Allegedly in order to qualify for SA Schools (which will be probably be announced on Monday 15 July 2019) , players turning 18 in the calendar year will have to make themselves available for SA u20 squad for the next two years. So for those players who plan to move to European based clubs after they matriculate, they either have to turf those plans or reach a compromise with their Euro clubs so that they be based in South Africa from February to June.
Tut! Sounds like a kak deal!
SA Rugby is falling apart at the seams. As an aspiring school-leaver rugby player you can no longer afford to base your plans on making a name for yourself in South Africa. Young Saffas have to entertain realistic concerns that every month spent in their motherland is potentially a month that the gap between them and promising players of similar ability based abroad widens because SA no longer has the financial resources, the correct succession plan to promote the right good coaches or the leadership at the top to keep pace. In 2020, that gap might not be so great but guaranteed by 2021 it will grow and by 2022 it will be even bigger. In five years time we’ll arrive at a point where a youngster’s make or break will be determined by him getting into Europe straight after school. By then we’ll look back at the teen pioneers of 2019 and realise that they weren’t traitors or anything of that nature – they were smart to jump ship when they first spotted it taking on water.
Anyway being picked for SA Schools should be because of his past achievements as a schoolboy rugby player and not some future held for ransom decision made by inefficient, insecure posers who are busy turning something that was once great into junk status.
SA rugby supporters are eventually going to make the same decision as these teen pioneers. Right now, today, you as a fan of this wonderful great game should be carefully examining what’s happening to rugby in this country, the decisions that are being made or not being made, the influences that have taken a grip but are so far removed from what it means to be professional and so far removed from an ambition which should always be to strive to be the best international rugby playing country in the world. On the course that SA is on, the ability to attain these high standards is disappearing fast, probably forever.
I’m actually surprised that European rugby clubs are not visibly present in SA, trying to grow their market share and global appeal by soliciting your support. It is inevitably that they will eventually get close to 100% of it. Either that or you will most likely end up turning your back on rugby altogether.
@Tang: that is unfortunately the way saru conducts business….
I’m a little out of touch with this whole story but it sounds like a disaster. Is this the beginning of the end?
I’m sure many talented youngsters will leave and rightfully pursue opportunities in Europe. SA Sport (not only SARU) seems to be in a total mess.
@4×4: ek kan jou se maar dus vir malhuis om dit te doen…wat ek wel kan se is hy is n yster en gaan dit nog ver bring
@malhuis: Klink soos ‘n no brainer. Watter posisie speel hy?
@4×4: jy is honderd persent korrek, hulle moet studeer. Hy wil kyk om besigheidsbestuur te doen, iets wat sou vergelyk met MBA. As hy daar is einde van die jaar sal die klub met hom gesels en dan guide om vir die regte kursus in te skryf. Hulle het ‘n gekwalifiseerde persoon onder kontrak wat beroepsleiding doen vir hulle juniors.
@James Bond: Well 007, that is a very good point. Just show the inconsistencies in SA Rugby.
Juniors can’t be selected because they will take the place of someone who will remain in SA, but foreign seniors may be selected even though they will take the place of a Saffa.
SARU moet eerder fondse vind sodat die provinsiale Onder 19 en 21 spanne teen Europese spanne kan speel.
@malhuis: het jou seun al besluit op sy akademiese loopbaan en in watter rigting hy gaan studeer? Ek verstaan dit is ‘n verdere vereiste as jy by Franse Klubs speel dat jy by ‘n universiteit moet inskryf.
Totdat SA Franchises nie opgekoop word deur Europese magnate nie, sal ons elke jaar ‘n uitvloei van rugby talent hê. Met die wisselkoers behoort dit ‘n appel en ‘n ui te kos, en die upside is hulle het baie talent om van kies.
@malhuis: Malhuis dit is net my opinie. Spelers wat ń geleentheid oorsee kry moet dit vat want ons almal weet hoe dit in SA rugby gaan. Daar is ook ander spelers wat ongelukkig agter bly en die onsekerheid wat oor hulle koppe hang. Niks persoonlik nie. Sterkte met jou seun
Something from left field if SA rugby leaves out young players because they have signed abroad. SARU shouldn’t allow Jerry Sexton-Kings ( Irish)& Josh Strauss-Bulls ( Scottish ) to sign for SA franchises because that’s not in the best interest of SA rugby….
@Muzi: hence my son moving to ply his trade in France where he will not only get paid and get game time, but where in 42 months time he can qualify to play for a country where selection is 100% based on merit. There is no alternative in SA that deserves reconsideration of any kind.
So the sheep at SARU did what they said.
What is grossly unfair is that they introduced this stupid rule AFTER the Craven Week and AFTER the boys concluded contracts to secure their future.
So the sheep from SARU should not expect any loyalty from these kids towards SOUTH AFRICA.
The sheep from SARU clearly don’t possess more than 2 brain cells as they CLEARLY did not think through the dire consequences of their decisions.
But the sheep from SARU have not learnt the valuable lesson of never burn other people’s bridges if you burn your own.
But the sheep from SARU don’t care because they are in powerful positions without earning it.
Total disrespect for the sheep from SARU.
NOTE: I view the SA High Schools sheep as part of the sheep of SARU.
Die SA skole span se nogals baie met hulle keuse van spelers dit is vir my duidelik dat die seuns hulle nie aan saru gesteur het nie
Absolute joke. SA Schools selection should be based solely on your performance in the year that you are selected. If you are the best flyhalf in the country but would rather focus on cricket or studying medicine after school, then why shouldn’t you be selected for SA schools?
@malhuis: …change to a U20 CC tournanent for instance the Bulls sit with a slight problem….their U21 group is arguably the strongest in SA Nollis Marais at any time can field 2-3 teams….players like Dawid Kellerman/Diego Appollis/Richard Kriel/Dewald Donald at the moment aren’t getting game time after the U19 tournament was canned by SARU.
@Rainier daai heel eerste comment van “kalfie” is wat vir my pofferig gemaak het.
@Rugbyman: Do you think they should have kept both the u19 and u21 CC or change it to a u20 CC?
@BoishaaiPa: An extremely narrow minded amateurish approach… So, so sad… I dont think we can even spell professionalism…
@malhuis: Met wie baklei jy so, ek dink ons stem almal saam met jou.
SARU shooting themselves in the foot big time! They don’t want the boys to leave, yet offer no alternative except a possible u/20 training squad?..Are the people in charge of our rugby that stupid?..Apparently they are! Why not leave the door wide open for these boys to return or be picked for current SA teams?.. with much greater experience and new skill sets learned these boys could return and be picked for u/20 and other teams in future. The overseas clubs will be doing us a huge favour in fact developing these players further. Somehow SARU cant see past the shyte they are creating themselves!
@James Bond: Dis nog een van SARU se great besluite om die o/19 kompetisie te cancel… Ai…
If the newspaper is correct the Grey boy didn’t receive an offer in SA…. 1) then he should be allowed to peruse oppertunities
2) If he is in line for one of the 2 SA schools teams his ranked in the top 4 (10’s) in SA, scary that a top four 10 cant find a contract in SA………..
@malhuis: Sterkte ou maat…
Ek dink ons almal stem hier saam… SARU is in shambles…. een swak besluit op die ander… Siesa!
Saru always have horribly bad ideas.
@malhuis: dis baie baie sad
@Smallies: I totally agree with you, SARU think kids play rugby for them and these kids belong to them. SARU spend very little money compared to the parents and schools, they should show much more appreciation.
So how does one stop this? Who gives Saru their power?
@malhuis: Alles van die beste,ek kies my woorde versigtig maar my gut se my dis by verre die regte besluit.@Smallies: Stem 100% saam,SARU soek jou Nie maar hulle wil ook Nie he jy moet gaan nie.Hulle is plein weg arrogant,broodtjie aan Al die kante gebotter he…
@malhuis: Sterkte aan julle ,dut vat balls om so n besluit te neem ,veral op so n jong ouderdom….dit is verregaande dat saru sulke vereistes will stel….asof hulle die skool toere betaal het ,asof hulle toks gekoop het ,asof hulle op en af agter sport geleenthede aan gery het ,asof hulle moet leer vir toetse na n helse game Saterdag,asof hulle die onkostes van beserings en rehab gedra het….nee wat my maat julle skuld saru niks…in teen deel moet saru einlik vir die ouers wat damm baie opofferings maak dankie se en nie kom demand nie
It is not “alleged”, it is fact. My son is one of those boys. If you went through this horrid experience with me, I am sure the only comment would be: “why the hell did you not leave earlier?!?!”
Die slim ouens wat hulle monde spoel en sê as hulle wil waai dan moet hulle waai, vir julle vra ek om asb vir my die alternatief aan te dui. Want ironies genoeg was hulle geen plaaslike aanbiedings gemaak nie, so SARU en al julle grootbekke wil hê hulle moet hier bly met geen inkomste of kontrak net sodat julle kan sien hoe hulle 6 games in ‘n jaar vir die SA Skole of SA o/20 span speel. Wat ‘n grap man, dis snert en julle weet dit.
So before you judge just because you want to see the top boys play a few games, just start thinking about whether you personally would be prepared to pay for these boys to have a life away from rugby just so you can have some spectating pleasure every once in a while. They are young men with the same basic needs and aspirations as boys going to university to become lawyers and doctors, the difference being that none of you would say a word if a boy went to study overseas because it is better there.
So dink maar mooi, die realiteit bly dat soos alles in hierdie land is rugby as ‘n loopbaan nie meer ‘n opsie as jy nie regstellend genoeg is nie.
Gee nie rêrig om wie saamstem of wil oordeel nie, dis altyd maklik om van die kant af te skree. Want as jy nie tussen die lyne is nie dan geld die reëls mos nie. Ongelukkig tel my seun se geluk vir my, so met ‘n ligte hart sê ek saam met hom “Vaarwel SA”.
Sal sien oor 5 jaar tussen daai selfde lyne waar lê SA Rugby dan.
“Allegedly”…… , ek hoop rerig jou info is verkeerd.
Anders sien ons swak SA o/18 spanne vir die komende games. Hoekom sal n talentvolle spelers homself vir 2 jaar bind, sonder dar SARU enige bydrae tot sy loop aan waarborg?!? Hierdie idiots is besig om ons spelers te kondisioneer om nie meer n ⚙️ om te gee vir hulle land nie en liewers vir n Europese Nationale span te WIL speel
Playing for SA is not nearly as prestigious as any of the other big rugby nations. Controversy and politics have destroyed the springbok’s good name its honour and culture. It is only those with super egos that would feel honoured to be picked by an officially biased system (quotas).
For quite some time now, not all best players are selected for the craven week and even academy week teams. Players that indicate that they want to make a career out of rugby receive preferential treatment. So do “previously disadvantaged” players and players who’s coaches and selectors are in positions of power. With SA schools, u20 and seniors, the same philosophy prevails. So, not being selected for any of them is really no issue. It could actually be to your detriment if you are locked into an onerous and one sided contract.
My view is that any boy with a rugby dream must use all opportunities to participate at the highest level, regardless of where that may be. They must however do their homework and make sure they are comfortable with, or willing to adapt to a very different culture (which is much more than language and food ;-).
Spread your wings boys. You are responsible for your own future, do not rely on the local systems which seems to be seriously lacking. Earning pounds, euros and dollars will also set you up to be a world citizen. With rands you are significantly disadvantaged.
Met die blatante diskriminasie van saru teenoor blanke spelers is dit vir my baie ironies dat hulle nou wil kerm …
Enige persoon wat n voornemende jong speler kritiseer omdat hy elders gaan vir n geleentheid is oningelig.
Kom ons wees nou eerlik met mekaar, die manne wat wil gaan moet gaan. Hier is genoeg goeie spelers wat agter bly. Weet nie hoekom daar so ń bohaai gemaak word oor sekere skole spelers nie, asof hulle die enigste speler in die posisie in SA is nie. SARU kry jou huis in orde vinnig, jy gaan baie meer spelers verloor. Hoor flank van Paarl Gim gaan Japan toe…..