South Africa explore overseas Test option

JOHANNESBURG: Staging home Test matches abroad is among the options South African rugby bosses are considering in a bid to make the national body profitable again.

South African Rugby (SAR) posted a 23.3 million rand (RM7.8 million) loss last year.

Dwindling sponsorship in a harsh economic climate, rising costs and helping fund 14 professional provincial teams were among the reasons for the deficit.

A 130 million rand reduction in sponsorship included the withdrawal of a major South African bank as backers of the Springboks.

One possibility to increase revenue is playing an occasional high-profile Test abroad to boost the bank balance, as Ireland and Argentina did last year.

“We could move an attractive Test overseas if it makes commercial sense,” SAR chief executive Jurie Roux told a media group.

“Within a four-year cycle, one year could be set aside to play the New Zealand All Blacks aboard for the commercial good of domestic rugby.

“One would have to weigh the financial benefits against the fact that some of our supporters might miss a chance to watch the All Blacks in South Africa.

“It would be a delicate balancing act,” admitted Roux about a proposal that could come into effect from 2020 when a global rugby calendar is introduced. AFP