SA Rugby’s reduction in contracts for pro players unfair to smaller unions

Outgoing Griquas coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has questioned the wisdom of SA Rugby’s contracting model which will see the drastic reduction of the number of professional players in the country.

Janse van Rensburg, who has taken up a position as assistant coach at the Sharks‚ was instrumental in steering his team to the Currie Cup semifinals and believes smaller unions can play a more significant role in the domestic game.

“Griquas‚ this year‚ yet again reignited a bit of hope and proved that there is a place for a smaller union in this country. With a shoestring budget we were very competitive this year. How much more can we do if we had the resources of the bigger unions?

“A lot of these players didn’t get game time at the bigger unions – they were discarded.

“We brought them in‚ put them together and now everyone is talking about them again. Look at Anthony Volmink‚ he’s got Super Rugby caps but he was unemployed for four months.

“George Whitehead had a blinder of a year. He has mostly not put a foot wrong. I can keep going. This union has served SA Rugby well. I hope everyone realises the role Griquas can play.”

He believes talented young players will get even less playing opportunity under the new contracting model.

“We have tons of talent in this country and I don’t think six franchises is enough. We have a junior system that has now been reduced. With the quality we have there they need to get game time. With the contracting model going down to 45 players now per union‚ guys still have to play somewhere.”

Janse van Rensburg helped forge Griquas into a competitive unit this year.

It saw them win the SuperSport Challenge and reach the Currie Cup semifinals for the first time since 1998.