MARK KEOHANE commends the resilience of South Africa’s star players, as they transition from a triumphant Springbok tour to the start of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane highlights the intense demands on South African players in a December schedule devoid of a summer break.

This month’s EPCR and Vodacom URC schedule requires players and coaches to tackle four consecutive weekends of high-stakes games across two vastly different competitions and climates.

Keohane notes the Vodacom Bulls, Sharks, and DHL Stormers competing in the Champions Cup, facing tough European opposition, while the Lions and Cheetahs vie for the second-tier Challenge Cup. He emphasises the importance of securing home quarter-finals to increase the likelihood of success.

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Despite the gruelling calendar, Keohane stresses that the players and coaches’ contributions to rugby as year-round entertainment deserve greater recognition.

“December is a celebrated month of festivities and rugby and when it comes to the latter the players do it tough,” he writes.

“Mentally, the resolve has to be pretty hardened to get through four matches in four weekends in two different competitions that require very different approaches.

“It is full-on and all the teams are in action a week later before the knockout competition breaks until the 10th of January, 2025 when two more rounds get played.

“I don’t think they get enough appreciation or applause or love for giving us our favourite sporting entertainment throughout the year.”

Photo: @Springboks/Twitter