South African teams facing more rejection
South Africa’s four most powerful rugby franchises may be bracing for more rejection following a report they won’t be able to play in a northern hemisphere competition.
When NZ Rugby led the charge to shunt the South African teams out of Super Rugby after the outbreak of Covid-19 last year – a move that caused South Africa Rugby considerable heartburn – it forced the franchises from the Republic to look beyond the equator for a new tournament.
It appeared the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions would be allowed to join a revamped Pro14 competition alongside 12 teams from Italy, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, but recent developments suggest this may no longer be the case.
The Rainbow Cup was supposed to provide an avenue for the four South African teams to play sides from beyond their country of origin, but South African newspaper Rapport has reported SA Rugby has advised that the offer to play in the competition has been withdrawn.
Rapport has reported that the stakeholders in the Rainbow Cup have allegedly decided in a virtual meeting that the South African teams couldn’t participate because of the “forces outside rugby’’.
The rejection of the four teams means SA Rugby is now looking at hosting a domestic competition.
Having the welcome mat removed by the Pro14 stakeholders could also make SA Rugby budget for a significant reduction in income, given the Rainbow Cup would have potentially helped it earn revenue through TV broadcast rights.
Following the suspension of Super Rugby last year, due to the pandemic, NZ Rugby moved to revamp the competition and SA Rugby was far from happy to be told its teams were not required.
While NZ Rugby created Super Rugby Aotearoa, and Rugby Australia embarked on its own domestic competition, SA Rugby was left in limbo.
A tournament in the republic was eventually launched late last year, but its days of playing in Super Rugby were numbered.
Meanwhile, SA Rugby refused to allow the world champion Springboks to play in the Rugby Championship alongside its Sanzaar partners, citing a lack of preparation as an excuse.
Instead, the All Blacks, Wallabies and Argentina played in a Tri Nations tournament in Australia.
It’s hoped the Springboks will return to the Rugby Championship this year.