Frans Steyn: ‘Politics’ blocking South Africa’s Super Rugby return as Springboks great makes bold claim

Springboks great Frans Steyn bemoans Super Rugby ‘politics’ as he presses for South Africa’s return

Springboks great Frans Steyn is determined to see South African. representation in Super Rugby once again and is already engaging in conversations with the bigwigs.

The 38-year-old is currently director of rugby at the Cheetahs, a team that competed in the competition between 2006 and 2017 before they were ousted.

Three years later, the four other South African franchises followed them out of the door after they were axed by the Australians and New Zealanders, who felt that Super Rugby could be more successful without them.

The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers then aligned their club season with the northern hemisphere, joining forces with the PRO14 to become the United Rugby Championship.

Cheetahs sacrificed

However, it has rather left the Cheetahs out in the cold and Steyn has been open about wanting his side to return to Super Rugby.

A deal appears a long way off, though, with the former Springboks utility back frustrated by the ‘politics’ involved when speaking with the key parties.

Observers have bemoaned the lack of South African involvement in Super Rugby Pacific, with some believing it to be hindering New Zealand and Australia at Test level, but it could be a while before they return.

“A lot has happened over the last year or so. You get into conversations with people from Australia, and then South Africa and Australia talk behind closed doors, and then the next moment nobody calls you back or they cut off the line and don’t talk to you anymore,” he told Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show.

“I did speak to somebody from New Zealand a while ago, we’re looking to get over there to try and propose something that we think might work.

“I think you guys (All Blacks) play Australia or something and we’ll try and see if we can get over there and meet up with the guys.

“It is tough, the political side of it. I think there is money to be made in a Super Rugby competition where South Africa is part of that.”

Feeding off scraps

After the Cheetahs left Super Rugby, they joined the PRO14 alongside fellow South African side the Southern Kings.

That only lasted three seasons ago, however, and once again the Bloemfontein outfit were the ones who were deemed expendable when the elite franchises got involved and the URC was formed.

They were handed a place in the Challenge Cup – the tier below the Investec Champions Cup – but Steyn understandably wants his team to have a bigger slice of the pie.

And he reckons that should the Cheetahs return to Super Rugby, others could follow.

“The Cheetahs were the first team that went north because they got thrown out of Super, and everybody followed them up north,” he said.

“What’s the chance of the Cheetahs and whoever going south again, and then four years later everybody joining us like it used to be.

“I don’t know, we just need an opportunity to pitch something or to hear what we can offer, or to hear what we can do to help to try and make it better for everybody.”