Watershed moment is good news for South African rugby

THE decision to withdraw the Springboks from the Rugby Championship to be played in Australia next month is good news for the game of rugby in this country, with a significant loss of revenue from broadcasting rights the only drawback while there are a host of positives.

It is also a watershed moment for South African rugby in that it is a break from the traditional alignment with southern hemisphere collaborators Australia and New Zealand, while setting the Springboks up for possible inclusion in a Test rugby championship in the Northern Hemisphere, which is geographically more inviting for South African sport teams.

Already, South Africa’s top provincial franchises have officially broken away from Super Rugby to next year join the Pro 14 competition, which features teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

For 25 years, Sanzaar – the governing body of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – ran Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship, but with Super Rugby now consigned to history, and the Boks having pulled out of the 2020 Championship, Sanzaar is increasingly looking like a captain without a ship to sail.

Do not be surprised if the Championship that is now going ahead in Australia without the Boks is Sanzaar’s curtain call.

The Springbok players, meanwhile, remain home to play in Super Rugby Unlocked and then the Currie Cup – South Africa’s post- lockdown domestic competitions – and how welcome they are.

If the Boks had gone to Australia, 46 of our best players would have been taken out of domestic rugby, drastically compromising the quality of the competitions.

Instead, South African rugby can now concentrate on itself, without external distractions, strengthening the players at their own pace after that prolonged period of inactivity, and making sure the Springboks are in the best possible health for the much- anticipated tour of the British and Irish Lions next year.

The Springboks for once being available for domestic rugby also has a substantial additional benefit for the country’s younger players, who can only learn from and be inspired by rubbing shoulders with the Siya Kolisis of this world.