NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT Former Springbok skipper and Sharks player Bobby Skinstad has voiced his frustration over the Champions Cup scheduling issues. Seen here: Sharks' scrumhalf Grant Williams (L) celebrates after scoring. Picture: Valentine Chapius/AFP
Image: Valentine Chapius/AFP
It’s no secret that South African teams competing in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Champions Cup has created a number of scheduling headaches.
The SA teams have much further to travel for their away fixtures than their European counterparts, and more often than not this has made achieving results all the more difficult.
Compounding the issue is that SA teams will not be allowed to host semi-final matches in the Champions Cup.
It stems from scheduling conflicts with the local Currie Cup season overlapping wit the start of the URC.
Former Springbok skipper and Sharks player Bobby Skinstad has voiced his frustration over the competition’s scheduling issues.
"It can be incredibly frustrating, especially if we don't have an agreed global season. Can you imagine if you are one of the commercial managers of the teams and the Sharks or someone and can't host fixtures,” Skinstad told SportBoom.com in an exclusive interview.
Referring to the Sharks’ 20-8 defeat to Toulouse in Durban over the weekend, Skinstad said: “Toulouse going to Durban was fantastic."
"Look, last week's fixture was a loss for the Sharks but I mean for the fans to see some of the best players in the world coming from France, it's the first time Antoine Dupont has been to South Africa in a while.”"These are highlight games [Sharks vs Toulouse], why can't we get more of them? South African teams not being able to host these playoff games is hugely detrimental to the finances and the sustainability of the tournaments. I think it's silly, for sure!”
While the situation was not ideal for the SA teams, Skinstad said the administrators needed to find a way to come up with a solution.
"Coaches sometimes have to gamble, prioritising URC qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. It’s a tough situation compounded by an overlapping schedule. Until there’s a global season, this issue will persist.
"I want us to play in the Champions Cup but I am not a fan of the [South African] teams bowing to the fact that the scheduling needs to happen in a certain manner. They have been compromised more than anyone else."
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