Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has suggested a radical solution to their issues, with some of their players effectively on the go for all 12 months of the year.
Following South Africa’s departure from Super Rugby, they aligned their club season with the northern hemisphere as the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers joined the United Rugby Championship.
However, they still compete in the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, which tends to take place between mid-August and late-September.
12-month season
That means their South African-based internationals are effectively playing throughout the year without getting a proper break and pre-season.
As a result, Erasmus has proposed moving the Rugby Championship to coincide with the Six Nations, which is currently going on in Europe.
“I think it would have sorted out a lot of problems, player load and injury-wise, with the URC and European Cup it would definitely free up a lot of weeks for us,” he said, as reported by the Telegraph.
That would suggest that a potential move to the Six Nations is no longer an option for the Springboks in either the short or long-term.
Speculation has certainly cooled over the past year with reports emerging in February 2024 that organisers had made a decision on South Africa’s proposed inclusion.
There was a pushback from fans in the northern hemisphere when they were linked to the competition and Erasmus has taken that on board.
“Us joining the Six Nations, I’m not sure how that sits with other people. We admire the competition, and when I was at Munster, I realised how big it is,” he said.
“For me, having been there for 18 months or so, I’m not sure if the Six Nations and northern hemisphere would want us there.
“There are a lot of traditions that are a little bit more valuable than us just fitting in and thinking we can just go into a competition that has a hell of a lot of heritage, so I’m not sure what the answer is there.”
Six Nations organisers make decision on Springboks’ proposed inclusion – report
Eben Etzebeth’s previous comments
When the Springboks were linked to the Six Nations, it did have support from some South African players, including record cap holder Eben Etzebeth, but that will not now happen.
“I think it would be great being a part of that (the Six Nations). It would mean the schedules will be a bit more aligned,” Etzebeth said in December 2022.
“I never want to move away from playing the All Blacks, Wallabies and Argentina, so as long as there’s still space to also play those matches.
“So if we can keep those rivalries aligned it would be great for us, for rugby, and it would align the schedule for the best interests of the players.
“I don’t know where the game will go in the future, or where we will play in the future, but being part of the European schedule and the Champions Cup just makes sense.”
READ MORE: Eben Etzebeth: Springbok veteran admits ‘it would be great’ to join Six Nations
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