Springbok flanker Jaco Kriel has highlighted the benefits of South African teams making the move into northern hemisphere competitions.
Kriel recently joined up with English club Gloucester, and in an interview with Rugby Pass, he said that the inclusion of the Cheetahs and Kings in the Pro14 had certainly provided insight into the opportunities elsewhere.
‘I believe it created good opportunities for the Cheetahs and the Kings. Although the Kings didn’t do so well, it’s still good opportunities for the players to be noticed at a high level of rugby.
‘I believe in the near future it’ll be the path to go for some of the bigger unions, to make the travelling easier. In Super Rugby, to travel to New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Japan – as a professional athlete, that just makes it difficult.
‘If you travel here, it’s just an hour time difference and you test yourself on a whole different level of weather, pitches and rugby, so I believe it’s the way forward.’
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images for Gallagher
