SA RUGBY OKAYS OVERSEAS ‘HOME’ TESTS
SA Rugby okays move for big games to be played in foreign locations
SA Rugby could in the future schedule important Springbok “home” test matches in foreign locations if it is commercially viable after a change to the constitution was ratified at its 25th annual general meeting (AGM) in Cape Town yesterday.
The meeting saw the finalisation of agreement to allow SA Rugby to nominate where future tests will be played when rugby’s global calendar kicks in‚ in 2020.
It is part of far-reaching constitutional changes announced in December.
Chief executive Jurie Roux outlined that with the test agenda set until 2032‚ SA Rugby, through its new franchise and non-franchise (professional and non-professional) committees‚ would come up with a mechanism to allocate tests.
“The global season has been agreed at World Rugby by all its members and that gives us clarity‚” Roux said.
“We know who and where we are going to play, with the exception of matches against tier-two nations.
“That gives us the chance to now allocate tests for 14 years and today we ratified a big change which gives SA Rugby control of test matches.
“We can now take big tests overseas if it makes commercial sense‚ and we can decide where to host tests locally.
“But it will be done through those committees which do have provincial representation.”
Roux said Brazil had made a lucrative offer to the Springboks to play last year against the All Blacks in Rio in the build-up to the Olympics.
But the proposal had arrived too late to make it a reality.
He said any decision to take Springbok “home” tests overseas would be made with the welfare of the local rugby community first.
“A decision of that nature would happen around the allocation criteria‚” Roux said.
“If we use a four-year allocation cycle‚ maybe one year will be set aside to play the All Blacks somewhere in the world for the commercial good of the local game.
“You’d have to weigh the financial benefits against the fact that your own fans might not have the chance to see the Springboks versus the All Blacks in their own country.
“That’s a fine balance and I don’t know where the critical point lies at this moment.
“Fortunately‚ it can be planned well in advance because of the new calendar and everyone will know what the perimetres are.”
Obviously, for the Springboks to be a commercial drawcard in the next two decades, performances need to improve‚ something president Mark Alexander vowed was top of the agenda.
The Boks are ranked seventh in the world‚ after starting last year ranked third.
“Let’s not beat about the bush: it turned out to be the toughest and most challenging year in a quarter of a century – both on and off the field‚” Alexander said.
“The fortunes of our business are chiefly determined by one overriding factor: the performance of the flagship team.
“The form of the Springboks in 2016 was at its lowest ebb since rugby unity in 1992.
“The new era and new dawn we had all hoped for failed to materialise. But 2017 will be different.
“We have now held three coaching and two conditioning indabas and developed a coaching blueprint bought into by all our Super Rugby coaches.
“I would once again like to commend Johan Ackermann‚ Nollis Marais‚ Franco Smith‚ Deon Davids‚ Robert du Preez and Robbie Fleck for their fantastic cooperation‚ insight and support in this process. It has the potential to be truly game-changing for SA Rugby.”
He said he hoped off-field changes‚ approved in December‚ would have a similar impact.
They included the opening of rugby to greater business influence by allowing equity partnerships of up to 74% in the commercial arms of unions, the creation of a new fit-for-purpose committee structure and an increase in independent representation on the executive council.
The roll-out of a 100-day plan had also addressed multiple issues, including a revision of domestic competitions, the preparation of a Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign plan, and the development of a fan engagement strategy and a new licensing model for participation in competitions.