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South African Rugby Union President Mark Alexander explains why they have decided to have one leg in the Northern Hemisphere, while keeping another in the Southern Hemisphere – report Rugby 365.
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The SARU boss said the addition of two more South African franchises to the Pro14 – most likely from 2019 – will give them the option to migrate fully to the north in the future.
For now, they will maintain their rocky marriage with their SANZAAR partners, while strengthening their ever-growing relationship with their partners in the north.
Alexander, at the South African launch of the 2018-19 Pro14 season, said they are “in negotiations” with their Euro partners to get the two additional teams added by next year – for the 2019-2020 season.
“We are excited about introducing another two teams in the north,” the SARU boss said, adding: “We will have four [teams] in the north and four in the south.”
He confirmed that the formal announcement of the identity of the two additional franchises for the Pro14 will be made “at the beginning of 2019”.
It is an open ‘secret’ that the two newest SARU franchises, Griquas and Pumas, are being ‘prepared’ for the trek north.
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While it cost SARU a heft ZAR37-million in 2017 to enter the Cheetahs and Southern Kings in the Pro14, Alexander said it was part of a “long-term investment”.
Some critics questioned whether it was a wise decision, given it contributed to a pre-tax loss of ZAR33.3-million for the 2017 financial year, Alexander said they will get big returns in the future.
“If you look at the long-term, we have options now,” the SARU boss said, adding: “If, at some point in time, we don’t want to play in the south [against their SANZAAR rivals], we can move north.
“It is also [good] for the [Springbok] coach.
“We [SA teams] are playing against most of the teams [from] the tier one nations,” he said, in reference to competing against teams from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the various competitions in the two hemispheres.
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“The only teams we won’t play against are [those from] England.
“Most of the other [tier one] nations [have players] playing in these competitions.”
He reiterated that some short-term losses will become long-term gains.
“It works financially in the long-term, once we become a full member [of the Pro14 organisation] in the next round [2019/2020 season].
“We are a full member of SANZAAR, which is a great competition for us as well. We will [become] a full member of Pro14.
“There is no other nation in the world that has the opportunity to play in two hemispheres.”
He said there is no danger the Pro14 will become the same failure as Super Rugby did with the constant addition of teams.
“The structure [in Pro14] is different.
“The biggest problem we face in [the] south [SANZAAR], is the distances between the teams and countries.
“Here [Pro14] we have an overnight flight.
“One looks at player welfare and playing in the north helps with player welfare.
“We are playing in the same timezone and the same timezones also helps with the broadcasts.
“Also, for a guy like [Springbok coach] Rassie [Erasmus], he can see how the players do in the north and the south.
“Rassie has options now. He can play different types of players on the year-end tour.
“We have ignored the [players in the] north for too long.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments