SA Rugby CEO says a global season needs all stakeholders to compromise

The idea of a globally aligned rugby calendar has been the topic of discussion for many years now but it seems to have been gathering more momentum in recent seasons.

The growth of professional rugby around the globe has turned the sport into a year-round affair, with club and franchise tournaments from Japan to the USA competing for calendar space with internationals.

There seems to be widespread agreement that a global calendar is becoming increasingly necessary for player welfare but making it a reality is proving to be more complicated.

"I think everybody understands that we need a global season for various reasons," Oberholzer said.

"If you look at player welfare and proper rest time for professional players, and to give leagues a fair opportunity to have their players available, it becomes very important.

"How we get there is the challenge. We can't have a global season if nobody is willing to sacrifice something. Everybody will have to give something up in the way they are used to doing things.

"The Six Nations might have to shift. We might have to move the Rugby Championship closer to that window. We all agree in principle - but when it comes to the nitty-gritty of who moves and what we are willing to change, that's where it becomes difficult.

"The best scenario for us is a calendar with a window for international rugby, then a window for the leagues, and then another international window. The challenge is fitting that into 365 days.

"It's easy to say, 'Let's play the Rugby Championship in the Six Nations window,' but what will the broadcasters say? There are many factors to consider. You almost have to start with a clean sheet of paper and see if everything can fit."

Oberholzer also revealed SA Rugby is on sound financial footing thanks to the success of the Springboks in recent years, including winning the last two Rugby World Cups in a row.

"We are in a very good space, on and off the field. Of the 12 tier one nations - and we talk amongst ourselves - we are the only one that is going to show a bit of a profit. It is a simple system that feeds off itself," he said.

"If the Springbok team does not perform, we won't attract commercial money. If we do not have commercial money, we can't feed the system from the bottom to ensure the players keep coming through.

"The majority of our funds go back to the unions to feed the system. We are in the best position since COVID. We are very fortunate to be in a stable place right now."

Despite not being a World Cup year, 2026 promises to be another bumper year for SA Rugby with 14 Tests planned for the Springboks, including matches in the Nations Cup against Europe's best teams and Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour against the All Blacks.

"It is a massive year for us," Oberholzer admitted. "The Nations Cup is brand new, and the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with the All Blacks is unique.

"But we are feeling good about all of our teams. The structures are working, and the high performance has gone up across the board.

"The Nations Cup is exciting in that it is the top six northern teams playing the top six southern teams.

"We are now playing for a reason, not just friendlies in June and November, building up to a finals weekend where the team that finishes sixth in the northern pool will play the corresponding finisher in the south pool.

"Five will play five, four versus four, and so on as we build up to a final. It gives more meaning to the international season."