Opinion: Can South African rugby combat player drain, or is it a losing battle?

At one time or another, often like clockwork every year, an age-old debate central to South African rugby kicks off. Invariably, the topic revolves around the litany of overseas-based players and whether anything can be done to stem the tide of departures from South African shores.

The financial temptations come from far and wide, with European and English clubs often finding the South African market to be a rewarding and happy hunting ground.

Money talks at a time when the current exchange rate certainly does no favours to SA Rugby stakeholders attempting to hold onto their most prized assets with purse strings stretched to capacity.

Perhaps, though, the biggest threat now comes from Japan. Cash-flush clubs from that part of the world are increasingly tabling “life-changing” offers for foreign recruits, primarily targeting the best of the best on the international scene. Many Japan teams have set out to have leading Springbok stars on their books to bolster both their performance and club status at a time when the reigning World Cup champions remain the number one team in the game.

At the latest count, well over 200 South African professionals are currently plying their trade at various overseas clubs, while more than half of the recent Springbok squad was made up of players based abroad. It comes at a time when the global rugby landscape has changed dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic threw the world off its axis.

South Africa‘s four leading franchises have made their first foray into northern hemisphere competition through the newly-formed United Rugby Championship, with the South African sides also set to be eligible to qualify for the Champions Cup from the 2022/23 season. A new competition that dangles the