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Springboks' future at the heart of latest CVC investment - reports

South Africa won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. (Getty)

Private equity investment group CVC are moving closer to completing a deal to acquire a 14 per cent stake in the Six Nations, according to reports.

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The news will once again raise fears surrounding the future of the global rugby calendar.

According to the Financial Times, CVC are set to finalise a £300m deal to acquire a roughly 14 per cent stake in Six Nations over the next few weeks.

CVC are also reported to be close to agreeing a £120m stake in the Pro14.

CVC’s continued investment in rugby has raised fears surrounding their plans for the game.

The motives behind CVC’s continued investement in rugby has been cause for increasing speculation, as reported by RugbyPass over the weekend.

One of the main concerns concentrates on South Africa’s participation in Rugby Championship and Super Rugby.  CVC are reported to be in advanced talks about investing in South Africa Rugby, and recently denied reports that any deal would see South Africa leave the Rugby Championship to join an expanded Six Nations.

However, CVC have made no secret about their desire to reshape the current structure of the global club game, sparking rumours of a potential Club World Cup.

According to the Financial Times:

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“The Luxembourg-based group, which has previously invested in Formula One, expects to finalise a £300m deal to acquire a roughly 14 per cent stake in Six Nations, one of the sport’s flagship tournaments, within weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.

“The deal, alongside a £120m stake in club competition Pro14 that is expected to be sealed by the end of the month, will take CVC’s investment in rugby to more than £600m since it first targeted the game two years ago. In 2018, it snapped up a 27 per cent holding in Premiership Rugby, the top tier of English club rugby union.

“The group is in talks with World Rugby, the global governing body which runs the Rugby World Cup, and national governing bodies in New Zealand and South Africa, two of the dominant forces in rugby, according to several people familiar with them.”

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On the subject of South Africa’s future, the report claims:

“Those close to the talks denied recent reports that a deal between CVC and South Africa would be a precursor of the current world champions leaving the Rugby Championship to play in the Six Nations instead,” the report continues.

“However, they added that there were active discussions about reshaping club competitions between the hemispheres. This includes adding at least one more South African club side to the Pro14.”

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Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.


Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.


Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.


They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.


Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.


Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen

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