Former Bulls head coach Jake White has called for SA Rugby to force Springboks to play locally as franchises continue to draw the ‘short stick’.
White believes that the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers cannot compete with European heavyweights in the Investec Champions Cup without a change in selection policy from SA Rugby and has again campaigned for a return to the old restrictions.
Previously, the Springboks head coach was barred from selecting players based overseas, much like the current policy implemented by New Zealand Rugby, while Ireland have a similar restriction for Andy Farrell. This helps keep the top talents in the country based locally, which South Africa has struggled to do because of the strength of the Rand.
Jake White calls for Springboks to play in South Africa
When Rassie Erasmus took over as the Springboks head coach in 2018, the restrictions were removed, and since then several players have not only represented South Africa while based abroad but have earned maiden call-ups and debuts – notably Cheslin Kolbe.
While the national team has benefited immensely from the removal of the selection policy, White believes that the franchises have drawn the short straw and cannot compete in the Champions Cup as a result.
“We are going to have to think about this differently,” the 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks coach told Netwerk24. “We are going to have to force the Springboks to play locally.
“That requirement was in force in our rugby before and I understand all the other arguments about players being allowed to play overseas but our franchises are getting the short end of the stick.
“I have referred to it often and I stand by it. There is no way a South African team, given the current budgets allowed, can win the Champions Cup.”
South African franchises have a budget of around R97 million (shy of £4.5 million) and 53 senior players and an additional R22 million (about £1 million) permitted for four big-names. Those figures are dwarfed by Top 14 and PREM Rugby budgets, with Bath spending around £8.5 million (R186 million) while Bordeaux are capped at circa £12 million (R261 million).
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White adds that while he is pleased to see some of the Springboks stars return to South Africa, with Kolbe rejoining the Stormers and Thomas du Toit signing for the Sharks, he bemoaned the fact that these players are spending the best years of their careers abroad.
“We are developing players like Cameron Hanekom and Kurt-Lee Arendse who will be playing overseas soon,” he said.
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“Cheslin Kolbe is coming back to the Stormers at 32, which is great but the reality unfortunately is that he played his best rugby overseas (in France and Japan.
“That’s why I respect countries like Ireland and New Zealand. New Zealand has no intention of deviating from its overseas policy. It’s simple: If you want to be an All Black, you have to play in New Zealand.”
He concluded: “We are also going to have to find a way to keep our top players here.”
READ MORE: Springboks legends’ dig at new Stormers recruit as Jean de Villiers wary of Sharks repeat with Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe signings
