We have to stop the bleeding - Xander
Trevor Cramer has a frank and honest discussion with Blue Bulls High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg about the challenges associated with trying to keep South African rugby players at home.
The Blue Bulls’ High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg says it is proving increasingly difficult to stop South Africa bleeding top rugby players.
Of more concern to Van Rensburg, who is responsible for negotiating contracts and and recruitment at the Pretoria franchise, is the fact that the players now being lured overseas are getting younger and younger.
Springbok centre Jan Serfontein, just 24 years old and with 26 Springbok caps to his name, still has a promising career ahead providing he stays injury-free.
But he has now opted to further his career overseas next year after declining the dual contract offers presented by both the Bulls and the Springboks (SA Rugby).
In the past it had become common for senior campaigners who are in the twighlight of their careers at both franchise and international level to persue a 'sunset option' by moving abroad to play. Today it is commonplace in France, the UK and Japan to hear an often mis-pronounced South African name somewhere during television commentaries.
Van Rensburg shares the opinion that our South African players have quite simply become prisoners of the rand as the local currency continues to dip, dive and recover periodically.
He strongly believes that alternative creative commercial options have to be persued to keep our players at home, but there will never be a way to counter the lure of foreign currency.
Serfontein earlier in the day clarified his reasons behind turning down a new contract offer to remain in South Africa and opt instead to further his career abroad.
He hinted that he was seeking a move to France with either Toulon or Montpellier.
With contradictory information doing the rounds and the danger of speculation mounting as to the likeliest reasons for his decision, the Bulls midfielder took to twitter to clarify his version of events.
Whatever Serfontein's motives, fact is that economic instability and fears of the implications that the country's recent 'junk status' downgrade hold are real.
Taking into account form and remaining injury-free, rugby only has a limited lifespan as a player and it is understandable that the 'make hay while the sun shines' theory remains foremost on their minds.
LISTEN: Trevor Cramer chats to Bue Bulls Company High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg