Former Springboks head coach AGAINST South Africa joining Six Nations
Springboks fly-half Handre Pollard being tackled by Leicester team-mates Dan Cole and George Martin .
Former Springboks head coach Jake White has urged the Six Nations not to add South Africa into the tournament mix, saying that it would lose its charm as a Championship.
South Africa are currently committed to Sanzaar until the end of 2025, which means their participation in the Rugby Championship thereafter is very much up in the air.
That has led to rumours of the Boks possibly joining the Six Nations, which unlike the Rugby Championship, has its games take place on the same time zone as South Africa.
An old school guy
White was quizzed on the Springboks‘ future after his side, the Bulls, had defeated Bristol Bears 31-17 in the Champions Cup and was firm in his view on the matter.
“I’m an old school guy. I can’t see that you can ever have South Africa playing Six Nations,” the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning head coach said to reporters.
“I look back at games, and you find memories of guys such as JPR Williams, who [recently] passed away. I can’t see South Africa playing in the Six Nations.”
Rest in peace JPR Williams – one of the greatest the game has seen.
Our thoughts are with all his family and friends at this truly sad time ♥️ pic.twitter.com/02gytOcxcN
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 8, 2024
The director of rugby added: “I don’t know, so many things have changed in rugby, and hopefully we will hang on to that Six Nations is for the six nations that play in the north.”
The Bulls left Super Rugby and, along with the Lions, Sharks and Stormers, feature in the United Rugby Championship, with the Cheetahs involved in the Challenge Cup.
That has understandably led to talk that the Springboks could follow suit and join the northern hemisphere’s international schedule, which White admits he is wary about.
Not the Six Nations
“Once you start bringing [in] South Africa, what is stopping you from bringing [in] New Zealand and Australia and all that sort of thing? Then it’s not the Six Nations,” he said.
“As an old school guy, I hope it won’t happen. I’d probably get killed for saying that back home.”
This year’s Six Nations kicks off on Friday, February 2 with France hosting reigning champions Ireland before Italy face England and Wales host Scotland on Saturday.
