1
Lions tour takes on extra importance as South Africa Rugby feels financial strain of COVID-19
By Chris Jones
The 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa has suddenly taken on even more financial importance for the host union with SA Rugby facing a potential £8.8million (R200m) loss if the entire season is shelved due to COVID-19.
South African rugby chiefs, who are staging a three test series with the Lions next year, are examining ways of cutting costs while rugby is unable to be played and that includes a reported 40% cut for some top Springbok players who are playing domestically.
Overseas Boks are already dealing with the financial ramifications with those in the Gallagher Premiership being furloughed to cut costs. In 2017, NZ Rugby revealed a record profit of £16m (NZ $33.4m) thanks to that year’s Lions tour.
The highest-paid World Cup winning Springboks have been warned to expect to take a sizeable pay cut if the decision is taken to suspend the 2020 season.
Player’s union MyPlayers have been in discussions with SA Rugby and the top Springboks could be asked to take a 40% pay cut according to Rapport, the Afrikaans newspaper.
“We still need to quantify the impact [of the shutdown of all rugby], and it will be based on the worst-case scenario for SA Rugby,” MyPlayers CEO Eugene Henning told the players according to the paper, which has a record of breaking big Springbok-related stories.
“The next step is to decide how much to cut salaries. It will then be submitted to players’ representatives for approval.”
Henning indicated that the highest-paid players would be asked to take the biggest cut, although some of the lower-paid players in the country’s franchise squads could be spared the financial hit.
If, as if feared, the whole South African 2020 season is lost the estimated cost is reportedly £8.8m and while there are hopes that some kind of domestic season can be staged by June to replace the suspended Super Rugby competition, nothing can be certain.
That competition would see the four Super Rugby franchise (Lions, Bulls, Sharks and Stormers) and the two Pro14 teams (Cheetahs and Kings) take part in a two-month tournament.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
5
Latest Comments
What’s the bet that if Ireland lose we’ll have a bunch of people blaming Rob Kearney for it?
This might pizz the All Blacks off but it won’t make George Bell throw the ball any straighter or Rieko pass the ball to his wings more often.
Go to commentsNot if you look at where the increases are happening for NZR. Apparently the biggest increase in participation was in the junior ranks and has been attributed to the extra cash that tier has received from the private equity deal NZR signed. Clubs are reducing fees dramatically and thats bringing more into the clubs. Counties club had a 200% increase in enrollments for U7s as they made it free.
Yes NRL is always hanging around schoolboy rugby tho. I see the NRL as more of a threat at SR level where the fringe players are signing for either NRL or Japan etc.
Go to comments