a refreshed approach by the four partner unions in what was outlined as the first part of a phased redevelopment within southern hemisphere rugby.

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South Africa pulled out of this month’s tournament in Australia, citing lack of match preparation time as the reason not to travel after their clubs only returned to playing in recent weeks following the pandemic stoppage of the sport there.

That decision meant the Springboks have yet to play since they lifted the World Cup with a win over England in last November’s final in Yokohama, but they will now return to The Rugby Championship next year following the Lions tour next July.     

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Wallabies assistant Petrus du Plessis on Bledisloe IV

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Wallabies assistant Petrus du Plessis on Bledisloe IV

It’s said that the Championship, the flagship tournament of southern hemisphere rugby, will be restructured to include a twelve-match format with teams playing each other on a home or away basis through the new mini-tour match schedule that was adopted in 2019.

“We welcome the changes announced to the Rugby Championship with our SANZAAR partners and we are looking forward to seeing what the new strategic plan for the competition entails, with possible international expansion on the cards,” said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.

“Although we had to change our domestic focus, we still have a long history with the All Blacks and Wallabies as well as a long-standing friendship with the Pumas and we look forward to more world-class Test rugby.

“Ever since the Tri-Nations was first contested in 1996, and more recently the Rugby Championship from 2012, a team from the southern hemisphere has won the Rugby World Cup five out of six times – which is testimony to the high quality of Test rugby played on this side of the equator.”

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Andy Marinos, SANZAAR CEO, added: “The re-commitment by the four unions to the long-term future of the international game is an important start as we embark in a new direction for both the unions and the organisation over the coming years.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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