SARU won't enforce 'player rest'; Rugby 365

Super Rugby teams will not be forced to rest key Springboks, despite a 'request' from the South African Rugby Union to do so ahead of the World Cup.

There has been some confusion as to exactly what the 'agreement' is between the Super Rugby franchises and SARU over the management and rest of key Boks in the build-up to the global showpiece in September and October.

In a media release SARU explained what was agreed upon at the meeting between the national body's CEO, Jurie Roux, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, the various franchise CEOs and coaching representatives.

* Two principles were identified as being ideal:
i) That players should not play more than five consecutive weeks.
ii) That certain Springbok players should have a number of weeks of rest during the tournament (two to four weeks depending on each player's personal needs and position and the franchise's playing resources). Bye weeks are not considered as a rest week (although they do trigger a restart of the count of consecutive weeks), while injury weeks are 'invisible' (i.e. a player injured for two weeks during the first seven weeks of the tournament would be regarded as having played five consecutive weeks at the end of week seven).

SARU made it clear the 'understanding' is not legally binding.

"The players are primarily the assets of the unions and they will have their different dynamics and needs at different stages of the season," SARU CEO Jurie Roux said.

"We worked towards the understanding to prioritise Springbok readiness for the international season and the World Cup but we realise it is a balancing act for coaches in terms of juggling their union's needs and the national interest.

"The important thing for SARU was to take the initiative to try and find a solution to questions relating to player workload.

"If we get 90 percent compliance during the season it will be a 100 percent improvement on where we were a year ago when no player could expect any break.

"If franchises feel they are unable to stick to the letter of the understanding that is less than ideal, but we would expect them to stick as close to it as possible in the interests of the Springboks."

@bokrugby

Cape Town - The Sharks have controversially opted not to adhere to a request from the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to rest top Springboks in this year's Super Rugby competition.

READ: SARU clarifies 'rest' stance

SARU met with the South African Super Rugby franchises in pre-season where it was agreed that top Springboks would not be utilised for more than five games on the trot in this year's competition.

SARU on Wednesday confirmed that it was not a legally binding agreement, but that the franchises would do their best to adhere to it where possible, considering it's a Rugby World Cup year and the management of top Springboks is of essence.

However, when the Sharks on Thursday named their team for this weekend's match against the Chiefs they included three key Springboks for a sixth week in a row.

Flank Marcell Coetzee, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flyhalf Pat Lambie were all named in the starting team for Saturday's clash against the Chiefs. The trio started in all five of the Sharks' Super Rugby games to date.

The Sharks explained their decision via their official website:

"The Springbok trio of Marcell Coetzee, Patrick Lambie and Cobus Reinach will all feature in this vital match. There was doubt over their inclusion after playing five matches, but SA Rugby has confirmed that the Springbok player management agreement with the South African Super Rugby franchises is not a legally binding understanding. Instead SA Rugby expects them to stick as close to it as possible in the interests of the Springboks," the statement from the Sharks read.

Questions have understandably been raised about the Sharks' decision, considering the Stormers have already confirmed that they won't play captain Duane Vermeulen in their first overseas match against the Highlanders next weekend, while the Cheetahs have opted to rest wing Cornal Hendricks for this weekend's match against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske also said this week that he intends to rest fullback Willie le Roux, prop Coenie Oosthuizen and flank Oupa Mohoje for their next game against the Chiefs.