Eben Etzebeth believes it would be a sensible decision for the Springboks to fully commit to the northern hemisphere by joining the Six Nations, especially in terms of player welfare.
Etzebeth played in all 13 Tests for the Springboks this year, which see him join the elite group of Bok centurions when he made his 100th appearance against Wales in Cape Town.
However, after just a week off, the experienced second rower has been called into action for the Sharks in the Champions Cup after which he will be involved in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
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The South African franchises shifting from the southern hemisphere Super Rugby to the northern hemisphere’s URC – plus qualification for the Champions Cup – means that they won’t have their regular off-season between December and January.
With the Springboks still involved in the Rugby Championship, while the franchises are on a break next year, Etzebeth will be facing the Wallabies, All Blacks and Argentina.
In an interview with the Times UK, he said that it would make more sense for the Springboks to join the Six Nations, as long as they don’t lose their southern hemisphere rivalries.
“I would like the whole schedule to be aligned, so we can manage players, play at the same time and rest at the same time,” explained Etzebeth. “At the moment it’s a bit of a difficult situation to handle. It’s not the softest sport in the world. When you get an off week, you appreciate it more now.
“It would be great being a part of that [the Six Nations]. It would mean the schedules would be a bit more aligned. I never want to move away from playing the All Blacks, Wallabies and Argentina, so as long as there’s still space to also play those matches.
“If we can keep those rivalries aligned it would be great for us, for rugby, and it would align the schedule for the best interests of the players.
“I don’t know where the game will go in the future, or where we will play in the future, but being part of the European schedule and the Champions Cup just makes sense.”
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