BJ Botha, Frans Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Butch James, Joe van Niekerk, Shaun Sowerby, Marius Joubert, Luke Watson, Daan Human, Faan Rautenbach, Brent Russel, Neil de Kock, Michael Claasens, CJ van der Linde, Robbie Diack, Ross Skeate, Gcobani Bobo, Schalk Brits, Ernst Joubert, Marco Wentzel, Jacques Cronje and countless other lesser known players.
Week in and week out we have to hear the constant muttering and moaning of SA Rugby fans, “Oh if only this and this player came back, oh what are we going to do now that this player is playing overseas? Why can’t Peter de Villiers just select the overseas guys? All our talent is playing overseas because of quotas. “
Bullshit…say I!!!
Around 352 professional rugby players ply their trade on a weekly basis Super 14 and Vodacom Cup action for South Africa, this excludes the various injured players watching from the sidelines, the players not in the match 22, the age-group players and even the Varsity Cup players.
Think about this, only considering players in the match 22’s, it is approximately (read well, APPROXIMATELY):
62 Props,
32 Hookers,
48 Locks,
56 Looseforwards,
24 Scrumhalves,
22 Flyhalves,
40 Centres
68 Outside Backs.
Are we seriously saying, that nowhere in the whole country, are we able to identify and develop a youngster, to grow into a position of influence on the field? Within an array of 62 front-rowers, we do not have the ability to develop even one into an international star? Are we actually trying? Or are we only trying to take the easy way out?
To even consider using overseas based players is an insult to every registered rugby player in South Africa, from school level up. There is absolutely no position in which we do not have a better local player than an overseas based one, (Inside Centre might be the exception, but not for long).
SARU needs to have a look at their structures, and whether they are doing enough to develop existing talent. The Scrum Factory is step in the right direction, but why not go even further?
Establish a National High Performance Rugby Academy. Invite at least 60 of the most promising talents from around SA to join the Academy under the tutorship of a number of professional coaches and conditioning experts appointed by SARU. Get them to hone raw talent into actual rugby players, get them into the mindset of the life of a professional rugby player.
Now, introduce a drafting system, whereby each franchise has the opportunity to approach these players and offer them junior contracts with the union. Obviously a transfer fee will be paid to the Academy, which will be one way of funding it. The junior contracts are to be equal in size, in other words, a financially powerful union, will pay the same as a smaller one, and each union can only approach a set number of players.
In this way you can ensure that talent is divided equally amongst the franchises, and that all franchises are benefitting and have an opportunity, to develop their sides. As this will be a South African initiative, a number of strong franchises is in the interest of SA Rugby as a whole.
Once a year, make available a transfer window, where unions get the opportunity to approach a number these junior players from each other’s unions, for senior contracts. However, here is the catch, a union cannot merely buy a player to get him off the market and add to its depth. A buy should coincide with actual game time in the senior set-up, as per contractual arrangement, and not just hanging around with the juniors waiting for injuries to make the step up.
It might be a pie in the sky dream, but I believe a move like this, will ensure that rugby in SA stays fresh, and that talent isn’t slipping through the cracks unnecessarily.
So by all means, a player can play where he wants, for whom he wants, for as long as he wants, because South Africa will be developing their replacements, and returning would not be as easy as once thought.
89@ Morne – So in other words you openly advocate the death of the Lions Union, whether by Relegation from Super Rugby or being diminished in the proposed merger.
No thank You…. stay out of Gauteng Rugby.
Fark, I cannot believe I have to plead for the life of the Lions, a Union I generally cannot stand….
I say, revive the Lions and Cheetahs by doing something positive enough to bring enough Overseas players back…. there’s another 30 or so International Class Saffas playing abroad…. Has enough methods been thought of or plans made to achieve just that… no everybody just gives up upon the premise that they will play there due to the exchange rate. Somehow the lure of foreign money must be addressed by ALL Southern Hemisphere Countries.
I say revive the Lions by creating an Academy in JHB.
I say revive the Lions (and Cheetahs) by instituting a Central Draft System
I say revive the Valke, Pumas, Leopards, Boland, SWD, Elephants, Griffons, Griquas, and Bulldogs by means of the Central Draft System
I say strenghten SA Rugby by doing development in areas where the game needs it.
#90
How insular we are in our thinking…
Mate it is the Lions today, the Cheetahs tomorrow, the Bulls in 3 years time and even WP rugby every now and then.
The Bulls are at the top of their game now, but I will give away my first born right betting that it will not last, as has been proven many times in the past, not only with the Bulls, but all SA unions…
Enjoy your republic of the Blue Bulls for now – like most dynasties they too will come crashing down because we cannot look beyond tomorrow.
I have had my say on this issue, I am out.
#91,
How GBS?
Just how do you propose they do this?
The Lions are one of the 11 unions on the brink of bankruptcy – how the hell are they going to bring back overseas players if not from outside help – how will the Cheetahs ever manage to do this?
JHB already has many great sporting facilities or academies but none are properly managed.
How can you install a central draft system only for the Cheetahs and Lions?
How do you propose reviving the smaller unions you mentioned?
Just please give me an alternative to consider because it is all well and good saying this must be done – but how the @#%$^ are we going to go about doing it?
Yes yes manne,
ek was lanklaas hier op die saait.Ek sit nou in Denver Colorado.Werk hier in die omtrek tot so Oktober.
Ek het die laaste 4 weke se rugby gemis.Dit suck big time, maar ek is bly die Bulle is nog da bo.
Go Bulls!
Morne if our dynasty can last as long as the Crusaders dynasty i would be happy. Even now that the Crusaders are not so secure they are still right there were it counts
94 – The Pill, Nice to see you here. I been to Denver on holiday once. Nice place. Very clean and organized. ONLY very cold in the winter months. How you enjoying it? Are you getting any rugby there?
94 – The Pill, You can get the rugby there. Think on pay tv though. Remember watching the Tri-Nations there at my mates house early in the morning. Try and see if you can get it.
93@ Morne – Not by means of merger…. then you just chase more players overseas…
A Central Draft System will have to comprise 14 Unions Morne, not just the Lions and Cheetahs… spread the talent over 14 Unions, which in turn spreads the Talent naturally over the Super Franchises.
In a scenario like this the WP, Sharks & Blue Bulls lose out a bit… less players to contract due to the Draft…. but 11 Unions benefit… and all Super Franchises benefit.
There are ways and means to lure the Saffa’s back or at least prevent more from leaving… think Transfer Fees (whole Southern Hemisphere), think Privatisation, think Additional Sponsorships and player specific retail and advertising deals…. think clothing and equipment sponsorships like the golfers and athletes wordlwide enjoy…. think out of the Box….
Create business opportunities for SA Players in addition to their rugby income….
Negotiate with Europe regarding maximum foreign player content… the more foreigners playing there the more their own game suffers….
Negotiate Salary caps (as a combined Southern Hemisphere Effort) for Foreign players in the UK and Europe…. combined the Southern Hemisphere have enough clout to achieve this.
96 – Hey Puma, Hope everthing is good on your side.We had snow here last week and it was very cold.I can`t wait going up to the mountains, Aspen and all the resorts.It was warm when i arrived at Denver international on the 12th April.
I just got internet so i hope to watch this weekend. Nothing rugby related on cable
94@ Pille – Yes, yes Pille….. wat maak jy doer in sy moer innie vreemde?
97 – I will check it out Puma.Think Kuduclub also broadcast the rugby.
100 – GBS, Yes ja! Ek werk hier vir n byeboer net buite Denver.Darm al n steek gekry hier! Hehe grin
99 – The Pill, You can get it but have to pay extra. I know watched it with my mate that lived in Denver many years back. Watched the Tri-Nations early hours of the morning. You may get it or try the internet. Gbs or someone here will give you a addie to use.
I went to Vail in he summer months there just to check it out for skiing. Looked very nice. Also done some brilliant white water rafting in Colorado. Check it out and try it.
It should warm up soon there. Well hoping….hehehe. Very cold place.
103 meant – warm up there…
101 – Pill, you will find a place to watch the rugby. Especially now that we are getting into the best part. Think Stormers and Bulls will make the semi and might even have a all saffa final. You just have to find a place to watch it.
102@ Pille – Hehehehe…. solank jy netnie klein vreemdeling pilletjies vervaardig nie…..
103 – Puma,Yes thanx, i would certainly try doing some cool stuff here.This place is sure beautiful.I am also going up to yellowstone and Utah.Before i head back i am going to check out Vegas.
i will check the blog for info on watching the rugby. i am rugby starved i tell you!
106 – GBS, Nee so dom is ek nie, maar daar is seker voordele. Greencard!
107 – Pill, I missed Yellowstone heard it is fantastic there. I hired a car from San Fransisco drove from there down to LA. Was a beautiful drive. Something like Chapmans Peak in parts. Drove from La to Vegas spent time there then went to Grand Canyon then onto Phoenix. Flew from there to Denver and done that and Colorado. Great visit that time of the States.
Enjoy it. Great experience.
108@ Pille – Byeboer, Byeboer, Byeboer WA…..
Hand innie hare, tottie wat pla..
Hello Pille, bly jy praat hier met ons, hierdie site sal jou inlig oor baie dinge, die rugby tellings is so vinnig updated soms is ons voor die oficial scoreboard.
109 – Puma, That is exactly what i want to do.Thinking of taking the train to San Frandisco from Denver, only $98, to visit a lady friend there and then take the drive down to Vegas.
111 – Super, Hey Superbul, hoe hang dinge? Thanks ja, ek weet ek sal regkom hier.Sien uit na die naweek se rugby.
112 – Pill, Do that it is a great experience. Try and do a drive on the coastal part down to Vegas. I really enjoyed it. Very long drive but stopped on the way down to LA then Vegas and the Grand Canyon. You will love it there.
Just so as much as you can while there. Experience everything. My favourite was Colorado. Even if cold. Had a great time. Cause I love the out doors and you can do plenty there. Try the White Water Rafting. GREAT experience. Was a two hour on the river. Brilliant very exciting.
Anyways, ek moet seker gaan. Dankie vir die chat. tot dan.
114 – Pill, if you cant get a car from San Fransisco take a train to LA think it goes the same coastal route. Superb places to see.
115 – Pill, Nice to catch up. Enjoy your experience in the States.
Okay cheers all catch up tomorrow.
98,
How do you propose the franchise system works?
We have 6 guys wanting to play, room for only 5.
That is the first question.
Second, do you propose all rugby unions to privatize? Or only franchises?
Third, player specific deals outside of rugby contracts are organised through their agents mainly – does SA have a market for that and for how many players? Players from all 14 unions or perhaps only the franchises?
Top up packages relies on private business participation – which business will currently invest in all 14 unions or rather, which will invest in players from unions outside the big 5?
Fourth, transfer fees, salary caps, draft systems etc are all locally bound initiatives. If we put caps on our top players of let’s say no more than R100K a month, what will happen if a French 3rd division team offers them R150K?
SA or SA businesses has no say how rugby is run in France or any other country professionally, the IRB will and could never impose set rules for this either, because their biggest money spinners in Europe will give them the finger.
Europe club or regional competition does not give a toss about our competitions, problems or rules – they have a product and they will buy or contract whoever they feel necessary to provide this product. Negotiations with Europe is not an option in my view – they simply do not care for us.
SANZAR salary caps will never become a reality, out of SA, NZ and Aus SA has the weakest currency, which means NZ and Aus will suffer most from caps losing even more players if this becomes reality, and through the latest Super 15 negotiations I think it was plain to see Aus or NZ does not give a toss about SA when it comes to money and negotiating the best deal – they are all in it for themselves.
Even if SANZAR stands together on this, combined their currency value cannot compete with the Euro or Pound – what are they going to do? Cancel tests? Europe will laugh at us.
Our problems and challenges are local, and unique, our solutions therefore in my opinion has to be the same.
Oh I wanted to comment on your post of ‘stay out of Gauteng rugby’.
Bud, the Lions are in serious shit if you have not noticed.
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