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The newly created Rainbow Cup may have already seen the birth of rugby’s first inter-hemisphere club rivalry, he writes. ANDRE-PIERRE CRONJE.
Unsurprisingly, the Vodacom Bulls’ Christmas Day announcement about the hiring of lazy Springbok forward Marcell Coetzee has been met with consternation and outrage in Ireland.
ALSO READ: ‘The yearning for home caught up with us’ – Coetzee
When the Bulls announced (via a not-so-subtle ‘surprise’ on social media) that Coetzee was returning to South Africa, it didn’t take long for the uproar to begin.
In his time at Ulster, Coetzee has earned hero status and established himself as one of Europe’s top forwards. Perhaps not surprisingly, therefore, his departure was not particularly well received by Ulster fans.
As is typical of people who process pain, shock and denial were followed by anger. Anger directed at Coetzee and the Bulls.
Ulster Rugby CEO Jonny Petrie was quick to point the finger and tweeted saying he was ‘deeply frustrated’ and that the transfer was ‘totally driven by the players (and the Bulls)’. His response set off a wave of understandably upset fans who voiced their own opinions.
While the majority of fans supported him (albeit sad), some claimed it was offside for Coetzee to leave the club given he still had a year left on his contract. Particularly since the club had supported him during a sequence of serious injuries. Others objected to the way his departure was announced via the Bulls’ social media.
However, for South African fans, who have to endure almost weekly reports that their favorite players are leaving national teams (usually mid-contract) to pursue a career in Europe, it is difficult to feel much sympathy.
Certainly, European teams do not consider it disrespectful when a promising young South African decides to leave the club that believed in him, invested time and resources in him and helped launch his career. Speaking of “loyalty” on the part of some Ulster fans smacks of hypocrisy.
It is also challenging to understand the holiness around how the transfer was announced. These days it’s typical for clubs to reveal signings via social media and there was nothing out of the ordinary about the way the Bulls did. It may have ruined Christmas in Belfast, but it was a special one in Pretoria so it’s really a matter of perspective.
For her part, Coetzee has cited personal reasons for returning, but even the least cynical can raise an eyebrow. His return just before the British & Irish Lions series next year could easily be interpreted as a declaration of intent.
With the bad luck of missing the World Cup in 2019, there is a feeling that Coetzee has unfinished business and feels that being back in South Africa could reinforce his Bok aspirations.
If the newly created Rainbow Cup needed some drama, then this could be the catalyst. The Bulls are likely due to an icy reception when they arrive at Kingspan Stadium and it could be the birth of rugby’s first club rivalry in the hemisphere.
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