Rugby Greats Weigh In on South African Teams’ Super Rugby Departure
In a recent discussion sparked by former All Black Israel Dagg, rugby legends Aaron Smith and Frans Steyn have added their voices to the debate surrounding South Africa’s departure from Super Rugby.
Dagg, the ex-New Zealand international, lamented the Springboks’ franchises aligning with the northern hemisphere’s United Rugby Championship (URC) instead of the southern hemisphere’s revamped Super Rugby Pacific competition. The former All Blacks flyer reminisced about the thrill of facing off against South African superstars like Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha during his playing days.
The Loss of South African Teams
Legendary All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith echoed Dagg’s sentiments, acknowledging the loss of the “tour experience” and “tough rugby in the heat” that young players miss out on without facing the South African teams. Smith, now based in Japan after a 12-year stint with the Highlanders, believes the departure of the Springboks from Super Rugby has been detrimental to the development of rising talent.
Springboks’ Shift to the North
Springboks great and current Cheetahs director of rugby Frans Steyn also weighed in, pointing out that other South African teams are eager for the opportunity to compete in the top-tier northern hemisphere competition. The Cheetahs, once part of Super Rugby, are now playing in the European Challenge Cup but are yet to be accepted into the URC.
“The debate surrounding the South African teams’ shift away from Super Rugby has clearly struck a chord with rugby’s elite, with Dagg, Smith, and Steyn all expressing their views on the matter.”
As the sport continues to evolve, the impact of these changes on player development and the overall competitiveness of rugby’s premier tournaments remains a topic of discussion within the global rugby community.
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