Sharks player-coach Ma’a Nonu has told South African rugby teams to stop treating the Investec Champions Cup as a bonus competition.
The New Zealand great, who won the Rugby World Cup twice, spoke on Tuesday at the launch of the new Champions Cup season. The event took place at the sponsor’s head office in Johannesburg.
“The South African teams need to realise what a privilege it is to be able to play in the competition,” Nonu said, according to IOL Sport.
He pointed to the quality of the European clubs in the tournament. “Just look at the stature of the European teams that compete in it every year. These are teams loaded with some of the best rugby players in the world,” he said.
“The South African teams shouldn’t just see it as a bonus to take part in the competition. They need to be competitive and show Europe where they come from,” Nonu added.
No South African side has gone further than the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. Since joining the European competitions, local teams have mostly put their focus on the United Rugby Championship.
Nonu knows the tournament well. He played 108 matches for French club Toulon before he joined the Sharks as a player-coach.
The Sharks will not play in this season’s Champions Cup. They missed out after they failed to finish in the URC top eight last season.
Nonu said the Champions Cup gives South African teams regular games against the best club sides in Europe. He said this kind of test cannot be found anywhere else.
He also praised the French Top 14 league. “If you look at the French Top 14, it’s a competition that currently has no equal in terms of competitiveness,” he said. “I think it’s the best rugby competition in the world.”
Nonu said the league draws players from many countries. “Many South Africans have carved out careers for themselves in France,” he said.
“Every match in the competition is played in packed stadiums and the supporters don’t mind travelling for away games,” he added.
Nonu compared this with Super Rugby. He said the drop in the standard and appeal of the southern hemisphere competition should be a warning.
“If I look at where New Zealand rugby is at the moment, it paints a clear picture of where a competition like Super Rugby currently finds itself,” he said.
“About 20 years ago, Super Rugby, with the South African teams involved, was the competition to follow. Things have now changed drastically and it’s the French who are teaching us all a lesson in how to present rugby,” Nonu said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.