"The biggest immediate threat to South African rugby is losing young, talented players to the lure of foreign clubs. I can therefore understand the sentiment behind SA Rugby’s decision to introduce a 30-Test cap entry point for overseas-based players from 1 July.
If the governing body can limit the drain of young players leaving South Africa by making a hard and fast rule, fair enough, but I’m indifferent to this new direction. While the impending policy might seem like a fair compromise, imposing a regulation and hoping it solves all the problems is only serving to paper over the cracks.
I believe we should be addressing the root cause of the current exodus and understanding how we make players desperate to remain in South Africa.
Playing for the Springboks is a big part of that but not the only contributing factor. Representing my country was certainly one of my proudest rugby moments. However, it’s not the be-all and end-all.
We have to remember that only a small amount of players have the opportunity to play Test rugby, and it is the strength of our local franchises that serves as a barometer to how the Springboks perform at an international level. If we examine the performances of our Super Rugby teams last year, bar the Lions, how can we expect the Springboks to be on par with the All Blacks? [How many times have I said this and how many times have I been rubbished by a certain cranky old fossil?]
If we take English club rugby as an example, it’s easy to gauge how the strength of the Aviva Premiership competition has positively influenced the senior national side.
I am in no way negative about my experiences within South African rugby, but the professionalism I experienced during my time at Saracens was on another level. I felt I was given every opportunity to excel. I experienced a different level of coaching, player management and was exposed to a culture that put the players needs at the heart of the club.
Had the current 30-Test policy been in place when I was weighing up a move to Saracens with four Test caps to my name, it wouldn’t have affected my decision. I was at a point in my Sharks career where I got a bit stale and wasn’t excelling in the environment. I felt like I was losing my passion for the game and needed a change of scenery.
When I left for London, I knew it was unlikely that I’d play for the Springboks again and I was content to accept the outcome. The threat of not playing for the Springboks again wouldn’t have been enough to keep me in SA. Ultimately, it was the best decision I ever made. I started to love the game again and relished going to work. It made me a better professional and improved me as a player.
Cobus Reinach is the latest South African who will head abroad at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season. To lose a player of Reinach’s calibre is a massive blow to SA rugby. He is a fantastic team man and brings plenty of energy and enthusiasm. Sharks CEO Gary Teichmann remarked that SA Rugby “can be more professional with their approach to the players they see in their plans, and try to at least sell the Springbok dream which seems to be waning at the moment.”
Teichmann is an astute man and has recently raised some hard but equally fair points. I know his heart is in the right place and he does not speak up to court controversy but to seek clarity.
SA Rugby, as the governing body, needs to be accountable to address those concerns and it’s important that we, as an immensely proud rugby nation, ask them the hard questions. Personally, I am sometimes confused as to whether they always have the players’ best inte rests at heart or are looking out for themselves.
So back to the policy at the core of the debate: if this is the first move by SA Rugby to attempt to keep players in South Africa then so be it. However, in itself, it doesn’t solve anything. There are bigger issues that need to be addressed if we are to remain the world force we can and should be."
