Argentina enter Vodacom Cup
10 Dec 2009
Teams representing Argentina and Namibia will compete in the 2010 Vodacom Cup.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Saru Interim Executive Council (Exco) in George on Thursday. The Argentinian team is likely to be based in Stellenbosch and play in the Southern Section of the competition. Namibia will play in the Northern Section.
‘We have a responsibility as a member of the rugby family to assist our fellow nations where we can,’ said Dr Jan Marais, chairman of the Interim Exco. ‘By including Argentina and Namibia in the Vodacom Cup we hope to assist them in their preparation in the year before the rugby World Cup.
Marais added this could prove an important step for Argentina ahead of their likely inclusion in the 2012 Tri-Nations.
‘We also believe that it will be good for the Vodacom Cup by adding interest to the competition and exposing our players and supporters to different rugby cultures.’
The meeting also mandated Saru president Oregan Hoskins to continue discussions with European rugby authorities around proposals to include the Southern Kings in a northern hemisphere rugby competition.
Hoskins told the meeting he had been encouraged by discussions around the possibility of the Kings appearing in the Celtic League competition.
Other outcomes of the meeting were:
· Saru will seek special dispensation from government to host the 2010 Test against France at Newlands on 12 June, during the FIFA World Cup. Failing that, Saru will pursue options to host the match overseas.
· The Tests against Italy on 19 and 26 June will be hosted in Witbank and East London on the proviso that the venues meet the required criteria.
· The Saru budget for 2010 was accepted
· Eric Sauls (head coach), Nico Serfontein and Johan Pienaar were named as coaches of the South African U20 team for the IRB Junior World Championships to take place in Argentina from 5-21 June 2010.
· Players younger than 18 years of age shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in any position at any level of rugby under the auspices of Saru
· In addition, players who are 18 but under the age of 19 years of age shall not be allowed to play senior rugby in the front row at any level of rugby under the auspices of Saru, unless a waiver is granted by Saru after the achievement of certain criteria.
· Only match officials and coaches who have completed and been certified by the Boksmart national rugby safety programme will be allowed to operate in South African rugby from January 2011.
· Saru decided against tendering for the right to host the 2013 IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament.
35 Comments
10 Dec 2009, 19:38 pm
Good idea. Hope it works out. Just like getting Zimbabwe to play in our domestic cricket set up as well. Oh and dragons
10 Dec 2009, 19:43 pm
I find it a tad condescending to have Argentina play Vodacom Cup when they are such a good team. It’s like asking the Blue Bulls to play in the Intervarsity league.
10 Dec 2009, 19:44 pm
Excuse me….
The headline should read Namibia enter Vodacom Cup
10 Dec 2009, 19:45 pm
Yeah but its a provincial side,dont think it’ll be International. And it can only be good for us and them to be exposed to different players from different nations.
10 Dec 2009, 19:46 pm
@DeonLouw:
Its obviously not their best team or even best players (who will all be playing in Europe)
10 Dec 2009, 19:50 pm
Perhaps the article should clarify how the teams will be made up considering it is being used as practice prior to Tri Nations. Not much benefit if the same players aren’t involved.
10 Dec 2009, 20:38 pm
@DeonLouw: I think its a way for Argentina to get some exposure in an overseas competition to oil the wheels for their inclusion in the Tri Nations?
I think its great news!
10 Dec 2009, 20:40 pm
It’ll probably be the Jaguars, their ‘A’ side.
10 Dec 2009, 20:55 pm
It will be good for the development of rugby on both sides of the spectrum.
10 Dec 2009, 22:43 pm
What a laugh – the Vodacom Cup!!!
How about this – Invite Argentina, Namibia, Zimbabwe and maybe the USA to join the Currie Cup with a 12 team league.
The conference round robin phase of the Super 15 will just be another run of the top 5 of the Currie Cup anyway. (It has been designed to give Australia a domestic league)
The top two (finalists) of the Currie Cup can go and play in the interconference phase of the Super 15.
Lots of impracticalities e.g. timings, and ~I know I am living in dreamland but am not happy with the Super 15 – It is going to be rubbish.
Maybe pull out of Super 15 – it does not benefit SA at all other than the short term big money that has been gained from the Sky/Fox/NewsCorp contract.
Long term audience for Super 15 or the Currie Cup will fall. The nature of the tournament now means that we will be watching the same matchups over and over again. In marketing terms the Currie Cup will be cannibalised.
Rambling… too much coffee… and disillusioned – I saw how good the Top 14 in France is (watched a highlight package) – reminded me of the Currie Cup at full passion (full stadiums, loud crowds, test match intensity, good players, argie bargie.
10 Dec 2009, 23:17 pm
Great idea. The game has to grow.
@Heavens Game: whilst I agree with your comments regarding the S15 (its going to suck) I don’t agree that a 12 team Currie Cup format will work. Less is more.
Sharks
Bulls
WP
FS
Lions
Southern Kings
Who wants to watch Pumas v Griffons or, as you propose, Namibia v Mielieboere or USA v Boland?
10 Dec 2009, 23:27 pm
Good news.
11 Dec 2009, 00:45 am
Niiiiiicccccceeeeee
11 Dec 2009, 01:16 am
What about the “travel disadvantage” and/or “hardship of being on the road for so long”?
11 Dec 2009, 02:00 am
@TheTackler:
you just so negative aren’t you
11 Dec 2009, 02:45 am
@TheTackler:
That excuse is used by Tony Johnson when the NZ sides are comming back to NZ from SA and have to play an SA side that has been in NZ for a few weeks……..plonker!
11 Dec 2009, 04:04 am
I simply asked a question. So, what’s the answer?
11 Dec 2009, 04:56 am
@TheTackler:
Who knows? Maybe ask Noakes
11 Dec 2009, 05:11 am
Absolutely brilliant idea and I hope it works well. Can only benefit Namibia, Argentina, South Africa and the Vodacom Cup. Now why can’t the New Zealanders do the same with some pacific teams in the Air New Zealand cup? Oh yes, then they wouldn’t be able to poach the players so easily!
11 Dec 2009, 05:36 am
Brillaint. Well done South Africa!
We are taking the game forward, unlike the AB’s and Aussies, who are only intent on stealing palyers then spitting them out.
We should support the smaller nations like when we gave the takings to Samoa.
Unless such forward thinking actions are taken Rugby will always be a backwater sport.
11 Dec 2009, 06:59 am
this is great news for Namibia but Argentina is a much better side than the Vodacom Cup.
11 Dec 2009, 07:08 am
@whatever: Noakes knows nothing. Well, not a lot more than his failed 20 year old “fatigue” hobby-horse.
11 Dec 2009, 07:22 am
Kudos to South Africa for what they are doing to help other developing Nations and all other regulations towards player safety.
11 Dec 2009, 07:32 am
@Jarry7: Unless the Argentinian RFU is going to buy all its best players from the European clubs, something the English and French haven’t been able to do, then this most certainly wont be the Pumas full team. They do however have plenty of undiscovered talent playing in their home league and this will really help to develop Argentina’s strength in depth in the international game. Same goes for Namibia.
11 Dec 2009, 07:35 am
How long is the vodacom cup? Must cost a pretty penny to have a team based in SA for so long.
11 Dec 2009, 07:47 am
i did know that alot of the Argentina players are playing in the french league but was not sure whether they would be released due to the difference in the southern and northern hemisphere seasons.This does sound like a great idea if it is to help the carreers of undiscovered talent in Argentina
11 Dec 2009, 07:50 am
mmmm more foreigners for the Sharks to poach
11 Dec 2009, 07:55 am
NEWS24
11/12/2009 08:34
They broke into ABSA Stadium (kingspark) last night … This morning Plumtree & the sharks president tried to find out what was stolen. After 10 minutes Plumtree asked the president whether any cups was stolen, in which the president replied : “No!, luckily they didn’t make it to the Kitchen”
11 Dec 2009, 08:09 am
Please keep the June 12 Test against France at Newlands!
11 Dec 2009, 08:11 am
Also good that they are enforcing age limits in senior rugby!
11 Dec 2009, 08:32 am
@WP Till I Die:
let’s hope they do… but it looks likely they won’t…
BTW… not to drag up old bones but… that website you pointed me to the other day left me speechless… I’d heard some bad things had been said but thought guys were maybe exaggerating… absolutely shocking…
Still shaking my head…
Thanks for the education!!
11 Dec 2009, 08:52 am
I was expecting Namibia to be included in the currie cup… but I guess Vodacom Cup is a good place to start. As a Namibian I have to say that this is a long awaited step in the right direction and naturally I appreciate the gesture that SARU is making… This amounts to helping the opposition so it’s very gentlemanly.
As for Argentina… as has been pointed out, they are way above Vodacom Cup level, but this is clearly nothing more than a testrun for the expanded tri-nations (btw can anybody explain how the idea of including Argentina got past brain-storming level at SARU? It’s ridiculous!)
11 Dec 2009, 12:08 pm
wow, a thread about Argentina joining a SA comp and the knives still come out for NZ and Aust… anyone heard of the Pacific Nations cup ?? think that was a tournament for the islands… and Im accused of having a chip on my shoulder, some of you guys are ridiculous..
wonder how many Argies you guys will NOW poach? or Namibians, or Zimbabweans, hang on you already have some Zimbabweans…
11 Dec 2009, 16:27 pm
@poppa69: Let the poaching begin, but to fair Namibia used to be in the Currie Cup before independence so poaching from there should be allowed.
11 Dec 2009, 18:35 pm
This is awesome news. I think that this will help Argentina bring through a support team for their first team. Its definitely going to broaden their player base, while also strenghtening the Vodacom Cup
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