Springboks quash European Rumours

Springbok captain John Smit and coach Jake White have both scotched rumours that South Africa is going to forsake the Super 12 tournament in favour of participating in European rugby.

On the eve of a three-week Australasian trip that begins with a test against the South Sea Islanders before away Tri-Nations fixtures against the All Blacks and Australia, there has been speculation about a players’ strike and, of more immediate interest to the Northern Hemisphere nations, that the South Africans are planning to quit the Super 12 for Europe.

There has been concern that if South Africa was to leave the Super 12, then Australia and New Zealand would find themselves stranded, but John Smit responded that he personally had no desire to quit the competition.

‘As a player I would love to be staying involved in the Super 12’ Smit told Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. ‘I think the big appeal is that it is a barometer. You can really test yourself against some great players’.

White agreed with Smit, saying that the Boks had the best of both worlds with five tests in Europe at the end of the year.