Naas Botha criticises Northern Hemisphere bias in Test match scheduling
Naas Botha criticised the Northern Hemisphere bias in Test match scheduling, highlighting the Southern Hemisphere teams’ commitment to November Internationals and advocating for a more aligned global rugby calendar. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Springboks legend Naas Botha has questioned the scheduling of Test matches that are heavily in favour of Northern Hemisphere teams.
The 67-year-old Botha was speaking specifically about the November Internationals, and how the countries in the Southern Hemisphere are always willing to travel outside of what would be their traditional winter months.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest flyhalves of all time, the Springboks number 10 said the calendar was heavily weighted in favour of countries like France, England, and Ireland.
It reflected a bias in World Rugby, Botha insisted.
Botha Praises Southern Hemisphere Teams’ Commitment to November Internationals
“You know what I appreciate about the Southern Hemisphere teams? They always take the November internationals seriously, and I think that's one thing that the Northern Hemisphere must start doing, because they don’t,” said Botha.
“It's always our players are tired and they need to rest, and they need to do this and they need to do that, and that's one thing you can argue with me for a long time.”
Countries like Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa deserved more credit for their willingness to travel such vast distances.
“That's what I appreciate about all the Southern Hemisphere teams.
“They send their better teams to the Northern Hemisphere for the November internationals, and I love that.
“And I also love this that we play five internationals. And I think in the future, and I know it's a point you all discuss in the papers daily, and all your writing and whatever, but I think you guys really need to step it up.”
The solution, Botha suggested, was a more aligned calendar.
“We need a one-season. If it's like we know at this stage Northern Hemisphere think they're actually running rugby. Okay, then let's start in August but then let's finish in September. You agree? But we can't go on the way it's going on at the moment. You know you can't have a URC [United Rugby Championship].
You can't have an Investec Cup and then you’ve got internationals.”