Migration of rugby players is on the increase across the globe. Why would that be? Agents move players around for higher salaries, which directly relates to higher income for them.
The sad part is that often agents will move a player from SA overseas, not really worrying about their personal life and impact on their family as a whole. Playing overseas seems glamorous and adventurous for the youngsters. Players are also under the impression that they will earn fortunes in Euros or pounds, but once there they realize that living conditions overseas are not that cheap either.
When does it really benefit a player to go and play overseas? If you are a settled and matured Super rugby player or Bok, the financial benefits are normally very attractive and beneficial. Boks can earn anything from R3 to R6million per annum overseas, while Super players with experience would earn around R2m to R4m.
Often parents will call and ask me to arrange an overseas club for the sons. Youngsters with no senior rugby experience are almost impossible to place overseas; due to the fact that they do not have junior rugby in the same format we play our u.19 and u.21s. Clubs do not invest millions in junior overseas players, because their investments are focused on the senior team where it matters.
Winning a junior trophy means nothing, does not increase income and definitely does not fill the stands. Supporters come to watch their Heineken Cup players, Super rugby players or the Top 14 French league players. It is also these teams that attract all the sponsorships and fill the stands.
International rugby bodies are clamping down on the “importing” of players as it dilutes their development of their own players. Years ago you could still place players easily in the UK and they normally wanted four to five international players for their teams. This has now decreased to two to three players and you cannot enter unless you have related UK family, studying or played international rugby. France and Italy has also decreased their international players by more than 50 per cent the last two years.
The bottom line is, if you’re not good enough to make it in SA, the possibility of making it overseas is also very slim. Playing for the Boks must be every kid’s dream!
