Finally it looks like the South African Rugby Union (Saru) is taking steps in the right direction.
If a report on Netwerk24 over the weekend is to be believed, then rugby’s national governing body will do away with national contracts.
The move, reportedly driven by Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, will see players get an increase in match fees (anything between R250 000 and R400 000) from the Bok camp.
It is reported that Saru pays R60m-a-year on contracts to a core squad of 16 players.
And once a new plan is in place, I say well done Rassie.
Many years ago, I wrote a story proposing this move.
The thinking behind it is clear; you can’t guarantee a player that he will be the best in his country for two years.
The proposed pay-as-you play formula will reward form, it will keep players on their toes and it will bring back the hunger for the Green and Gold.
There is, of course, a flipside to this.
And that is that such a move might open the door for players to search for a more stable income abroad, which could damage the local scene.
We already have a number of South Africans plying their trade abroad.
Apparently the new contracting system will only kick in in 2020, meaning next year’s World Cup in Japan will be crucial for South African rugby.
Already captain Siya Kolisi has been linked with overseas clubs and while his agent since denied the move, the vultures will be circling.