So for all intents and purposes the Currie Cup as we know it will be gone in the near future thanks to the new Super rugby format. Questions will now be asked whether this is a good or bad thing, and whether SA Rugby must now explore alternative options to ensure our feeder systems stay in place.
As a follow-up to the column of the Currie Cup sold for 30 pieces of silver questions and suggestions have come up of what we stand to do now? Can we afford to lose such a vital breeding ground as the Currie Cup? Are there alternatives and if there are, what are they?
This is more of a working document than a column so input, criticism and ideas are welcomed to what is suggested. Also given the scope of this topic, I will do this in two parts.
For part 1 I think we need to do a reality check and look at what is going to happen, and what our problems are or will be in the near future.
This for me is the reality, or soon to be realised situation we will face…
Personally I don’t think the effects of this decision (Super 15 format) will be felt until 2013 given that next year all eyes will be on the Rugby World Cup and it is expected the Currie Cup will take a backseat as it has done in previous World Cup years.
In 2012 we have a brand new 4 Nations tournament that will include Argentina and although some effects might be felt then, I expect a full-blown reality check to come in 2013.
Given the length of the premier competitions (Super 15 and 4 Nations) in which most of our top rugby players will compete in we have to first identify who will be available when as far as top rugby pro’s go.
I believe it is safe to say that our top 30 to 45 players will be lost for most of our domestic competitions or Currie Cup. This is not only due to the top competition structures, but also the playing time demands the competitions will put on players.
As an example, a player playing in all Super 15 games, excluding finals, and all 4 Nations games will rack up a staggering total of 1760 minutes of rugby, 40 minutes or one half in rugby union short of what is prescribed as ideal total playing minutes (1800) in a calendar year. This excludes incoming tours in June (for which the Super 15 in 2012 will take a 4 week break) and End of Year Tours and of course, Currie Cup.
Add injuries and reconditioning programs to this scenario and it will be highly unlikely that Boks, or fringe Boks will see any Currie Cup action at all.
The second problem is when to play the local domestic competition to allow for maximum exposure of top players that might become available. The Super 15 will start in February and end close to August or end July in the same year. The Tri Nations or soon to be 4 Nations of course also starts somewhere in July and August and given the extended program this will also now take on in 2012 with more travelling or additional travelling destinations in Argentina, we can expect this to end well into September if not after that extending well into October.
The threat or implication this has on the Currie Cup is massive. Even today where we only had the Super 14 and a Tri-Nations, our top Boks only became available in the last 3 or 4 weeks of the competition when the teams are already in the final straight, it worked because at least following top quality rugby in the Tri-Nations, we could sit down and watch top quality local rugby with the top players returning. Effectively this meant that the Currie Cup only took on any means of significance when the top players or Springboks returned to their unions but at least it still had some value.
Some suggested that we, like Australia use the Super 15 as our premier domestic competition by having the local derby games count towards the domestic league standings or table. The clear and obvious problem with that is you cut off all the smaller unions by doing this.
Is that a bad thing? Very much so I reckon.
South Africa currently has around 400 to 500 professional players at any given time. That is 400 to 500 individuals that makes a living out of playing rugby in this country but more importantly, it is assets we keep in South Africa. The only reason we have these numbers is because they have a platform like the Currie Cup premier and first division competitions which gets massive exposure and sponsorships.
These players also continually feed the higher competition structures and teams like the franchises and effectively the Springboks.
We cannot incorporate all 14 unions into a domestic competition using the Super 15 which only makes up 5 of our total of 14 unions. I say 5 because although there are ‘franchise’ agreements in place where unions gets absorbed into franchises for Super rugby we all know too well it is controlled by the top 5 unions, Blue Bulls, WP Rugby, Lions Rugby, Cheetahs Rugby and the Sharks.
The only reason 14 unions are still barely able to exist is because of the Currie Cup structures as it stands now, even in some instances in a useless capacity competitive wise but very important from a feeder perspective.
Let me give you an example. Following the Leopards hammering at the hands of WP Rugby over the weekend Chaka Willemse, Leopards coach mentioned that from a competitive perspective they have to be realistic. The Leopards lost 35 players, let me repeat, 35 PLAYERS in the last year to bigger unions so it is almost impossible for him to build a competitive squad.
Now I don’t mind so much their competitiveness or not for this argument, the importance for me of a union like the Leopards is that they supplemented a total of 35 players in one year into the South African rugby system!!!
We cannot afford to lose that or in any way devalue the product for a player who uses this platform, even Currie Cup first division, to launch a potentially successful career.
Remember the Currie Cup is a product, the product’s value is determined by the quality of that product and the quality of Currie Cup rugby, even for minnow unions. Their participation alone in this competition allows them to exist, remove that or the shine off the product for them and their structures will collapse, and with that all structures within SA Rugby.
I predict that by devaluing the Currie Cup, which is bound to happen given the launch of the Super 15 competition and the extended 4 Nations we will devalue the quality of product to the viewing audience, which in turn will devalue it to its sponsors and ultimately players looking to make a career out of rugby who would rather be on the first plane off to Europe than play in some second hand useless domestic competition.
We simply have to find a way to ensure we keep most, if not all our current unions alive by finding, or creating or revamping as it stands, the current Currie Cup competition.
Part 2 to follow.
Ok you need to bear me out, as i will most likely ramble a lot and then you have to make sense of it all.
Let’s just take cricket and how it works in SA. Most of our International players are raley available for their franchises and has little to do with the outcome of the tournaments results wise.
If the extended springbok squad is taken out of the equation completely for sake of argument it may be as many as 50 players.
Now they may make a diffenence in the quality of the currie Cup, but then I mention to you that this years Currie Cup has seen some surprises.
Look currently at the vodacom cup and the currie cup, both theses competitions cost money.
If the 9 provinces and Kings are now left in the currie cup and there is no vodacom cup surely that must put more money on the table for the minnow provinces.
so the question is how to make this a hugh quality and sustainable competition.
If we have 5 Super frnachises each contracting 30 players, we have 150 players playing in the higher echelon and out of these naturally progresses your Springboks.
The ten teams under this level with enough money and introducing a blanket salary for all these teams, at whatever is deemed sustainable plus whatever is needed for managment and logistics can work.
The unfortunate thing is we don’t know how much money we are talking of.
surely these teams will always be “milked” by the Super franchises, but assigning 2 of these teams per super Franchise, and financing the development of these lesser teams by way of the Super frnachises can work. In other words the Bulls gets, pumas and Leopards and becomes the “parent” company of these two teams, and has to do their development at these two provinces, thereby finding their talent from their and financing it as it will be in thier best interest.
Salary caps for these minnow teams will work.
anyway those are my first thoughts and will come back with a clearer picture of what I am thinking.
How do Europeans do it? They have Heinkeken cup, 6 nations and then their own domestic leagues. The format for the Heineken cup is different to S15, and the French have their Top 14 comp. Surely we can take some hints from them.
As it is the Vodacom Cup must change in its format. Make it an U23 comp, and run the CC in conjunction with the S15, as is done in Europe and the Heineken cup. This will bring ensure a constant stream of talent, and a clear career path for the players. And then Biltongbek’s plan for development can also work.
@ Lion4ever:
As far as i see the europeans, they have a bucket load of money and huge squads.
The Logical (or one of the logical) solution might lie in moving away from Super 15 Franchises and back to individual Unions, seeing as there is little difference anyway in their make-up et cettera….
Let me explain.
Choose the top 5 UNIONS (soon to be 6 considering the Kings might take part in a Super 18 or similar scenario) to compete in the Super Domestic Conference.
Whilst the top 5 or 6 Unions play in the Super Domestic Conference, let the local home and away matches count towards Currie Cup Log Points.
Let the remaining 8 or 9 Unions play a Parrallel Conference of their own (Call it Vodacom Cup Conference), which Log Points also counts towards Currie Cup Log points…. and which games also take part on a home and away basis.
During the Tri-Nations or Four-Nations break in the Super 15, let the best 5 or 6 Vodacom Cup Conference teams play against the SA Super 15 Conference Teams (who would be without their Bokke and levelling the playing field somewhat), in a continuation of Currie Cup Log points, leaving the worst 2 or 3 Vodacom Cup Conference Teams available to play against Namibia, Zimbabwe and a few developing Nations…. which should provide good opposition both ways… and keep the small Unions playing.
Then we move back to Super 15 play-outs and semi’s and Finals, after the Tri-Nations or extended Four-Nations.
At the end of the Super 15 Finals, let the 6 Top Currie Cup sides (who qualify for the next year’s Super Rugby Competition)… according to their Currie Cup Log Positions compete for the Currie Cup Crown, by playing some somewhat limited knock-out culminating in a Final… winners taking the Currie Cup crown.
It is a possibility, is’nt it??
Then SARU and the unions need to look at more sponsorship, but that will mean our jersey’s will look like a Bangkok red light district with all the sponsors logos.
@ Lion4ever:
They can wear longer jerseys with more space for advertising.
The seat of the shorts is also a good place for toilet roll manufacturers and people wanting to advertise enema’s.
Imagine that, Schalk burger bends over to “bridge the ruck”, what an opportune time to advertise, there are more ruck in the game than ever before.
@ biltongbek:
LOL
@ biltongbek:
@ grootblousmile:
Part 2 is up, and GBS and Biltong it touches or incorporates a lot of what you say… 😉
@ Morné:
Any news on Tricky Dicky’s and Gary Gold’s future?
@ Winston:
Official word will only be out once PDV’s assessment is done, but whispers are at least one will lose his job…
@ Morné:
Interesting, hope if one has to go then it is Dick, he is not the answer.
I absolutely agree with Lion4 and Biltogbek #1&2.
Last year, WP with Rassie and his schemes, lend some players to Boland, in order to help them progress in the CC. It did not help, but the idea was introduced.
At the moment, the Franchise idea does not work in SA, because there s no need for it. But like you rightfully say Morne, the squads will have to be increased. But then how do you have a Super squad of 45 players, and give everyone game time? I suppose, by given the second tier players game time in a second tier comp.
The Vodacom Cup is also seen as useless, but again because it is not utilized properly.
Lastly, remember that by 2015 the Kings will probably be included in the Super in an extended S16 (or wtf ever)
Now, lets work towards this:
(Super team) (feeder/supporter)
Stormers – WP + Boland
Bulls – Blue Bulls, Pumas, Falcons
Lions – Golden Lions, Leopards, Griffons
Cheetahs – FS Cheetahs, Griwas,
Kings – EP, Eagles
Sharks – Natal Sharks, Border Bulldogs.
Keep the VC, and maybe even add in the Varsity Cup. Then, instead of playing home and away all teams will play only once. Get rid of the Argentina and Nam teams in the VC, they serve almost no purpose.
At the same time, incorporate the CC into the Super series once the Kings join in. Because lets be honest, the CC is basically contented between 6 teams as it is. The only sad thing is that the Grikwas could possible lose out. But in the end, I suppose all Kwas supporters have sufficient representation at the Cheetahs during the Super 15/6/7 wtfe. It will really be up to those two unions to figure out how they approach it.
It sounds easier than it is, Im sure, but we will have to wait and see.
@ 4 GBS, I absolutely agree with you, up until this point…
“Whilst the top 5 or 6 Unions play in the Super Domestic Conference, let the local home and away matches count towards Currie Cup Log Points.”
Why I believe it won’t work after that, is simply because you will now have a 5 month Currie Cup, along with a 5 month Super comp. Stretching the CC out will only dilute it. And why give the 8 second tier teams a chance when, with the possible exception of Grikwas, no one has a realistic chance of winning. Boks or no Boks.
The second reason why I think they should keep the Franchises, and where I agree with Lion4 is simply because, well, lets put it this way… Next year the Stormers will have Newman, Jean, Mossie, de Jongh and Whitehead available at center, but you can only play two on a weekend. How, where do you nurse players back from injury? How, where do you keep them game fit? In this regard, the Super-Vodacom Cup relationship could be vital.
IMHO.
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