SARU's Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus said on Monday during a media interview that they have contingency plans in place to identify talent if none or little schoolboy rugby could be played in 2021.
According to Erasmus, SARU has a fairly comprehensive list of schoolboy rugby players that was identified since the age of fifteen. He accepted that a "few" players who were not identified, could slip through the cracks.
If needed SARU with the help of the Unions could hold training camps or organise trial matches. This, according to Erasmus could help the Unions with the contracting of school leavers in 2021.
Erasmus also said that the decision by SASRA (SA Schoolboys' Rugby Association) to suspend all schoolboy rugby until 08 February 2021, was made to gather more information in order to make educated decisions regarding the 2021 schoolboy rugby season.
He also stressed that SASRA was desperate to get the players back onto the field.
However, decisions by the Department of Basic Education regarding Covid19 regulations to ensure the return to play needed to be clarified with the Department.
A deciding factor could be if Covid19 tests were going to be required and the intervals thereof. This could prove to be very expensive, and Erasmus stated that only a few "rich" schools may be able and or willing to afford this. The general view apparently is that if all schools could not return to play then no one will be allowed to play.
For now, "it is what it is" according to Erasmus and the decisions will be made as soon as possible to ensure the safe return of rugby at all schools.