South Africa in blunt warning over snub

South Africa Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux has joined his Australian counterparts in warning New Zealand Rugby over any plans to form a new Super Rugby competition without them.

New Zealand and Australia are wrangling over the makeup of a new competition, but traditional foes South Africa — who were already eyeing up the European competitions — appear to have been sidelined from talks.

New Zealand may also push for limited Australian involvement in a possible eight-team competition, although there is a big move for a Pasifika team to be formed. The Aussies are threatening to go it alone.

Roux said yesterday that New Zealand Rugby could face legal action if they broke the current agreement.

“If anybody kicked anyone out of Super Rugby, it was New Zealand kicking themselves out,” Roux said.

“New Zealand has every right to determine their future but in terms of Sanzaar and the joint venture agreement, there is a very legal agreement in place and you’ve got to act within that legal agreement.

“The unbundling of Super Rugby can only be a Sanzaar executive decision. Somebody else might make a unilateral decision that forces [a split] but they put themselves at risk of a legal liability by the people who are still part of the joint venture.”

Highlanders hooker and Ma¯ori All Blacks captain Ash Dixon expressed his disappointment over the potential split with South Africa.

Dixon told Gold AM’s Country Sport Breakfast: “I’d love to see the Africans still there. I think it’s a huge part of the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa.

“Especially as a young fella who has toured there . . . it’s a great way to get a lot of gratitude . . . the way they live their lives and the way we do is completely different.

“Obviously it is not an easy place to win — I’d love to see the Africans still there.”

Roux also said the Springboks are pinning their hopes to a Rugby Championship hosted in New Zealand as the only opportunity for tests this year.

South Africa has been ravaged by Covid-19 since May, with no sport being played and leading players only now allowed back to train in groups of five.

Roux said the world champions won’t play at home this season.

“We are not planning on hosting any international games in South Africa this year. That’s the system we’re working with. Our best chance of play is either within New Zealand and if that doesn’t materialise within the Rugby Championship, a second option is us going north and possibly playing test matches.”

Sanzaar last week announced that the four-team Rugby Championship would be held in New Zealand later this year, provided the Government approve travel exemptions and quarantine measures, and the Covid-19 situation here does not deteriorate.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson confirmed NZR is working with the Government to host the tournament throughout November and December.