Rob Baxter (left) has coached against three South African sides since they entered the Champions Cup.
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes it is still ‘too early’ to judge the South African teams in EPCR competitions, but feels there is a justified reason for them to compete.
Since the five South African sides have joined the EPCR competitions, Exeter have faced the Bulls and the Sharks away from home and also welcomed the Stormers to Sandy Park.
Rob Baxter outlines why teams should want South African sides in EPCR competitions
The debate is once again raging on social media, following the South African clubs’ worst-ever weekend in European competitions, with the Lions the only side to win a game in either the Champions Cup or Challenge Cup.
Both the Stormers and the Sharks conceded 50+ points in their respective games against Harlequins and Leicester Tigers, the Bulls also suffered a heavy 30-21 defeat at home to Northampton Saints, and the Cheetahs also lost to Cardiff.
This also follows a tough opening round in Europe too, with the Sharks once again the only winners – over Baxter’s Chiefs. Despite this, though, the former Champions Cup-winning coach feels there are positive things to gain from their inclusion.
“The reason we should want them in – as Premiership sides, I’m not talking about URC or French teams – the reason we should want them in is because we get bigger crowds, there’s an interest in the game in this country and we and there’s a challenge there that improves us,” Baxter said.
He added: “That’s why I would say it’s still too early to say because I don’t know if they’re necessarily attracting big crowds here and now, and especially when some of their international players don’t travel, and I’m not sure whether we’re necessarily learning all that much because you play them once a year, maybe twice, and then it depends on which team you play.”
“You can play a team that’s got 10 Springboks in there, which is a completely different situation to when you play one with two or three, or none even.”
Issues with SA’s participation
Baxter also outlined some of the issues with the South African sides’ participation but still believes it is ‘a little early’ to judge just yet.
“It’s obviously changed the European Cup because it’s not that anymore; but at the same time, I’m very aware that we do have to grow the game of rugby union. There’s nothing that’s being said that says we shouldn’t grow the game because we do need to.”
“But, on the flip side, I’m I’m also not sure when you actually talk to the bean counters, whether it is making financial sense either. To say that it’s the right way to go at the moment is a little early for all those kinds of reasons.”
South African clubs were let into the EPCR competitions in the 2022/23 season, and since then the Sharks have lifted the Challenge Cup after beating Gloucester in last year’s final. The Stormers and the Bulls have also both reached the quarter-final stages in the past.
