SA Rugby has confirmed it will hold a strategic planning session with its member unions and directors of rugby before the end of July to review the current domestic and international schedule amid growing player welfare concerns.
This announcement comes shortly after rumours circulated that SA Rugby may pull their club sides out of the Investec Champions Cup.
Since joining the United Rugby Championship, South African clubs have aligned their season with that of the northern hemisphere. However, their national side, the Springboks, still feature in the Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere.
As a result, some of their Test stars are on the go all year round, with the packed calendar impacting both player health and team performances. The review comes in the absence of progress towards a global rugby calendar alignment.
SA Rugby stressed that any speculation over potential changes is premature, with all internal stakeholders set to discuss possible solutions. If any revisions to the calendar are agreed upon, all contractual and constitutional processes will be followed.
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Full statement
The full statement, released by SA Rugby, reads: ‘SA Rugby planned some time ago to host a strategic planning session of its members and their directors of rugby to undertake a thorough review of competitions and focus on identifying a workable solution to the pressing issue of player welfare for South African players.
‘That session has been confirmed to take place before the end of July.
‘It is in response to the need to find a competitions schedule that does not compromise the health of players or the performance of teams in the absence of progress to align to a global calendar.
‘Any speculation or predictions as to the outcomes are premature.
‘The views of all internal stakeholders will be canvassed and workshopped on the domestic and international playing calendar for South African players, which currently sees SA teams in action in every month of the year.
‘Should consensus be reached on a potential revision of the calendar, any contractual or constitutional requirements to affect such a revision will be observed.’
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