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Frans Steyn makes waves with response to Israel Dagg comments
Springbok legend Frans Steyn took to social media to respond to Israel Dagg’s recent comments about South Africa and Super Rugby.
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The former All Black fullback questioned why his country and Australia broke ties with South Africa when it came to that tournament.
Dagg’s comments came ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific Final between the Blues and Chiefs at Eden Park.
“I went down a rabbit hole. I know we should be focusing on the now and what’s ahead of us this weekend. But man, I miss South Africa being a part of Super Rugby,” he said during an interview on radio station SENZ.
It was a social media clip of a packed-out Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria during the old Super Rugby days that sparked Dagg’s comments.
“It got me, thinking ‘How the hell did we let them go?’ Our greatest rivals with arguably some of the greatest players to play the game constantly on our screens or even in the flesh, I’ll never forget my first trip to South Africa.”
When @rugby365com posted Dagg’s comments on social media, Steyn, who is now the Cheetahs’ Director of Rugby, issued his response in the comments section.
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“There are other teams in SA that want the opportunity!!” said Steyn.
🔥 Frans Steyn responds to Israel Dagg’s statement with a bold call.
🤔 Thoughts?#Rugby365 #SuperRugby #Cheetahs pic.twitter.com/e0b4lfm4TF
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 21, 2024
Many fans and pundits believe the Cheetahs have been treated unfairly when it comes to participation in cross-continental tournaments.
They were cut from Super Rugby in 2017 and they eventually joined the Pro14 in the Northern Hemisphere.
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When the Pro14 was rebranded as the United Rugby Championship ahead of the 2021/2022 season, the Cheetahs were not included.
The Lions, Bulls, Sharks and Stormers are the South African franchises that compete in the URC.
Steyn won 78 caps for the Springboks from 2006 to 2023. He played multiple positions including fullback, centre and fly-half. Steyn won two Rugby World Cups in 2007 and 2019.
I love SUPER too Cheetahs would soon adapt Bruiser!
we don’t think we ever cheated on you buddy as I’m a dinosaur of 77 and NZ would welcome Cheetahs back cos you guy played more like we NZers did!
Not a starter. Lets focus on partnering with Japan, USA and Asian market. Im over the pathetic SA travel excuses. NZ, Aus, PI and Japan in a super league. The Japanese would attract even more stars, given their $$. Bring in a North American team in a few years. Asian and American time zone better for all and potentially a huge market with big spenders…I dont want SA teams back anymore and lets get away with having to make all our money from European partners…they dont give a s%%T about us anyway
I love this idea. I realise the difficulties but surely playing in Super Rugby would appeal to other SA players who could move to the Cheetahs, making the side even stronger.
It’s bollocks anyway - SA were always going to move on. Every time broadcast rights came up the first thing SA would do is push narratives about them leaving. They’ve left now and let’s be frank, but for some poor calls a 14-man NZ would have (should have have) won RWC 2023.
Now THATS an idea that can set the cat among the pigeons! No reason whatsoever why SA can’t have a foot in both camps…so to speak!!!
Financially it could work very well for them.
I am the biggest fan of South African rugby but the cheetahs would struggle to get/keep top talent and they would be unlikely to be be competitive.
The players of potential they develop will get picked off by lucrative offers from the URC teams.
But, it’s not my money so I say make it happen.
Yea there would be space for the 4 other South African franchises.
I'd like to see SA back in Super Rugby. It feels odd having SA teams shoehorned into EU rugby but more than that as a fan of Super Rugby I miss the days of seeing the titans of the SH go head-to-head. Epic battles with such contrasting styles between the Bulls, Crusaders, Sharks & Chiefs etc… Super Rugby is missing a lot of it's attraction without South African teams.
The Cheetahs have been treated like cr*p by SA rugby, and I say that as a Bulls fan… But the issues of yester year with Super Rugby remain (travel, etc), and corporate SA will have to get behind such a team big time to ensure that they can compete week in and out.
That's assuming the Kiwis and Aussies will have us, but we bring a lot of eyeballs… And the Cheetahs play attractive rugby - it’s their DNA.