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Despite the Proteas’ cracking ODI win over England on Tuesday, it’s clear that all is not well within South African cricket.

Much has been made of the exodus of players overseas, especially on Kolpak deals to the UK, and the issue is also one that South African rugby fans are all too familiar with.

At least with the Springboks, then-coach Rassie Erasmus managed to find a solution that saw many of our overseas players don the green and gold en route to a stunning World Cup win (hey, you, you’re a world champion).

Sadly, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by MyPlayers, the organisation that represents professional rugby players in this country, the number of South Africans playing overseas could go through the roof in the coming years.

You can see the survey results in full here, which comes with this description:

In 2019, MyPlayers conducted research among South Africa’s professional rugby players, covering various topics such as facilities, coaches, mental health, future competitions etc., in order for their voice and views to be documented. The survey is intended to have a clear and definitive player voice from influential and experienced players, backed up by qualitative research from a larger group of players.

Essentially, the survey, which interviewed 20 senior players and anonymously surveyed 105 of the 600 professional players in the country, gives us an accurate and in-depth look at the concerns of our players.

Some of the results are pretty worrying. For a start, there’s the mental health aspect. The numbers speak for themselves:

If you don’t find that jarring, you clearly don’t worry about the wellbeing of the players you support.

More stats on the mental wellbeing of the players:

In terms of their physical wellbeing, there are clearly concerns about the long-term physical effects of a rugby career, although a plus is that there is a high level of confidence in our medical staff:

Regarding the likelihood of playing abroad, the survey revealed that a staggering nine out of 10 players said they are signing a deal to play professional rugby overseas within the next two years, or are at least considering the possibility.

Their reasons are as follows:

BusinessTech reporting below:

Their financial well-being was the primary motivating factor for a majority of respondents, while additional considerations that often differ from those aired in the public opinion, were also voiced…

“The political situation encompasses many aspects of South African life, which includes unstable electricity supply, drought management, economic and political volatility, protests, and the exchange rate.”

…One Super Rugby veteran, who played in France for two years, said he earned more money in France than in the preceding seven years he had spent playing in South Africa, the report found.

Senior Springboks, who were once one of four or five players in their position at franchise level, said these situations often lead some of their direct competitors to pursue more game time and money overseas.

Some of the blame could also be laid at the feet of our local franchises. A number of Springboks surveyed said that contract offers from the franchises were often left to the last minute, and were usually for one or two years, which causes a great deal of stress.

In contrast, many European clubs are offering three-year contracts, and some five-year contracts, so financial security is far greater.

Others surveyed pointed out that playing abroad wasn’t a golden ticket, with the tax implications involved with France, especially, and the higher cost of living in the likes of London and Paris.

As the MyPlayers ‘cost of living comparison’ points out, you need to factor these in when a foreign contract lands on the table:

Craig Ray, summing up the report for the Daily Maverick, pointed out some other key findings:

Players indicated a need for a more considered approach to managing their sleep patterns when travelling across time zones…

Players voiced a strong need for guidance and mentorship to prepare them for a life after rugby, while similar sentiments exist for the responsible management of their playing careers and finances.

The players jointly made a compelling case for a new four-year cycle for international rugby matches and tournaments, which includes the Rugby World Cup, a Nations Championship, British & Irish Lions tours, and the existing hemisphere competitions,The Rugby Championship and Six Nations.

Now that the views of the players have been made clear, and are on the table for all to see, the challenge for the likes of Rassie Erasmus and the other top brass at SA Rugby is to ensure that they restore trust between players and management going forward.

It really is worth leafing through the report in full, here, if you want to understand the state of South African rugby.

[sources:myplayers&bustech&dailymaverick]