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Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone.
Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
- Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone still believes SA Rugby could twist the arm of government to allow a limited number of spectators at Currie Cup playoff games next month.
- He noted that most local unions desperately need the alternative revenue stream and that most stadiums are ideally designed for social distancing measures.
- Rathbone also explained why recruiting young people to fill the void of the elderly when a Covid-19 outbreak occurs is not as viable as some people believe.
Bulls chief Edgar rathbone is hopeful that the continued Covid-19 disruption of the local rugby calendar, as well as South Africa’s entry into a second wave of infections, will not derail plans for the return of fans to the stadiums.
Sport24 has reliably learned that SA Rugby has actively sought government approval for relevant unions to host a maximum of 5,000 spectators for next month’s Currie Cup playoff phase.
Most of the finances of local unions have been severely affected by the pandemic, leading them to push more actively for some form of income.
With the expected semifinalists all with large capacity stadiums, social distancing could be achieved relatively effectively with the right measures.
“It is very important for the local rugby economy as a whole to have a returning following,” Rathbone said Thursday after confirmation that the Bulls’ game against Griquas had been canceled due to Covid protocols.
“Most of our main stadiums are designed in such a way in terms of space that it should be relatively easy to implement social distancing and have effective protocols. It remains a major priority for us to win back the fans.
“I am hopeful that this latest setback will not have an impact.”
Under current lockdown regulations, fans are not allowed in matches of any local sporting code and it seems unlikely that rugby could lead the way in changing that given high infection rates.
Meanwhile, Rathbone also provided clarity on why outbreak-affected teams within their squads are still unable to comply with matches by using junior players to protect the integrity of the tournament.
There is a perception that, with the U21 Provincial Championship already completed at the end of October, the unions could fill the void left by the quarantined senior players.
But the issue is much more complex.
“There are a couple of factors to consider,” Rathbone said.
“Consider the front row. If you have a 19 or 20 year old prop that has not been approved by SA Rugby’s BokSmart safety regulations, you are not allowed to play at the senior level.
“We, and by extension other teams as well, have tried to limit the number of players in training sessions with the exact aim of trying to minimize the possibility of the players infecting each other. It’s about minimizing the risk.
“When you also start to have training teams of more than 60 players, where almost half can expect not to play regularly, you have the problem of having to quarantine all those players as well. It just isn’t worth it.”
Contractual obligations also play an important role.
“Most of his youth contracts expire at the end of October. Therefore, most of the under-21s that one would have seen in action in the provincial championship are no longer in his service.
“You have a significantly smaller pool of junior players left and most of your new recruits only show up for service in January. Your player corps really isn’t as large as you might think,” Rathbone said.
