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SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux speaks to the media after France was announced as the host nation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup at London’s Royal Garden Hotel on November 15, 2017 (Photo by Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)
A “perfect storm” induced by the coronavirus forced South Africa to withdraw from the Rugby Championship 2020 in Australia, SA Executive Director of Rugby Jurie Roux he said Friday.
He said factors that had contributed to the Springboks’ withdrawal from the Oct. 31-Dec. 7 tournament included:
– Some local players would have flown to Australia after playing just one competitive match instead of the five that rugby director Rassie Erasmus considered the final result.
– Uncertainty over the availability of many Europe-based South Africans as England and France grapple with spikes in Covid-19 cases.
The six Japan-based Springboks, including jet-heeled winger Makazole Mapimpi, have not played rugby recently due to the pandemic.
– The South African government regulations were unclear as to whether local players could legally leave the country.
The Springbok-filled Stormers, whose squad includes 2019 Rugby World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi, will play their first competitive match since March this Saturday.
The harsh conditions of the lockdown left the South African rugby players far behind those from New Zealand and Australia, who resumed play mid-year, in terms of playing time.
This raised fears that the rusty world champions could be hiding for nothing, not just against New Zealand’s archenemies, but also against resurgent Australia under new coach Dave Rennie.
“Players in England, Ireland and France are subject to different local regulations and travel protocols and potentially imminent renewed closures,” Roux said in a statement.
‘I didn’t play rugby’
“It was not clear when they could become active members of the Springbok team in Australia.”
Erasmus, who led South Africa to World Cup glory before returning to his role as rugby director, said Japan’s Springboks “hadn’t played rugby at all.”
Roux added: “Public safety concerns come first and there is no way we can take shortcuts to get them out of their host countries and into a Springbok bubble.”
“It seems impossible that the Springboks will not play a test in 2020, but public health and safety have been the main concerns.
“All we can do now is enjoy our national competitions and find ways to prepare for the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in 2021.”
Preparing the Springboks for a three-Test series against the Lions next July and August without playing a Test since November 2019 is the big challenge facing SA Rugby.
The cash-strapped governing body will also suffer financially as they made R300 million from competing in Australia.
A Lions tour will be a source of income, but only if British and Irish locals and visitors are allowed in.
Spectators are currently banned from attending sports in South Africa and Roux has admitted that a closed-door tour would not be financially viable.
With the Springboks absent, the Rugby Championship will be contested by Australia, Argentina and New Zealand with a match on six consecutive Saturdays starting October 31.
South Africa won the 2019 edition, which was reduced to a single round due to the World Cup.
