Debate around South Africa’s place in European rugby has intensified after SA Rugby confirmed all competitions involving its teams will be reviewed.
One of the options reportedly being discussed by SA Rugby is whether SA sides should withdraw from the Investec Champions Cup, and presumably the second-tier EPCR Challenge Cup too.
The clubs, though, are strongly opposed to the idea.
“We as the Stormers have ambitions in the European Champions Cup,” Stormers CEO Johan le Roux told Rapport. “We hope solutions can be found around player welfare without leaving the competition.”
ALEXANDER: Europe exit talk just speculation
Sharks owner Marco Masotti was even more direct about the financial implications.
“The major South African franchises operate at a loss, and someone like me needs to cover them,” he said. “Let me be clear, I will no longer fund the losses if we pull out of the Champions Cup.”
Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
