Lions to cull Donkey's in line with SA Rugby plan

Johannesburg - The Lions have announced that they will offer severance packages to an undisclosed number of their contracted players.

READ: The Lions' full press release

This follows a recent announcement by SA Rugby that the country's rugby governing body intended to cut the number of professional players in the country.

Via a press statement released on Friday, the Lions announced that they have “involuntarily” taken the decision.

“Due to changes in the Rugby Industry whereby the decision to reduce professional players has been instigated the Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. has been involuntarily required to offer mutual severance packages to contracted players,” the statement read.

The Lions did not indicate who the affected players were.

The statement continued: “The Company has been in communications with SAREO, The South African Rugby Players’ Association (SARPA) and various CEOs of the different Rugby Franchises over the past year in order to determine the most appropriate way forward, change in competitions structures, the changes of the industry as well as the increasing financial pressures.

“The Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. began engaging with various players whereby a mutual separation and existing agreements could be concluded with the support of SA Rugby and SARPA.”

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander earlier said the new system would aim to reduce the number of professional players in the country from around 990 to 460. (+50%)

It means that the major franchises will only be able to contract between 40-50 players per season.

Mandisi Tshonti, General Manager of Player Affairs at SARPA, believes the Lions’ decision was done with the best interests of the players and the union in mind.

“With unions experiencing ongoing stress determined by factors within the industry, we can expect more of these processes to follow in the future. This process is not something new in the industry and as representatives of the players we were informed of planned consultations with the players. 

Form past experiences we have seen that if this process is followed correctly it will be beneficial for both parties but we will nonetheless stay close to the process and advise the players,” said Tshonti.

Bart Schoeman, High-Performance Manager of the Lions, added: “After numerous meetings with all relative parties the industry changes have forced a change in strategic planning. Processes have been forced to ensure sustainability and succession plans with the franchise. For Lions Rugby equality, transparency and future opportunity is of paramount importance whereby confidentiality is key to the sensitivity of the process.”

--- SharkBoks findings& Official Verdict:

If done correctly, this could be a good idea. Firstly, some of the players that are in Super Rugby and the Curry Cup are just not of the required calibre to be professional sports people. Many lack basic skills like catching, as well as basic draw, step and pass to create space. 

It could mean bigger salaries to retain some of the better players in SA, for both Pro 14 and SuperRugby. It could also mean managing the game time of players better- to get more out of the Bok team. With so many players going overseas, it seems the Unions are investing in lots of players and getting stuck with the duds while the cream of the crop often leaves to play overseas.

460 players, with 40-50 players per season is enough for 10 teams. 

1. Super Rugby (Four teams)
   
2. Pro14 (Two teams) ... may increase to 4
   
3. Curry Cup (Six teams) ... possibly eight

A few players will play in more than one tournament. So a team like the Lions will have say 45 players. They will need at least 35 for SuperRugby, with some of these also playing in the Curry Cup or Springboks. So it should be under 30 games per season.

Very few Boks would play Curry Cup, so they would have 15-18 games in SuperRugby and 12 tests max, to bring it down to less than thirty games per year. 

Pro 14 would most likely just have these games- and perhaps some Springbok games if these teams recruit some of the better players- and become more formidable. 13 Games, and then say 12 for the Boks. 

The ideal situation is to have players playing under 30 games per year, and perhaps more like 25. 

The biggest issue is can our coaches identify the best talent? Or will they just look for the biggest players, and recruit these?

SB

It is ridiculous that franchises should have around 90 players employed while actually using a much lesser number of players in competitions.   Fact is that there are basically a number of  levels where contracted players play, namely -

*   Super Rugby -  the big four only

*   The CC

*   The Vodacom Cup

*   The Under 21  CC

*   The Under 19  CC

The other provinces have to deal with -

*   The Pro 14  -  The Cheetahs, Kings and potentially the Pumas

 *   The CC

*   The Vodacom Cup

*   The Under 21  CC

*   The Under 19  CC

Many of the Under 19 players are still at school or in the various academies.

The fact is that circa 450 players will cater for about 

*    300 for the 7 bigger unions

*    150 for the 6 other unions

The fact is that especially the under 19 teams can be reduced by players still in school and the lower level competitions can use players from clubs where match fees only will be paid.

I checked how many rugby players are contracted by individual Club teams  in England.    From what I could make out they normally have around 25 forwards and 20 backline players on contract  - ie a number of circa 45 - the same number envisaged in the case of SA.

I think most franchises in SA is basically in serious financial trouble and a reduction of contracted players as suggested will add massively -

*   to a more financially viable situation for SA franchices and provincial teams;

*   a more equitable distribution of players; and

*   a situation where professional players can be paid more according to a merit system.

In any event I think that a change will really be of advantage insofar as professionalism in rugby in SA is concerned,   There are way too many players who should not be regarded as professionals. 

However, it can also have a serious disadvantage - since players may have to be contracted on a BEE and not merit basis.     

SB

I would split the difference between Under 21 and Under 19 and have an Under 20 Competition in line with the Under 20 WC comp.

That would still involve school boys and academy players  as well, which needs not to be contracted.   At this stage the Franchises has school boy contracts in place costing them at least R40 000 to R50 000 per year per case.   Those players are often enough sponsored - like the case of Willemse and 17 other Coloured youngsters have been done by the Rupert family enabling them to study at Paul Roos Gym.  

All major rugby schools are in fact sponsored by private companies and individuals,   You should see the sponsorship list at schools like Oakdale and Outeniqua.   Both schools have at least 24 sponsors in place and they cover the huge costs related to country-wide school rugby competitions.  

The main player source is not Craven Week - which costs are  covered  by Cocoa Cola - but the county-wide school competitions, which eliminate the need for Franchise involvement in school rugby at all.