SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Super Rugby
  • Springboks
    • Fixtures and Logs
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Opinion
    • Nick Mallett
    • Jon Cardinelli
    • Craig Lewis
    • Dylan Jack
    • Simnikiwe Xabanisa
    • Mariette Adams
    • Omar Mouneimne
    • James Dalton
    • Stefan Terblanche
    • Jean de Villiers
    • Superbru
  • Tournaments
    • Rugby Championship
    • Currie Cup
    • European Champions Cup
    • English Premiership
    • French Top 14
    • Super Rugby
    • Pro14
    • Varsity Cup
    • Test Rugby
    • Six Nations
    • Sevens
    • Rugby Challenge
    • U20 Championship
    • Gold Cup
    • World Cup
    • Women’s World Cup
    • Lions Tour
    • Olympic Games
  • More
    • Fixtures & Results
      • Super Rugby
      • World Rugby Sevens Series
        • Fixtures
        • Log
      • European Champions Cup
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
      • English Premiership
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
      • French Top 14
        • Fixtures
        • Results
        • Log
    • Logs
    • Schools
    • Features
    • Teams
      • Kings
      • Bulls
      • Lions
      • Sharks
      • Stormers
    • Terms and conditions
  • COVID-19 Portal
  • Supabets
  • You are here: Home ∼ Woodward slams ‘Seven Nations’ talk

    Woodward slams ‘Seven Nations’ talk

    The Lions in South Africa in 2009 The Lions tour
    Published on February 14, 2020

    Former England coach Clive Woodward has argued that bringing South Africa into the Six Nations could result in British & Irish Lions tours losing their value.

    There has been plenty of talk over the last week after the Daily Mail reported that negotiations had been going on for some time that could see South Africa join the northern hemisphere competition after the 2023 World Cup in France.

    Meanwhile, speaking to Sunday newspaper Rapport, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander suggested the article was pure speculation, but did admit the reports are also ‘not too far from the truth because there is a lot of disruption in rugby right now’.

    The reality is that SA Rugby is said to be tied into a deal with broadcasters to remain involved in Sanzaar competitions through to 2025.

    Writing in his regular column for the Daily Mail, Woodward slammed talk of the Springboks joining the Six Nations and instead suggested that European rugby would be better served by promoting emerging nations like Georgia and Spain.

    ‘It would be a textbook example of possible short-term financial gain superseding the far greater need to develop European rugby,’ Woodward wrote.

    ‘We should be making the Six Nations a properly structured, coherent, continental championship with promotion and relegation. It could and should become an integral part of a European structure of international rugby that would see huge development in the game, ultimately producing many more players and teams.

    ‘As reigning world champions, South Africa do, currently, bring a good deal to the table and perhaps are trying to use that as leverage while they can — but rugby needs to take a long-term strategic view.

    ‘Has anybody other than the number-crunchers really thought this through in terms of player welfare and the huge dent it would make in supporters’ wallets?

    ‘With all these annual fixtures against the Springboks, November Tests and summer tours would also become redundant and Lions tours to South Africa will be old hat with no novelty value.’

    Full Column

    Photo: Gallo Images

    REMINDER: Registration for interest in tickets for the 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa has now opened

    Have you signed up to our newsletter? Click here to join the thousands of readers who are part of our newsletter community

    Posted in Lions Tour, Six Nations, Test Rugby, Top headlines, Tournaments Tagged Clive Woodward, england, sa rugby, Six Nations, Springboks

    Post by SA Rugby magazine

    SA Rugby magazine




    ← Previous Next →

    Answers needed for WP woes

    Western Province’s insipid semi-final defeat needs to be compartmentalised. There are bigger...

    Currie Cup semi-final standouts, Jacobs leads the way

    ANDRE-PIERRE CRONJE takes a look back at some of the standout performers...

    Province vs Sharks: Clashes to watch

    DYLAN JACK looks at five personal duels which could be decisive in the...

    Saffas Abroad: Hall, Grobler star for resurgent Stade

    SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the South African players who featured for their...

    Terblanche’s fond farewell

    It’s been an honour to serve as CEO of the South African...

    Northern exposure should be welcomed

    Playing in the northern hemisphere will provide benefits on and off the...

    Column: All shapes and sizes

    It’s time to stop judging a player such as Frans Malherbe by...

    Column: When context is needed

    As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

    Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

    The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

    From the mag: Foreign Favourites

    As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

    Bulls rookies to watch

    After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

    Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

    For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

    VIEW MORE


    COVID-19 Corona Virus
    South African Resource Portal

    ABOUT

    • Contact us
    • Competitions
    • Videos
    • Player Features
    • Subscribe
    • Terms and conditions

    TOURNAMENTS

      • Rugby Championship
      • Super Rugby
      • Currie Cup
      • Varsity Cup
      • Gold Cup
      • Schools
      • Six Nations
      • Champions Cup
      • World Cup

    OPINION

    • Mallett on SuperSport
    • Cardinelli column
    • Lewis column
    • Xabanisa column
    • Borchardt column
    • Superbru

    Primary Menu

    • Home
    • Super Rugby
    • Springboks
      • Fixtures and Logs
    • British & Irish Lions
    • Videos
    • Opinion
      • Nick Mallett
      • Jon Cardinelli
      • Craig Lewis
      • Dylan Jack
      • Simnikiwe Xabanisa
      • Mariette Adams
      • Omar Mouneimne
      • James Dalton
      • Stefan Terblanche
      • Jean de Villiers
      • Superbru
    • Tournaments
      • Rugby Championship
      • Currie Cup
      • European Champions Cup
      • English Premiership
      • French Top 14
      • Super Rugby
      • Pro14
      • Varsity Cup
      • Test Rugby
      • Six Nations
      • Sevens
      • Rugby Challenge
      • U20 Championship
      • Gold Cup
      • World Cup
      • Women’s World Cup
      • Lions Tour
      • Olympic Games
    • More
      • Fixtures & Results
        • Super Rugby
        • World Rugby Sevens Series
          • Fixtures
          • Log
        • European Champions Cup
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
        • English Premiership
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
        • French Top 14
          • Fixtures
          • Results
          • Log
      • Logs
      • Schools
      • Features
      • Teams
        • Kings
        • Bulls
        • Lions
        • Sharks
        • Stormers
      • Terms and conditions
    • COVID-19 Portal
    • Supabets



    Subscribe
    ×