Just read an article about the welsh rugby union mess and that end is nearly in sight in term of them agreeing on what to do next going forward. What I gathered the outcome to be:
- Welsh rugby union will be investing £60 million pounds in the four provinces over 5 years.
- Only 6 foreign players will be allowed per province.
- Introduction of dual contracts. Players on welsh contracts will be managed by the WRFU and get priority on test matches falling out of the window
- They will not include players that play outside the country and will only for exceptional circumstances make an acceptance.
I think that SA can take something from as Australia are doing something similar in try to keep their talent at home.
I recently wrote about the average age of our current bok squad and the most startling fact is that there is a 10 age year gap in each position.
What SA need to is to look after the players in the middle, hopefully our super rugby teams will do better and we will have a more competitive teams not just 2 teams every year towing the line or whichever union wants to dig deep into their pockets.
My solution would be is to ensure that talent are spread around across the provinces more eavenly and that we don’t end up with one union having 3 hookers that are test quality.
I would cast the central contracting net wider and implement a grading structure in that if you fall under the category A you will be highest paid and if you are C you are lower paid. I would ensure that there are long term contracts of 3 to 5 years. A player can be downgraded or upgraded depending on form and appearances for the national team. If you are a squad player for the boks then it would an automatic B.
A province can also offer the player with a contract to maintain their services and based it on whether they will be playing super rugby or currie cup or both.
In addition I would allow for Sabbaticals abroad, but these players will be managed by South Africa and the clubs will have to negotiate it with the union.
What I’m looking for is that SA rugby will look after the player’s well fare and work load.
That way we can ensure that our best players are conditioned and not played into the ground.
I think that players such as Jannie and Bismark have been extremely poorly managed and almost feel like that Jake had an alternative agenda as to the national team. Frans Steyn all of a sudden developed chronic knee pain and need to be managed, but then played one match and disappear due to contract disputes but ended up playing all the games for the sharks and almost every single minute. Both Jannie and Bismark was used excessively for the sharks.
Jake is not the only culprit, the bulls over played Victor, Stormes do the same with Jean and a few others.
So somebody has to take control and I think Saru need to start dishing out central contracts. Start Contracting players that graduate from the under 20 world cup. You don’t have to choose all, just the best of the bunch. That way we will have a steady flow of talent coming through and being retained and none of our youngsters disappearing at the age of 21 – 24.
My aim would be to try and hold on to good players up to the age of 26.
