Rassie Erasmus has been hailed for transforming SA Rugby\u2019s high-performance structures, while CEO Rian Oberholzer believes that leaving Super Rugby was a blessing.<\/p>\n
The SA Rugby CEO says that the United Rugby Championship is a better fit for South Africa, who now travel less than when they tackled the New Zealand, Argentine, Japanese and Australian teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe move north was actually a blessing in disguise for us,\u201d he told the SABC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now playing in a competition where our travelling is not as severe as it used to be. Our teams are performing well, and I think that was a huge step forward for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rest was important<\/p>\n
South Africa won the 2023 Rugby World Cup after making the move to the URC, but Oberholzer<\/a> credits the changes that Erasmus<\/a> made upon his return in 2018 for the success of the Boks<\/a> and the other national teams.<\/p>\n The current head coach was initially hired as the director of rugby and made several alterations in coaching personnel and aligned all the teams.<\/p>\n General Manager of High Performance Dave Wessels now oversees the structures after Erasmus took over the head coach reins with the Springboks.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was important for us was our reset that we had, and in the way that we approach our teams and specifically the national teams,\u201d Oberholzer continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThen also the genius of our coaching staff under the leadership of Rassie Erasmus has really taken us to the next level.<\/p>\n \u201cOur high-performance reset helped us tremendously with our women\u2019s game and positioned our women in the top eight in South Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cOur under-20s won the World Championship, our sevens won this weekend again, so on the field, it\u2019s going extremely well, and I think we\u2019ve got that right.\u201d<\/p>\n SA Rugby boss drops biggest hint as to who may replace Rassie Erasmus as Springboks head coach<\/a><\/p>\n Rating every Springboks back in 2025: The \u2018perfect 10\u2019 as star becomes undroppable and veteran hits \u2018career best form\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Winning off the field too<\/p>\n SA Rugby has enjoyed success off the field too, with reports earlier this year stating that sponsorship earnings would exceed broadcast revenue for the first time in the professional era.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what we have to concentrate on is our off-field performance as well as the way that we look at ourselves as an organisation,\u201d the CEO added.<\/p>\n \u201cAre we still fit for form? Are we moving in the right direction to ensure these successes on the field continue well past this year and next year?\u201d<\/p>\n