World Cup-winning former England coach Clive Woodward has hit out at the “muddle-headed” idea of the Springboks leaving the Rugby Championship to join the Six Nations.
Sanzaar announced on Wednesday that all four member unions – New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia, Argentina Rugby and SA Rugby – had committed to the southern-hemisphere partnership and the Rugby Championship until 2025.
However, recent reports have suggested that the Springboks will join the Six Nations from 2025. Instead of expanding the northern hemisphere tournament, the Springboks would replace Italy.
In his column for the Daily Mail, Woodward slammed the plan as he argued that it would have a far-reaching impact on tier-two nations.
“It would be hard to think of a more ill-conceived, muddle-headed idea than South Africa being randomly parachuted into the Six Nations,” Woodward wrote.
“It would leave Italy — and other aspiring European nations — banished to the wilderness. I shake my head yet again at rugby’s total inability to manage its affairs properly and promote growth and development.”
Poll: Should the Springboks ditch the Rugby Championship?
Woodward added that he could not understand why the Springboks would leave the Rugby Championship, when it could be expanded to include Japan and a Pacific Island team.
“All sorts of other thoughts come to mind. Are South Africa really prepared to ditch New Zealand and Australia — and indeed Argentina? Nobody has helped Pumas rugby more than South Africa. Doesn’t that old friendship count for something? I will be absolutely staggered if such a split didn’t cause huge, needless repercussions worldwide.
“And why now? The Springboks have the potential of a six-team tournament, including the four Rugby Championship teams plus Japan and the pre-eminent Pacific island team, probably Fiji. Surely that is a better way forward than artificially parachuting into the Six Nations, which would have such a detrimental effect.”
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