Jean de Villiers believes that leaving the Rugby Championship would be a \u201cmistake\u201d as he and Schalk Burger discussed the Springboks\u2019 chances of joining the Six Nations.<\/p>\n
That is irrespective of what happens to the Rugby Championship, with SA Rugby pushing for the southern hemisphere tournament to be moved to earlier in the year.<\/p>\n
South Africa are currently in the unique position of being aligned with both the north and south. Their four main franchises feature in the URC, while the Springboks are still part of the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n
That effectively means some of their top players are in action for 12 months a year, which obviously calls into question player welfare.<\/p>\n
As things stand, South Africa<\/a> are committed to the Rugby Championship<\/a> but would like it to be moved to run alongside the Six Nations<\/a> in February and March.<\/p>\n Proposal being discussed<\/p>\n That is currently being discussed at the World Rugby Shape of the Game conference in London, but New Zealand appear reluctant to change, with a switch likely impacting Super Rugby and their domestic NPC competition.<\/p>\n \u201cI just don\u2019t think in the schedule it can work now. If there\u2019s no global season, I don\u2019t think we can hop anywhere different,\u201d Burger said on the Boks Unpacked podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the Rugby Championship and now the Nations Championship where we play England, Scotland, Wales [in July].<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if we can join the Six Nations, I don\u2019t think currently it is viable. It would make for one hell of a competition, but then what happens to the Rugby Championship?\u201d<\/p>\n Schalk Burger: Super Rugby \u2018lost the plot\u2019 as CEO\u2019s South Africa comments have \u2018no value\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n While Burger might see it differently, from a purely logistical perspective, it would arguably make more sense for the Boks to switch to the Six Nations, but that could then upset what is an established and successful competition.<\/p>\n Perhaps they could participate both \u2013 something which De Villiers noted \u2013 but ultimately the former Springboks centre reckons it would be a \u201cmistake\u201d to depart the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you said it can\u2019t work if we played the Rugby Championship during this time of the year. I think that brings us closer to a global season,\u201d De Villiers said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re already playing in the northern hemisphere from a club point of view. Now if you bring the Rugby Championship during this period as well, it will influence Super Rugby \u2013 Australia and New Zealand will have to adapt \u2013 but I think it brings you closer and there is a dedicated time for the players to be able to rest.<\/p>\n