Rugby over Christmas?!!!!

I don't know about you okes, but just looking at the playing calendar and it makes absolutely no sense. First, most of the key boks will be rested from Feb to March and won't be playing in the derbies. 

Then, there are matches that are spread out from Dec until mid March. Most of these games are local derby games except for the European rugby championship. 

Why not just end 15 December and then start the season again on 22 March. There are two championship games at the end of Jan. But we just skip these derby games and start them earlier. Players get a break, they can occupy their time for European cup games and then have a proper switch off. Pointless rugby  

Stormers

I don't agree, summer is cricket time, being at the beach and with family and friends. Don't have time to sit in 30 degrees in a stadium 

I don't know about you okes, but just looking at the playing calendar and it makes absolutely no sense.

Hear, hear Stav  

Got it, I don’t want the European teams to change their schedule at all. They should continue to play their games, but why don’t we star our season earlier. So SA teams play a round of derby games. There are for teams so it means they can wrap it up in 6 weeks given they have home and away games. So instead of starting September, just start July, middle of championship rugby, but the boks won’t be available anyway, but it means SA will have a pool of fringe boks to call on. 

All SA teams take a break from 15 December for a month with light training and the play the euro cup end Jan for 2 weeks and then shut down for 2 months until after the six nations, everyone gets a break, enjoy the summer and the start playing proper rugby in March. Season ends end of June. Some off time for a month and SA teams can start again 

I just don’t agree with the SA teams playing in Europe anyway. 

I just think the whole idea is ludicrous. It benefits no-one. 

Yes I think SA would be better rejoining the SH comps. It makes more sense. 

I agree with that. 

The URC is the first step towards a truly global rugby champonship for top club franchises...but the structure needs work...we  did not really fit in as equals in SR either...I would like to see a competition between 8 SH teams and 10 NH teams...it can run overlapping with some existing leagues.

It does seem to be a problem for us to find a competitive groove being part of both Comps.

I'm not seeing the problem either. I don't see it being a case that South African teams can't compete in the Champions Cup, its just going take a bit of time for South African teams to learn how to best balance the demands of competing in the two tournaments at the same time.

I think on paper the full strength South African teams can be competitive with anyone (maybe the Lions a little less so) but I don't think they are as stocked in depth as some of the northern hemisphere teams. The Sharks though I reckon are the only team team from South Africa with a realistic chance of winning the Champions Cup.

I think champions Cup might be better and more Competitive because of the French teams to?

It is the best club rugby tournament in the world, though its not as good as it use to be because of format changes. The URC with the inclusion of the South African teams has become a fine tournament in its own right.

So we were not equals in SR and yet again not equals in NH…surely SA teams after WC glory should be in high demand?

What do you mean not equals. You're not shareholders in the URC or EPCR something that will change from next season. But that's the standard joining process that the like's of the Italians had to go through as well. 

The Irish, Scots and Italian's have no issues with South Africa's teams competing in either. They think its great. The Welsh less so but they have been moaning about competing in the URC and its predecessor tournaments for years. Yes reaction in France and the UK has generally less receptive on the grounds of tradition and the long distance travel evolved but I think they will come round if the South African teams are competitive.

All I do know is, we can’t be losing Games with those kind of scores… that’s Embarrassing!

It doesn't help perceptions, but other teams outside of South Africa do it as well. Back in 2022, Montpellier sent over the academy team to Leinster and got trashed 89-7.

It’s what I meant. Thanks for clarifying it. So then we will be on better footing in that regard next season.

Yes financially South African will start receiving money from both the URC and EPCR and as shareholders South Africa will be able to host Champions Cup semi-finals something they can't do a present.

I miss old super 12, maybe Super 14, no more. When we had 5 teams and you can plug in on Friday morning and Watch 2 / 3 games on a Friday and 2/4 games on a Saturday. I would watch every South African team with interest. 

I still think Super Rugby is where SA should play. 

I’ll just have to put up with you, Mpower  

I don’t know why you were kicked out of SR. It seems the natural place for your teams.

Corne Krige doesn’t think the travelling is a problem at all……

It’s a very dangerous piece of water, Mpower. 

Saffolk…..shut up  

Sees the South African public has got behind derby matches over Christmas. Kings Park stadium is sold out for the Sharks vs Bulls game.

Over 20,000 tickets sold for the Stormers vs Lions match.

Our test players  are now effectively playing a 12 match season….injuries have to increase.

Correction….month season.

I remember so philosopher wrote after living in a brothel, the most interesting woman was those that kept their clothes on rather than those who were naked. You got to leave something for the imagination and not have it all at once. 

If you one of those that are addicted to rugby, there are other teams you can watch. But for me it is about building up the excitement for the season, who to watch out for and really look forward to a game my team will play in, but if I have to watch Bools and stormers for the fifth time, I have absolutely no interest what so ever. 

I also want to look forward to our teams playing against foreign teams, but I want to know who they are and the players. If it is some Welsh team with no name players, then there is no interest for me. 

I probably knew about 60 super rugby players from both Australia and New Zealand with great interest. 

I still only know 5 foreign players from the URC after 3 years and those are x south african players and probably a few more from the Irish team. No Welsh, no Scottish, no Italian 

So less is more, 5 months of Super rugby and 3 to 4 months of test rugby is where we should be