IS selecting overseas-based players ruining the Springboks in the long run, is it simply the way of the future and if so, is there a creative way around the issue?
With the Springboks on tour in the northern hemisphere, the debate about choosing players not based in South Africa has risen again with 10 of the current 32-man squad earning their club pay cheques outside of South Africa.
Currently the South African Rugby Union (Saru) doesn’t have an official policy on the matter. Coach Heyneke Meyer is free to choose the best players for the Springboks.
In the past the threat of missing out on Springbok selection was enough to stop many top players from taking more lucrative contracts overseas. That barrier has been removed. There simply is nothing to keep top players here anymore.
The weak rand cannot compete with the strength of the euro, pound and yen and therein lies the danger for South African rugby.
Conceivably Saturday’s team against Wales could include a fullback, both wings, centre, flyhalf, scrumhalf, flank, lock and a prop who are contracted outside of South Africa.
Former Bok coach Nick Mallett questioned whether having so many top players based overseas was a good thing for SA Rugby in a recent interview with SHM magazine.
“Every professional player has free choice,” said Mallett. “First prize is to play for your country, but once you’re past your mid20s you need to assess where you’re heading with your life and career.
“If a player can get paid double or more, one cannot argue against that. But can SA really afford to have its top 30 players abroad? That makes it very difficult for the Bok coach.”
Another former Bok coach, Jake White, is adamant Springbok players must be based in SA. “We have enough player depth to cope,” said White.
“New Zealand’s rugby remains strong even though they won’t pick overseas-based players and Australia has 20 times less players than SA but they also won’t pick overseas players.
“For me it’s simple – choose the Boks or choose better money – you can’t have both.
“How can I stop a guy like Pieter-Steph du Toit for instance, from taking a lucrative overseas-contract if he knows he will be selected for the Boks regardless of where he is playing.”
A creative way to stop young players leaving could be for Saru to implement a regulation something like this: If you have less than 25 Test caps and take an overseas contract you won’t be eligible for Bok selection. If you’ve met the target you will be considered.
That would encourage youngsters such as Du Toit, Jan Serfontein, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux to remain in SA if they want to be Boks. It also allows the Bok coach about three years to work with newcomers in the system before they reach the threshold.
What that regulation is saying is “pay your dues, establish yourself as a Test quality player and then consider an overseas move”.
Open debate on picking overseas Bok brigade
With the Springboks on tour in the northern hemisphere, the debate about choosing players not based in South Africa has risen again with 10 of the current 32-man squad earning their club pay cheques outside of South Africa.
Currently the South African Rugby Union (Saru) doesn’t have an official policy on the matter. Coach Heyneke Meyer is free to choose the best players for the Springboks.
In the past the threat of missing out on Springbok selection was enough to stop many top players from taking more lucrative contracts overseas. That barrier has been removed. There simply is nothing to keep top players here anymore.
The weak rand cannot compete with the strength of the euro, pound and yen and therein lies the danger for South African rugby.
Conceivably Saturday’s team against Wales could include a fullback, both wings, centre, flyhalf, scrumhalf, flank, lock and a prop who are contracted outside of South Africa.
Former Bok coach Nick Mallett questioned whether having so many top players based overseas was a good thing for SA Rugby in a recent interview with SHM magazine.
“Every professional player has free choice,” said Mallett. “First prize is to play for your country, but once you’re past your mid20s you need to assess where you’re heading with your life and career.
“If a player can get paid double or more, one cannot argue against that. But can SA really afford to have its top 30 players abroad? That makes it very difficult for the Bok coach.”
Another former Bok coach, Jake White, is adamant Springbok players must be based in SA. “We have enough player depth to cope,” said White.
“New Zealand’s rugby remains strong even though they won’t pick overseas-based players and Australia has 20 times less players than SA but they also won’t pick overseas players.
“For me it’s simple – choose the Boks or choose better money – you can’t have both.
“How can I stop a guy like Pieter-Steph du Toit for instance, from taking a lucrative overseas-contract if he knows he will be selected for the Boks regardless of where he is playing.”
A creative way to stop young players leaving could be for Saru to implement a regulation something like this: If you have less than 25 Test caps and take an overseas contract you won’t be eligible for Bok selection. If you’ve met the target you will be considered.
That would encourage youngsters such as Du Toit, Jan Serfontein, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux to remain in SA if they want to be Boks. It also allows the Bok coach about three years to work with newcomers in the system before they reach the threshold.
What that regulation is saying is “pay your dues, establish yourself as a Test quality player and then consider an overseas move”.
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