SA Rugby has reportedly aligned with France at the latest World Rugby Shape of the Game summit.
Administrators and key stakeholders gathered in London this week to discuss the future direction of the sport, with proposed tweaks to the laws – particularly around scrums and game tempo – creating clear divisions between hemispheres.
According to French sports daily L’Equipe, South Africa has sided with France and other northern hemisphere unions in pushing back against proposals driven by Australia and New Zealand.
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Those changes are said to focus on speeding up the game and reducing stoppages, including efforts to limit scrums in a bid to increase ball-in-play time.
Super Rugby Pacific’s recent law trials have fuelled the debate, with critics concerned that certain modifications risk stripping away core elements of rugby union in favour of a more free-flowing, rugby league-style spectacle.
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France’s stance has been clear.
“We’re open [to changes], but we don’t want to break what works,” said Yann Roubert, president of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, which governs the Top 14 and Pro D2.
French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill added: “We believe that France has genuine legitimacy given the quality of its professional rugby and its national teams.”
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With any law amendments needing to be finalised in time for implementation at the 2027 World Cup in Australia, the stakes are high.
The emerging alliance between South Africa and France suggests that preserving set-pieces and the traditional fabric of the game will be central to the resistance against sweeping reform.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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