SA rugby shake-up
Now wealthy sponsors will be able to buy a franchise National coach will be appointed by the executive
IT HAS been a horror year for the Boks on the field – and now the shake-up in South African rugby has begun. On a day described as a “pretty big watershed” by SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux, these major changes were announced:
Private companies will be able to own up to 74 percent of a province’s commercial arms;
The Springbok coach will no longer be appointed by the 14 provinces who make up the General Council. That appointment will now be made by the Executive Council, which runs the business side of SA Rugby;
Increasing the make-up of the independent and player representation on the Executive Council to five independents with six elected members;
Introducing new committees for franchise (Super Rugby) and non-franchise rugby;
Removing the selection committee while retaining a selection convener to work with national team coaches; and
Reducing the presidential roles from three to two by removing the vice-presidency from 2018.
Roux said the decisions made a “massive change” in the way rugby would be administered. While admitting that these were “tough economic times”, he said SA Rugby was not insolvent, having made some operational cuts.
He added they were budgeting for a profit next year, but anticipated a “small loss” for this year.
“It’s a pretty big watershed in South African rugby. If we move in 15 different directions, we will never move forward. We needed 75 percent approval, and that’s pretty unanimous. People are always afraid of change, and change is difficult,” he said.
“Sometimes things happen on the field and other places that just force you to change. Maybe there’s a silver lining to everything, although sometimes it’s difficult to see it. But in the end, I think people made decisions in the best interests (of SA rugby).
“And if you think about some of the decisions taken, turkeys actually did vote for Christmas on some of them – and I’m being serious.
“Some of them had to make fairly hard decisions, which could be deemed in their own constituencies as not being in the interests of their union, but in the interests of South African rugby as a whole. And people are not always loved for that.”
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has complained about the late arrival of overseas-based players before matches, and keeping the leading players at home would help solve that problem.
“A very big decision for us was to take away the constitutional restriction of 49.9 percent in terms of private equity investment into the commercial arms of the provincial unions to 74 percent, but that is at the discretion of each and every union,” Roux said.
He said choosing the Springbok coach often resulted in a delay for the General Council to make the final decision months after the best candidate was identified.
“The council’s feeling in terms of that is that it is an operational appointment, and it is part of the responsibility of the executive. It’s the same for the chief executive officer,” he said.
Another change, in line with Sascoc regulations, sees SA Rugby changing the provincial members to the nine geopolitical boundaries.
But Roux and president Mark Alexander insisted it would not change the make-up of commercial competitions such as the Currie Cup or Craven Week, which will still have 14 provincial teams.
BEFORE Mamelodi Sundowns conquered Africa by winning the Caf Champions League, the club were mocked for reaching the group stage via the back door. The Brazilians benefited from AS Vita being kicked out by the continent’s governing body, Caf, for fielding an improperly registered player.
Vita made way for Sundowns in the last eight. The Brazilians made the most of that chance, going all the way to claim their first continental title.
That title earned them an appearance in the Fifa Club World Cup where they start their campaign against Japanese champions Kashima Antlers tomorrow.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has taken the “back door entrance” tag, something that was used to ridicule the club, and transformed it to have another meaning.
He argues that if Bafana Bafana can’t conquer the continent or the world, then the country must do so via the back door through clubs in continental and international football.
Before Sundowns have even kicked a ball in Japan, they have done better than Bafana whose best display in a World Cup was to finish third in their group.
Sundowns will start their Club World Cup campaign in the quarter-finals, a stage the senior men’s national team have never reached in a global competition.
“We are representing Africa. I would be happy if we (at least) make it to the semifinals, to make sure we put Africa in the top four in the world,” Mosimane said.
“That’s a good footprint because in the World Cup, with national teams, it’s not happening. (No African nation has so far reached the semi-final of a World Cup). When we have the opportunity to make it happen with the clubs, then we must do it. I couldn’t win the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with Bafana, but I won the Champions League through the club.
“Maybe our country must work better and stronger with clubs because we have the ammunition. (Bidvest) Wits are strong. (Kaizer) Chiefs are strong. SuperSport (United) are strong. (Orlando) Pirates are strong, they have shown that on the continent.
“Let’s try it the other way. If we can’t succeed with the national teams, let’s go at it through club football. Let’s make South Africa respected again on the continent through the clubs.
“Let’s have two of our teams in the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup and two in the semi-finals of the Champions League. It’s possible. It’s all about our mindset. I would be happy if Africa (at least) finish third in this tournament. Europe and South America dominate it because of the talent that comes from those regions.”
If Sundowns are to finishing third, they must go past Antlers in Osaka tomorrow (kick-off 12.30pm South African time).
This will be a huge test for the Brazilians, who have to go past the hosts to book a meeting with South American champions Atletico Nacional in the semi-final.
If they get through Nacional, Sundowns could possibly meet Real Madrid in the final. This will test Sundowns’ fitness levels after a gruelling year which they have to finish with high-tempo matches just before returning home to play their last league game against a tricky Baroka side.
But that doesn’t worry Mosimane because of the stellar job fitness trainer Kabelo Rangoaga has done.
“KB returned from another international programme with (world renowned Dutch fitness trainer) Raymond Verheijen, who is his mentor ,” Mosimane said. “He told KB that he is happy that his methods are adopted in South Africa and the results are showing. Hence the Champions League, the amount of games we have played in 15 months of football.
“But you never see Sundowns tired, especially in the last 30 minutes. Our methods work … We don’t train twice a day. For the last three years we have never had two training sessions. Even in pre-season. We train once.”