After months of negotiations, South Africa’s rugby bosses and the South African Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa) have reached an agreement regarding representation on the board as well as funding to look after the rights of the players.
SA Rugby said in a statement on Wednesday it fully recognises Sarpa as the collective bargaining representative of the national players and also undertook not to conduct any negotiations directly with the players.
Sarpa said it will promote and protect the interests of the players and safeguard their rights.
One of the major issues to be resolved, that of the funding of Sarpa, will result in a rugby match being played next year on South African shores with the money raised being split between Sarpa and SA Rugby.
”The money will be divided in half, with SA Rugby’s portion going to development,” said SA Rugby chairperson Theunie Lategan on Wednesday.
The president of Sarpa, Piet Heymans, said it is looking into hosting a match between the northern and southern hemispheres, but there is also the possibility that a Barbarians team or a world XV could play here to raise the money.
Meanwhile, the Springbok players’ contracts are expected to be finalised by Friday.
A number of legal issues still need to be clarified before any documents are signed. According to SA Rugby MD Johan Prinsloo, about 26 players will receive long-term contracts of between two and three years.
In other news, Springbok forwards coach Gert Smal said he is pleased with the way the current crop of players has settled down in the Bok squad after the Currie Cup and with the work they are doing ahead of heading to Wales next week.
”We’re focusing our attention on a number of specific exercises because of the weather conditions we’re likely to encounter,” said Smal. ”Rucking and the driving maul will play a big role in Europe. We have to ensure those areas are working very well.”
Smal added that the success in the Tri-Nations has made his and the coaching staff’s job a lot easier.
”We’re busy fine-tuning a few things. The guys who have come into the squad for the first time have caught up very quickly. All the players are very focused, so if our mindset is right, then the team will be halfway to achieving its goal.” — Sapa