Saru’s selection criteria to keep talent home

IF YOU want to play for the Springboks in future you’re either going to have to play inside South Africa’s borders or have at least earned 30 Test caps.

So, from July 1 – that is after June’s three Test series against France – overseas-based players like Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch will no longer be available for the Boks and neither will players currently contracted to overseas clubs or heading that way soon.

The South African Rugby Union confirmed yesterday that players earning foreign currency have to have at least played 30 Tests to be selected for the Boks. However, in a World Cup year, the national coach will be allowed to pick whoever he wants, regardless of where he plies his trade.

The decision aims to halt the exodus of South Africa’s best young players who’re being lured abroad more and more frequently.

“We are sending a message to young players that if they wish to play for the Springboks, then they must remain in South Africa,” said Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby.

“But we have also retained flexibility for the coach to select exceptional players provided they have a proven track record of 30 Tests for the Springboks. How to balance the need to select the strongest possible team against the challenges of having such a large number of players based overseas has been a subject of long debate in our game.

“We have made this change in what we believe are the best interests of the Springbok team but we will review it periodically.”

The move could force promising youngsters, or those close to breaking into the Test team or establishing themselves in the team, who’ve been thinking about signing up to clubs in England, France and Ireland, to reconsider their futures.

But the decision could see more players teaming up with Japanese clubs; where they will play in the months from October through January, and still be eligible for Super Rugby and the Springboks.

Previously the Springbok coach was allowed to pick whoever he wanted from overseas teams, but with foreign currency still trumping the Rand it’ll be interesting to see if Saru’s stricter conditions will have the desired outcome – and that is ensuring this country’s best young players stay.

Also, with the coach being afforded the right to pick whoever he wants in a World Cup year, players could well decide to sign with overseas teams anyway and take their chances.

A 41-man Bok training group, minus the Sharks and Kings players, gather in Johannesburg for the first of three training camps from tomorrow.