Rugby is a gruelling game, with great rewards for those who make it to the top. But while we once may have raised our eyebrows at players moving to overseas clubs, it’s hard to deny them the opportunity to further their careers in foreign climes.
There really is no time for sentimentality in rugby anymore.
Every young boy playing rugby in South Africa dreams of becoming a Springbok. No matter their ability or potential, running out in front of a passionate crowd in the green and gold lives in the minds of every kid chasing that oval ball.
But does the ideal carry through when their rugby journey reaches adulthood and the professional world? Less and less each year as career realities set in, and the ever appealing overseas opportunities come knocking.
You hear about South African rugby players, at various stages of their careers, choosing to ply their trade in a variety of foreign places from Toronto to Tokyo. Initially this would raise eyebrows and be met with derision, but now it’s just a norm.
Rugby players are no different to us at the end of the day. They are ordinary guys looking to make a living. If you suddenly got offered five to 10 times more money to do your job in another country, you too would ask where to sign. People would say ‘congratulations’ too, not ‘oh you are turning your back on your country.’
Sure, it’s a little different for the rest of us. There isn’t a Springbok accounting team, or a South African graphic design team with a multitude of fans who look forward to watching them create layouts each weekend. But you get my point.
The time for sentimentality is gone. A great deal is made about the money, but there are other undeniable factors about rugby players moving abroad to play.
Their new fan-bases are loyal and have cultures of their own, and they play in front of great crowds all season. With or without language barriers, they are quickly embraced into the system as overseas talent.
This isn’t always something local players can enjoy in South Africa. There are far less distractions over there, and they get to live more ‘normal lives’ away from the critical eye they experience in South Africa, where people either love or hate them.
Many players going abroad thrive with the pressure off them somewhat, and though they aren’t playing the big local derbies, or in the stadiums they held dear growing up, they are having a lot of fun in new tournaments and settings. Rugby is a game, after all.
No matter what your profession, travel is one of the great experiences of life, so being based somewhere foreign and making good money means the world is your oyster.
A life in Bloemfontein with a few trips to Australiasia here and there, or a full-time European odyssey with culture on tap? It really is an easy choice for some.
Then of course there is the obvious political aspect. With more and more pressure for teams to select run-on sides that are more representative of the country’s population, this diminishes the chances of white players to get game time in an already highly competitive sport.
So why put the hard yards in at provincial level in your homeland with the hope of representing your country, when you can earn 10 times as much elsewhere?
Leaving your country of birth doesn’t mean your chances of playing international rugby are over. CJ Stander is a prime example. The ex-Bulls player is now a mainstay of the Irish team.
The big South African stars will always be a little better-managed. But if you are on the fringe of selection and below, the change in rugby lifestyle is not one to be ignored.
If you want sentimentality in rugby, chat to the fans. The players have careers to worry about.
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