The Grubber: A bulletin of what’s happening in the game during the covid-19 lockdown

THE Covid-19 pandemic has forced the world of rugby to be put on hold and, in a lot of cases, many franchises and unions will struggle to recover from the lack of action on the field.

Financial and administration issues will take a while to get back to normality after this pandemic blows, as mentioned last week – it could change the entire landscape of the game.

The action on the field may be on hold at the moment, but there is still a lot of movement behind the scenes. This week, The Grubber will do a quick round-up of happenings of world rugby during this lockdown – including transfer dealings and Jake White’s appointment to the Vodacom Bulls.

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Roux set to join World Rugby 

Chief Executive of SA Rugby, Jurie Roux, is reportedly leaving his post at SA rugby at the end of the year and will join Bill Beaumont and his deputy, Augustin Pichot, at World Rugby.

Although his role isn’t clear yet, it’s believed that Pichot has endorsed Roux’s potential role at World Rugby and sees the South African as a key aspect to convince the Southern Hemisphere of backing his global season idea.

SA Rugby cancel six local age-group tournaments for 2020

The longer this lockdown goes on for, the harder it is to reschedule and prioritise certain events on the local rugby calendar.

The cancellation of these tournaments could prove to be a costly blow for up-and-coming players who bank on these tournaments to be scouted or to elevate their game.

The following tournaments that have been cancelled by SA Rugby are: All SA Rugby Youth Weeks, SA Rugby Provincial U13 and U17 Sevens, SA Schools U18 Competition, SA Rugby Provincial U19 Week, SA Rugby Provincial U20 Competition and SA Rugby Provincial Sevens Competition.

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Super Rugby franchises feel the financial pressure of covid-19 

New Zealand outfits, The Crusaders, Blues and Chiefs have been forced to retrench staff due to the financial strain brought on by the pandemic.

The defending champions, The Crusaders, have told staff from several areas of the business, some aligned with the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, that they will be let go.

Although Blues Chief Executive, Andrew Hore, assured staff members that their jobs are safe – the financial strain of the lockdown has forced his hand.

“We have also made adjustments in salaries with the heartfelt support from our staff who have also pruned expenditure in most aspects of our business,” said Hore in a statement.

Bulls hire world cup winning coach, Jake White

The only South African team to have won Super Rugby, the Vodacom Bulls, have hired former, Springboks, Brumbies and Sharks’ coach, Jake White as their new Director of Rugby.

White will also take over from Pote Human as the Super Rugby coach. White replaces Alan Zondagh.

https://www.facebook.com/BullsOfficial/posts/2906365526088511

Transfer news: Steyn joins Cheetahs and Esterhuizen signs for Harlequins 

Springbok and Sharks’ centre, Andre Esterhuizen, may have played his last game for The Sharks as he’s set to join English Premiership outfit, the Harlequins.

Esterhuizen will join his new side ahead of the 2020/2021 season and sees the move as the right one to ‘develop’ his game.

Two-time world cup winner, Frans Steyn, will head back to his native Bloemfontein and join the Cheetahs.

“We are delighted to announce that Frans Steyn has signed a two-year agreement with the Toyota Cheetahs, starting on 1 July 2020”, said Harold Verster, the managing director of Free State Rugby.

Steyn will reunite with former Sharks and Springbok teammate, Ruan Pienaar, at the Pro14 outfit.

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