The country’s rugby governing body the South African Rugby Union, simply known as SA Rugby, has confirmed that all club rugby in the country is cancelled for 2020.
With the year at an advanced stage where many club rugby competitions would be busy with the business end of things, the possibility of club rugby returning was always going to be in jeopardy.
Club rugby, perhaps a sign of how important it is in the game, was one of a few competitions which had initially survived the first wave of the global coronavirus pandemic when a lot of SA Rugby’s competitions were cancelled earlier in the year. As time progressed, however, it soon became a case of the inevitable being delayed of what would have been a rather miraculous turn of events had club rugby survived the pandemic.
The announcement will come as a big blow for Boksburg club rugby sides the Makopano Boksburg Rugby Club and East Rand United, with both sets of clubs having had big plans for the would be season. Boksburg had done some shuffling in the managerial department and did savvy and swift business in the pre-season transfer window to be ready on time come the beginning of the season.
United, meanwhile, perhaps foreseeing the decision of club rugby being called off for the year, started doing business a bit late, but the club has been busy too in recent months to bolster their squad.
Roux explained the decision to cancel the club rugby season. “Risk associated with mass return to train and play has been highlighted by government and timelines, practicalities are such that it’s unrealistic there will be general return to play this year.
“Therefore the members of the CovCom (the standing committee of member unions and experts which has been managing rugby’s response to the pandemic) opted to formally confirm that the only rugby to take place under their jurisdiction this year would feature eight senior professional teams.
“The eight teams are: the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Southern Kings, Toyota Cheetahs, Tafel Lager Griquas and Phakisa Pumas. Due to the economic impact of the pandemic on the sport, the remaining professional teams will remain in lockdown,” said Roux.
Roux added that schools’ rugby did not fall under SA Rugby’s jurisdiction and any decisions in that regard would be handled by the Department of Basic Education.
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