Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has thrown his support behind World Rugby’s latest player welfare guidelines but warns that successful implementation hinges on a tight-knit partnership between local franchises and SA Rugby. The newly minted rules cap professional players at 30 full matches per year, ensure a five-week off-season, and mandate rest periods, shaking up the global rugby schedule.
Ackermann, gearing up for the Bulls’ upcoming URC tussle with Leinster, didn’t hold back on his views. “I think it was coming, because of the amount of rugby that is played,” he noted, stressing the logistical squeeze placed on team preparation and conditioning by the packed rugby calendar.
“There are only 52 weeks in a year. If you already take 30 weeks of matches and add five weeks of compulsory break, there’s not much time left for preparation and conditioning.”
The task is particularly daunting for South African teams. Ackermann pointed out the balancing act required if national duties call players away for up to 15 Tests a year, leaving scant room for club commitments. “If they can limit Test rugby to maybe 10 or 11 matches, it gives us a bit of leeway to work with the players in all the competitions,” he suggested, hopeful for a middle ground.
Ackermann also shed light on the less visible pressures within the squad. “The player who doesn’t feature in the URC every week might not reach 30 games, but he’s still training hard every day. That’s a mental challenge. Proper breaks are needed for those guys too.”
The integration of domestic competitions like the Currie Cup further complicates scheduling. Ackermann remarked, “It’s an ongoing debate whether the Currie Cup sits in the right time slot of the year. There are sponsors and other parties involved so I can’t speak on that, but it all comes back to player welfare.”
While backing the 30-game cap principle, Ackermann voiced concerns over the additional strain it places on coaches, especially with teams in rugby-heavy nations like France. “The French teams play a lot of rugby, 13 home and away league matches make 26 games before you even add semi-finals, finals, European competitions and Test rugby. I don’t know how they are going to keep it to 30. They’ll have to rest players and juggle it like us.”
As the Bulls gear up to face Leinster this Saturday at Loftus, the balancing act of player management under the new regulations will be put to the test.
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Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has thrown his support behind World Rugby’s latest player welfare guidelines but warns that successful implementation hinges on a tight-knit partnership between local franchises and SA Rugby. The newly minted rules cap professional players at 30 full matches per year, ensure a five-week off-season, and mandate rest periods, shaking up the global rugby schedule.
Ackermann, gearing up for the Bulls’ upcoming URC tussle with Leinster, didn’t hold back on his views. “I think it was coming, because of the amount of rugby that is played,” he noted, stressing the logistical squeeze placed on team preparation and conditioning by the packed rugby calendar.
“There are only 52 weeks in a year. If you already take 30 weeks of matches and add five weeks of compulsory break, there’s not much time left for preparation and conditioning.”
The task is particularly daunting for South African teams. Ackermann pointed out the balancing act required if national duties call players away for up to 15 Tests a year, leaving scant room for club commitments. “If they can limit Test rugby to maybe 10 or 11 matches, it gives us a bit of leeway to work with the players in all the competitions,” he suggested, hopeful for a middle ground.
Ackermann also shed light on the less visible pressures within the squad. “The player who doesn’t feature in the URC every week might not reach 30 games, but he’s still training hard every day. That’s a mental challenge. Proper breaks are needed for those guys too.”
The integration of domestic competitions like the Currie Cup further complicates scheduling. Ackermann remarked, “It’s an ongoing debate whether the Currie Cup sits in the right time slot of the year. There are sponsors and other parties involved so I can’t speak on that, but it all comes back to player welfare.”
While backing the 30-game cap principle, Ackermann voiced concerns over the additional strain it places on coaches, especially with teams in rugby-heavy nations like France. “The French teams play a lot of rugby, 13 home and away league matches make 26 games before you even add semi-finals, finals, European competitions and Test rugby. I don’t know how they are going to keep it to 30. They’ll have to rest players and juggle it like us.”
As the Bulls gear up to face Leinster this Saturday at Loftus, the balancing act of player management under the new regulations will be put to the test.