South Africa’s anticipated move to the prestigious Six Nations tournament has hit a roadblock, according to reports.
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Despite initial speculation that the 2023 World Cup champions were considering a switch from the Rugby Championship, negotiations have reportedly collapsed.
Rapport, a reputable South African publication, revealed that talks about the potential move have faltered.
“There have been discussions for the Boks to play in the Six Nations, but that’s not going to happen anymore – or at least not before 2030 or even after,” stated an insider to Rapport.
The stumbling block appears to be South Africa’s failure to reach an agreement with the tournament’s investors, CVC Capital Partners. This private equity firm has a substantial financial stake in the Six Nations, having announced a £365 million long-term investment agreement in 2021.
As a consequence of the breakdown in negotiations, South Africa is expected to continue participating in its own southern hemisphere event, the Rugby Championship.
In response, SA Rugby is reportedly exploring discussions with American company Ackerley Partners, contemplating a potential investment move of their own.
“If in doubt, play on” – Wayne Barnes call for three changes to ‘improve rugby’
Discover the three significant changes Barnes advocates for rugby union in the current landscape, aiming to enhance the game’s appeal and competitiveness.
Read his full column for The Telegraph by clicking here.
Change one: Referee reviewers must encourage the game to flow
He wrote in his column: “With the game crying out for less stoppages and for more attacking rugby, a general philosophy around allowing the game to flow should be the focus of what the selectors are feeding back to match officials.”
RUCK Judgment: Spot on – it just makes sense that referees are recognised for promoting gameplay rather than enforcing rules to the extent that the game halts more frequently than in American Football.
