Jean de Villiers and Jim Hamilton both concede it is inevitable that the Springboks will join the Six Nations, but raise concerns over the impact the move could have on the Test calendar and future British & Irish Lions tours.
Speculation has been rife over the past few months that the Springboks could ditch the Sanzaar partnership to join Europe’s elite.
Despite committing to Sanzaar and the Rugby Championship until at least the end of 2024, suggestions are that the door is still open for the Springboks to join the Six Nations in 2025.
The Springboks have been involved in the southern-hemisphere tournament since it was first formed as the Tri-Nations in 1996, claiming their first title in 1998. Their rivalry with the All Blacks is a highlight of the Test calendar, as the two teams have a history going back to 1921.
Understandably, former and current Springboks and All Blacks – such as Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Patrick Tuipulotu, Bryn Hall and Sean Fitzpatrick – have shared their worries that a move away from the Rugby Championship could affect the rivalry between the two nations.
During a wide-ranging URC round-table discussion, Premier Sports analyst and former Scotland lock Hamilton and SuperSport pundit and former Bok centre De Villiers were both asked for their thoughts on the potential move.
Hamilton said he is against the Springboks joining the Six Nations, but could see it happening in the near future.
“I hope not. I am a complete traditionalist and romantic around the Six Nations. As much as I love South Africa, where I am at the minute, I don’t want to see them in the Six Nations, but I do think it is going to happen,” Hamilton said.
“The inevitability of the commerciality of the game, the way we are seeing the URC happen now and the addition, which has been fantastic, the European aspect, which is going a different dynamic, I think there is an inevitability around it happening.
“I know it got quashed a couple of months ago. The romance around Italy, the question marks, that game against Wales has done them absolute wonders and the fact that their U20s are performing so well. I genuinely think there is an inevitability to this. In the next couple of years, the momentum will start gathering.
“For me, I can’t get my head around the Six Nations being any different with the European games and going to Rome, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Paris and London. These fantastic rugby places, not that South Africa isn’t, but I can’t get my head around it.”
De Villiers differed, saying he could see value in the Springboks moving north, but was worried over losing the rivalry with the All Blacks and Wallabies, adding that there would have to be a reason beyond the commercial for making the move.
“I think I do want it to happen. But from a South African point of view, already we have entered into Europe with the URC and hopefully with the European Cup. Do we go full steam into Europe, or is there still a connection to Australia and New Zealand? If we totally lose that, it could be dangerous for South African rugby.
“But there could be a perfect situation for South African rugby as well, if we enter Six Nations and we are still involved in the Rugby Championship. Being South Africa, I think that could be a perfect scenario. Would that ever happen? I have no idea.
“Jim talks about being a traditionalist and I am the same. But rugby changes. It was Four Nations, then Five Nations and now it is Six Nations. It has changed of over time and the inevitability of it changing again is probably pretty strong.
“The question will always be, what is the reason for the change? If it is only commercially driven, I suppose it probably will happen. Do you want it to stay what it was and what it is now? Then it probably wouldn’t even be on the cards. At the end of the day, the people that make these big decisions, the question will be what is the reason for making the change, then we can give our views on it.”
Hamilton then raised the concern over whether the Springboks playing in Europe could impact British & Irish Lions, with questions over the tour’s value if the Boks are playing European nations on an annual basis.
“What happens with the Lions? I know that it has come into question. You completely take the romance out of the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa if they are playing every season,” Hamilton said.
“That’s an extremely good point,” De Villiers replied. “I would be so saddened to see the Lions [tour] not happen if this decision is made. A Lions tour, as a South African, is one of the most special things ever. Even last year, I was fortunate to be at all three Test matches, even without a crowd, it is something that we can never let go of.”
Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
