A subtle shift in the way that the Springboks view overseas players could be the key to unlocking the immense amount of talent going forward and giving the Boks the edge in their World Cup title defence in 2027.
It is no secret that when Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, he immediately changed the policy of not selecting overseas-based Boks, and decided to include them as he devised successful plans to win the World Cup in Japan in 2019.
But whether by circumstance, or thanks to the shifting sands created by Covid, that policy was shelved a few years later as the Boks focused on uplifting the massive amounts of talent within the country that was previously lost to overseas clubs.
The entry into the Vodacom United Rugby Championship really changed the playing field locally. For all the good that was Super Rugby, the URC has bridged that gap where players previously had headed to Europe in search of money and different experiences.
Now local players can play in the top European competitions, and measure themselves against some of the best sides in the world.
OLD HANDS RETURNING
And as the class of 2019 slowly starts to move to the twilight of their careers, they have assumed new roles as mentors, and are slowly returning to the country to finish off their time on the field.
The returns of the likes of Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane and more recently Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach are testament to this.
That is why the message has been clear from the Bok management - to become a Bok you need to stake your claim in South Africa first.
Think about it for a moment. That was the furthest thing from Erasmus and co’s minds when they took over the Boks. Erasmus was fond of telling all that would listen that England have four overseas scrumhalves in their Premiership, and that a Faf de Klerk or Cobus Reinach playing there opens up a spot for another player here.
The Boks of 2018/19 were more than happy for their players to be based overseas, much to the consternation at times of coaches locally, who saw big money snap up their stars.
But now that picture is remarkably different. More players are heading home than are heading overseas, and even when they do it is more for sabatticals in the Japanese league than anywhere else.
Of course, the big money French Leagues will still tempt a few players here and there, and depending on where they fall in the Bok pecking order, they may still be lost. But for the most part there are untold advantages to having the Boks in SA franchises, and it isn’t just about mentoring.
STRENGTH OF SA FRANCHISES INCREASES
The relative strength of SA franchises increases, as does the depth and for Erasmus and his management they have access to these players almost at will. Franchises locally work with the Boks and they don’t have to negotiate access for players outside the window, as was the case in the past.
This is a season that will be focused very much on bringing the next generation of Boks through, and the older players looking to extend their time in the Green and Gold know that. The message has been clearly laid out. Players have been intensely briefed on the idea that this season will be focused on development.
Erasmus himself is on record as saying at the end of 2025 he will settle on a core group of players to take them through to 2027. It isn’t a surprise that the rising stars in Springbok rugby are exclusively from local franchises and as we go on, fewer players will be chosen from overseas clubs.
FEWER PLAYERS CHOSEN FROM OVERSEAS CLUBS
That may not be official policy, but it is one that is slowly working, thanks to Erasmus’ negotiations with the franchises and some meticulous planning by Dave Wessels as the new High Performance Manager for SA Rugby.
Add to this the return of some of the best coaches of the last decade - Johan Ackermann and Kevin Foote with the SA under-20s and Swys de Bruin with the Women Boks and the plan is slowly coming together.
And the best part of it all is the message: If you want to become a Springbok, you need to make your mark here in SA.
For that, local rugby can only benefit. And our URC teams only become stronger.
And in the long run, that will benefit Springbok rugby’s pipeline more than the threat of foreign riches.