Big bucks await SA rugby unions
I DON’T think any of us understand what is about to happen to South African rugby in the next few months.
This past weekend, the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers qualified for the United Rugby Championship playoffs, and there is only one certainty – Irish giants Leinster will finish top of the standings, regardless of any other results that might unfold around them until after the weekend of May 21.
Nevertheless, by finishing in the Top 8, the three sides have also qualified for the European Champions Cup.
To say playing in that tournament is lucrative, is an understatement. Who automatically qualifies for that competition is undecided – only four points separate the SA Shield’s standings with the Stormers in first, followed by the Sharks and then the Bulls.
Winning the colloquially known Heineken Cup could profit a union with winnings of close to R10 million, and if all the stages are accounted for, it could be as much as R33m-plus. That was the prize money at the end of the 2018 season; and it is estimated winning that championship now, could net a team as much as €1million – that’s R17m.
The latest concrete sum for winning SuperRugby was R2.5m in 2013. That has certainly changed in these past few years, but it has nothing on the money involved in playing in Europe.
This, of course, does not include the broadcasting money it will generate for SA Rugby, or the gate-takings the unions will enjoy next season when they play against the best sides from England and France.
They include such heavyweights as Leicester, Saracens, Harlequins and Sale; and also Toulouse, Toulon, Montpellier and Lyon. It is insane to consider that in a few months, Loftus Versveld, Kings Park or Cape Town Stadium could host one of the teams on a balmy Saturday afternoon.
The immense purchasing power of South African Rugby might finally come to fruition, as there is arguably no other nation that consumes rugby on the level of this country.
What a boon it will be for our grassroot development as well; and with that, I guess the last thing to acknowledge is giving thanks to Australia and New Zealand for “unilaterally” booting us out of SuperRugby.