Bob Skinstad has responded to ongoing criticism of South Africa‘s participation in Europe’s premier club event and criticised rugby for failing to establish a global calendar.
Despite being based in a different hemisphere, the World Cup-winning country is participating in the Investec Champions Cup for the third consecutive year as it begins this weekend.
At first, not everyone was in favour of South Africa’s top teams playing in a tournament that has been popular since 1995 under the original European Cup name, and opinions are still very different today.
South Africa leaving Super Rugby Enhances the competition
Skinstad, a former South Africa captain and current co-owner of Beziers, a team in the French second division, has had enough of the sniping and believes the Sharks, Stormers, and Bulls provide value to the 24-team showcase.
Before the Sharks in Durban welcome the Exeter Chiefs, Toulon travels to Cape Town to play the Stormers, and the Saracens and Bulls meet in London, he told Planet Rugby, “We punch way above our weight.”
“We have fewer rugby players than England has to offer, undoubtedly less financial resources to retain the players, and more—and more difficult—travel than anyone else.”
However, we have just recently arrived, we won the Challenge Cup last year with the Sharks, and we are continuously at the top of the URC [United Rugby Championship].
I totally understand the reluctance; I want to play in my playground; who is this new person? I understand. This negativity is anthropological and very human, but things are changing.
Rugby is torn between its passion for the past and “the way things were” and the urgent need to develop the game away from the past, which many players adore.
Five Springboks make the cut, while David Campese’s Autumn Nations Series team features “box office” potential in a fiercely fought fly-half shirt.
Although the executive pay increase at the top of the Rugby Football Union may give the impression that national unions are in dire need of money, leading clubs are going bankrupt.
For heaven’s sake, we’ve been considering a global calendar for thirty years,” Skinstad remarked. The best players would often compete against the best players on the best teams if rugby had a worldwide season. However, we don’t since we have distinct economic motivators and levers, as well as egos and backgrounds.
Furthermore, a group of elderly men who oversee the game are unable to agree on a calendar while seated around a table. That is the thing’s underlying principle. which is remarkable.
“It’s like families getting together and debating where to have our Christmas lunch at the end of the year.” Additionally, because everyone wants to go somewhere else, they never get to have a Christmas meal together.