SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux says background planning is under way to resume Vodacom Super Rugby and PRO14 before season’s end.

Sanzaar confirmed over the weekend that it has ‘no option’ but to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament at the conclusion of this weekend’s matches for the foreseeable future. This followed PRO14 Rugby’s decision to suspend their tournament indefinitely, to help contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

In the latest update, Sanzaar CEO Andy Marinos said Super Rugby must resume in five weeks or face the season being scrapped.

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However, Roux said SA Rugby is working hard to ensure that both Super Rugby and the PRO14 are able to resume before the season ends.

‘This is a highly fluid situation and we are planning against certain unknowables, but we have not given up on either competition and are working with partners internationally to resume the competitions within the constraints of health, common sense and any statutory restrictions,’ said Roux.

‘For the moment the SA Rugby offices will remain open but, like everything else, we will continue to review the situation on a daily basis.

‘This is an unprecedented crisis, but we have to continue to work for when the peak has passed us, as, in the words of President Ramaphosa, we will get through this.’

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SA Rugby also suspended all international travel until May and all domestic travel until 14 April (unless the latter was business critical). All committee meetings will take place by teleconference. Training and education programmes for coaches, referees and rugby safety (BokSmart) participants would be postponed or delivered by videoconferencing.

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