How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
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How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Some on here have a very Inspector Calls capitalist view of South Africa at the moment, that we should exploit the weak rand and sign loads of big Saffas to solve all of our current problems. While the signings of Liebenberg and Viljoen will improve our squad, I don’t want to see the Tigers taking advantage of my second favourite national rugby team.
As I’ve said before, the rand is weak, meaning clubs can’t keep players in the country and it’s currently not an attractive environment for sugar daddies to invest in (plus that model is not sustainable). SA Rugby’s rigorous enforcement of national player selection could convince some players to return home à la Toomua but not enough players are going to come back that way and it’s not really good player-wise or fanwise.
To stop one of the great rugby nations suffering and maintain the competitiveness of Super Rugby, I believe World Rugby should intervene and limit the amount of players clubs can sign from a certain country (not just South Africa but also the Pacific Islands), thus making Super Rugby more attractive to investment and coverage as more star players will stay and it will make the international game more competitive.
Thoughts?
As I’ve said before, the rand is weak, meaning clubs can’t keep players in the country and it’s currently not an attractive environment for sugar daddies to invest in (plus that model is not sustainable). SA Rugby’s rigorous enforcement of national player selection could convince some players to return home à la Toomua but not enough players are going to come back that way and it’s not really good player-wise or fanwise.
To stop one of the great rugby nations suffering and maintain the competitiveness of Super Rugby, I believe World Rugby should intervene and limit the amount of players clubs can sign from a certain country (not just South Africa but also the Pacific Islands), thus making Super Rugby more attractive to investment and coverage as more star players will stay and it will make the international game more competitive.
Thoughts?
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Dream on . Players will follow the money .
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
South Africa to join 6N and drop Italy.
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Are you arguing that a talented 26 year old SA / Samoan rugby player with a wife and two young children should not have the freedom to decide where to work and earn a living?JP14 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 5:56 pm Some on here have a very Inspector Calls capitalist view of South Africa at the moment, that we should exploit the weak rand and sign loads of big Saffas to solve all of our current problems. While the signings of Liebenberg and Viljoen will improve our squad, I don’t want to see the Tigers taking advantage of my second favourite national rugby team.
As I’ve said before, the rand is weak, meaning clubs can’t keep players in the country and it’s currently not an attractive environment for sugar daddies to invest in (plus that model is not sustainable). SA Rugby’s rigorous enforcement of national player selection could convince some players to return home à la Toomua but not enough players are going to come back that way and it’s not really good player-wise or fanwise.
To stop one of the great rugby nations suffering and maintain the competitiveness of Super Rugby, I believe World Rugby should intervene and limit the amount of players clubs can sign from a certain country (not just South Africa but also the Pacific Islands), thus making Super Rugby more attractive to investment and coverage as more star players will stay and it will make the international game more competitive.
Thoughts?
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Are you arguing that a talented 26 year old SA / Samoan rugby player with a wife and two young children should not have the freedom to decide where to work and earn a living?JP14 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 5:56 pm Some on here have a very Inspector Calls capitalist view of South Africa at the moment, that we should exploit the weak rand and sign loads of big Saffas to solve all of our current problems. While the signings of Liebenberg and Viljoen will improve our squad, I don’t want to see the Tigers taking advantage of my second favourite national rugby team.
As I’ve said before, the rand is weak, meaning clubs can’t keep players in the country and it’s currently not an attractive environment for sugar daddies to invest in (plus that model is not sustainable). SA Rugby’s rigorous enforcement of national player selection could convince some players to return home à la Toomua but not enough players are going to come back that way and it’s not really good player-wise or fanwise.
To stop one of the great rugby nations suffering and maintain the competitiveness of Super Rugby, I believe World Rugby should intervene and limit the amount of players clubs can sign from a certain country (not just South Africa but also the Pacific Islands), thus making Super Rugby more attractive to investment and coverage as more star players will stay and it will make the international game more competitive.
Thoughts?
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
As ever Traveller you offer a compelling argument, for I which I will reply, the money talks and if there is no money talking they the majority of Saffas/Samoans will not want to leave, plus I suggested a limit not a complete ban, also I would only want it to be a temporary measure.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
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Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
You might want it, but you wont get it. Why should players not chase the money?JP14 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 5:56 pm Some on here have a very Inspector Calls capitalist view of South Africa at the moment, that we should exploit the weak rand and sign loads of big Saffas to solve all of our current problems. While the signings of Liebenberg and Viljoen will improve our squad, I don’t want to see the Tigers taking advantage of my second favourite national rugby team.
As I’ve said before, the rand is weak, meaning clubs can’t keep players in the country and it’s currently not an attractive environment for sugar daddies to invest in (plus that model is not sustainable). SA Rugby’s rigorous enforcement of national player selection could convince some players to return home à la Toomua but not enough players are going to come back that way and it’s not really good player-wise or fanwise.
To stop one of the great rugby nations suffering and maintain the competitiveness of Super Rugby, I believe World Rugby should intervene and limit the amount of players clubs can sign from a certain country (not just South Africa but also the Pacific Islands), thus making Super Rugby more attractive to investment and coverage as more star players will stay and it will make the international game more competitive.
Thoughts?
I am more than happy to exploit the weak rand. If the boot was on the other foot, the S.A. clubs would do the same
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Unfortunately, D4, the SA clubs would probably do the same if it was the other way round.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
South Africa are my second team too (I'm English / Irish). 2007 World Cup Final. I was in the Marriott on the Champs Elysee with the Saffers after the game with my best mate and his family who are SA. One of the best night of my life. Already sorted Lions trip with him in 2021. So I take no pleasure from seeing what is happening to SA rugby.JP14 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 8:33 pm As ever Traveller you offer a compelling argument, for I which I will reply, the money talks and if there is no money talking they the majority of Saffas/Samoans will not want to leave, plus I suggested a limit not a complete ban, also I would only want it to be a temporary measure.
But wherever you draw the line - it is an arbitrary line and means that at the boundary another 26 year old Saffer with two kids and only six more years in the game won't be able to exploit his talent to the full. Why only rugby players? Why not architects? Bankers? Teachers? Nurses? Journalists?
What has to happen is SA is the graft of the ANC needs to be curtailed. The word 'Tenderpreneur' is a uniquely SA concept. Cyril Ramaphosa has a huge job ahead of him but he is an impressive man. SA is a wonderful country but it is broken politically and needs to be fixed.
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
South Africa are my second team too (I'm English / Irish). 2007 World Cup Final. I was in the Marriott on the Champs Elysee with the Saffers after the game with my best mate and his family who are SA. One of the best night of my life. Already sorted Lions trip with him in 2021. So I take no pleasure from seeing what is happening to SA rugby.JP14 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 8:33 pm As ever Traveller you offer a compelling argument, for I which I will reply, the money talks and if there is no money talking they the majority of Saffas/Samoans will not want to leave, plus I suggested a limit not a complete ban, also I would only want it to be a temporary measure.
But wherever you draw the line - it is an arbitrary line and means that at the boundary another 26 year old Saffer with two kids and only six more years in the game won't be able to exploit his talent to the full. Why only rugby players? Why not architects? Bankers? Teachers? Nurses? Journalists?
What has to happen is SA is the graft of the ANC needs to be curtailed. The word 'Tenderpreneur' is a uniquely SA concept. Cyril Ramaphosa has a huge job ahead of him but he is an impressive man. SA is a wonderful country but it is broken politically and needs to be fixed.
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
SA are my second team too. What did Meyer say "Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" SA to a tee!
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
I'm not sure that the South African Economy is something the Premiership can resolve.
A more legitimate question is the Kolpak agreement justifiable?
If these players were coming from the USA rather than South Africa they would have to demonstrably be of a higher level to get a work permit. Thus a large number of professional rugby players of sub-international standard are plying their trade in the UK.
Personally I think the more pertinent question is that harming domestic players progress, either by restricting opportunities for home grown players or limiting salaries for those players, some of whom may decide that they are better off going to Uni rather than taking a 10 or 15 years out to play pro rugby and are lost to England.
A more legitimate question is the Kolpak agreement justifiable?
If these players were coming from the USA rather than South Africa they would have to demonstrably be of a higher level to get a work permit. Thus a large number of professional rugby players of sub-international standard are plying their trade in the UK.
Personally I think the more pertinent question is that harming domestic players progress, either by restricting opportunities for home grown players or limiting salaries for those players, some of whom may decide that they are better off going to Uni rather than taking a 10 or 15 years out to play pro rugby and are lost to England.
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Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
Thoughts, mmmmm.
English and European Rugby will be having it's own issues soon enough so that would take prioity.
SA rugby will always struggle due to politics.
English and European Rugby will be having it's own issues soon enough so that would take prioity.
SA rugby will always struggle due to politics.
Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
I'm with RB,there's a storm coming domestically. I personally foresee a future where our international team falls away with a domestic league championship chock full of superstars and money,I think there's another sport like that out there!
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
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Re: How to solve South Africa’s player exodus?
I can certainly foresee big changes, but I wonder where that will leave us?