No pot of gold at the end of this Rainbow

African rugby woke up yesterday to the bad news that the Rainbow Cup that was to take place in April and June is almost certainly cancelled.

The Rainbow Cup, featuring the European teams that have just completed the PRO14, was to be a one-off “bridge” competition for the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions to enter European rugby, but reported objections from the England government have jeopardised the competition, which was due to kick off April 24 and run through to a June 19 final.

The four South African former Super Rugby teams are later this year set to join the Welsh, Irish, Scottish and Italian PRO14 teams in an expanded PRO18.

It was reported in the United Kingdom over the weekend that the government of England had told the South African teams not to apply for visas.

Sharks chief executive Eduard Coetzee confirmed the bad news yesterday.

“We have little information at this stage, but it seems to be the case that the Rainbow Cup will be cancelled,” Coetzee said.

The first three rounds of the Rainbow Cup were to be played in South Africa, with rounds of derby games, and then the South African teams were to be based in a biosecure environment in England, and this is where the stumbling block has arisen.

It would appear that England is not prepared to risk a Covid-19 outbreak by hosting the South African franchises.

The cancellation of the Rainbow Cup would be a serious setback to the financially beleaguered SA Rugby, who were relying heavily on the income that would be earned from the overseas television rights.

Springbok coach Jacques

Nienaber would also have used the Rainbow Cup to gauge the form of his players ahead of the series against the British & Irish Lions.

The latest developments will doubtless also sentence the SA teams to yet another form of domestic competition.