SA Rugby and the South African United Rugby Championship franchises are locked in talks over the release of Springboks against Wales in November.
The fixture at the Principality Stadium on November 29 falls outside the official World Rugby Test window, with the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers returning to action in the URC on the same weekend.
Due to that fact, the franchises are requesting compensation from SARU as they will be deprived of some of their top players who will be on international duty.
SA URC teams’ demands
However, there is a sticking point around the value of compensation, according to Rapport, with the franchises asking for R500 000 (around £22 000) per player being used by the Springboks – the report adds that SA Rugby’s counter offer is ‘much lower’.
These kinds of negotiations are not unique to South Africa, having occurred several times before with England and France, but it is reported that the South African franchises aren’t overly pleased by the fact that the Springboks have scheduled 15 matches for this year.
Not only are players unavailable to the URC teams when they are away with the Boks, but they are also afforded a mandatory eight-week rest period, and the franchises have reportedly argued that the Japan Test should now form part of that rest period.
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“We are urgently trying to find a middle ground rather than fighting,” a source told Rapport. “It’s a difficult one to resolve.”
An administrator adds that the negotiations are progressing well and there is no threat of the URC teams denying Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus access to the players.
“It’s not a fight, nor is it a case that the Boks from the franchises will not play against Wales,” they said.
“The Bok management team has already received a guarantee that the players will play against Wales; it’s rather a case of finding a middle ground regarding the payment per player for the Tests.
“The discussions are not unique; it has happened many times before between England and their clubs as well as with France.”
Springbok players who are contracted to Japanese clubs will be available to Erasmus for the Tests against Japan and Wales despite both matches being outside the official international window.
The Bok boss has revealed that the clash against the Eddie Jones-coached Brave Blossoms at Wembley Stadium next week will be used to get matchday minutes into the legs of many of the Japan-based players who haven’t played any rugby since the Rugby Championship. It will also provide the opportunity for injured players to make their returns to Test rugby.
Unavailable Wales players
Meanwhile, head coach Steve Tandy is set to be without 12 of his players who ply their trade outside of Wales for the clash against the Springboks, as they will not be released by their clubs.
The likes of Rhys Carre, Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Nicky Smith, Freddie Thomas, Jarrod Evans, Louie Hennessey, Louis Rees-Zammit, Nick Tompkins and Tomos Williams won’t be available to the new Wales boss, who confirmed that a youthful team is likely to face South Africa in their final game of the November internationals.
“Absolutely,” he replied when asked whether the Springboks match might represent a chance for the uncapped players to get their chance.
“It’s a blank canvas. It doesn’t matter what age you are, it’s a blank canvas on selection.
“There are senior players who you think might play, but ultimately there is a chance for everyone to put a mark down on how they train and how they operate off the field in the group.
“There’s an opportunity for a cap.
“Some might not get capped, but there’s still a real opportunity to show how good they are.”
As for the Boks, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Boan Venter and Thomas du Toit will be unavailable for selection against Wales.