Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The future of junior rugby players in South Africa is becoming an absolute waste of time and money. SARU cancelled the u/19, u/21 and Vodacom Cup competitions and replaced it with only a SARU u/20 Championship.
The organisers of the u/20 Young Guns competition decided to split the ten participating teams into two groups for 2021. This decision will result in six of the ten teams will only play four games for the season. How do you develop talent with only four games in a season?
Bart and I discuss the merits of the u/20 age group competitions to continue, or is it just a waste of time?
One must ask yourself if it is worth for local junior players to stay in South Africa. It will become the norm that Unions will "buy" their teams rather than to develop and invest in junior players.
This lack of development opportunities is busy to force our young stars to leave South Africa for better junior opportunities in the rest of the World.
The arrogance of SARU to think that they will identify junior players that will all become Springboks in a few years is absurd.
My personal opinion is to pack your bags, go develop yourself outside of South Africa and if you want to return to South Africa as a 25-year-old, return with a senior contract.