SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says the current demands on leading Springboks are “not sustainable”.
Alexander’s concerns echo those recently raised by World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, who highlighted the near year-round schedule faced by South Africa’s top stars competing in Europe and international rugby.
“If you’re a South African player playing in Europe and for the Springboks, it’s effectively an 11-month season,” Gilpin said. “That’s not sustainable at the level the game is played.”
Alexander agreed, stressing that player welfare must take priority as the global calendar comes under scrutiny.
“The current schedule places enormous pressure on our Springbok players and sustainability must be central to our planning,” he told Rapport.
“Protecting player well-being is non-negotiable. We will continue to engage with World Rugby to ensure a balance between commercial imperatives and the health of our athletes.”
ALSO: Pollard adapts to 12-month grind
Recent statistics underline the concern, with players such as Damian Willemse and RG Snyman featuring in over 30 matches across club and Test rugby in a 12-month cycle – significantly more than their Japan-based counterparts.
Springboks who play in European competitions such as the Investec Champions Cup and Vodacom URC play almost all-year round, while Japan-based players have a more tolerable nine-month schedule.
SA RUGBY CEO: Global season needs compromise
Alexander believes a complete rethink of the global calendar is required.
“If we truly hope to find a solution, we must resist the temptation to come with fixed positions and established demands,” he said.
“We must approach this challenge with a clean slate, open to dialogue, compromise, and innovation.”
Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The post Alexander sounds alarm on Bok workload appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
