Springbok risking it all for a 'good cause'

SPOTLIGHT: Despite the looming threat of a potential ban, the Mzansi Rugby League are moving forward with new signings and appointments in their management staff.

Springbok Lionel Mapoe has been announced as the new Director of Rugby for the Pretoria Warthogs, Monty Dumond (a well-travelled flyhalf) as Director of the Paarl Caracals and Brian Shabangu as the owner of the Midlands Bongos.

The MRL have also announced a number of emerging players from domestic provinces, Varsity Cup and overseas.

These include Keegan Joubert (scrumhalf) from Zimbabwean Sables, Zukisani Tom (former Craven Week and SA Schools player, who has developed in France over the past three seasons for Racing 92 Espoirs), Charles Williams (a local journeyman who has played for Griquas, Free State Cheetahs, Griffons, Lions and Leopards), Ryan Smit (played for NWU, UJ and Leopards before moving abroad to play professional rugby for Lokomotiv Penza in Russia), Ryan Maree (ex-Border Bulldogs and played in Georgia for RC Locomotive Tbilisi) and Musawenkosi Sili (103kg utility back, who played Under 20 domestic rugby and club rugby in England and the Czech Republic).

These players have all signed for the MRL despite threats from the South African Rugby Union of potential bans.

While all players have the right to do what they want with their careers, any MRL player who tries to register with a SARU structure will be turned down.

SARU have stated in their guidelines and publicly stated that the MRL is an ‘unaffiliated rugby organisation’ (URO) and have released a statement in April this year warning players and agents against participating in “unauthorised trials”.

Although they did not mention the MRL specifically, the statement was in response to the MRL’s plans for national trials.

The story continues below…

“The South African Rugby Union wishes to make clear its position regarding unauthorised trial competitions currently being promoted outside the structures of the global game,” the statement said.

“Any player registered with a SARU entity who participates in the trials will be excluded from all SARU competitions and leagues.

“SARU has a duty to protect the integrity of our competitions, our players and uphold the values of the game. Playing in unauthorised trials goes against the values of rugby and puts the stability of rugby in this country and globally at risk.

“SARU urges all players, agents and stakeholders to respect the processes of rugby. SARU will continue to provide players opportunities to grow and excel within the structures recognised by World Rugby and our partner unions. We cannot tolerate any deviations from these structures.”

The Paarl Caracals Director, Dumond, said that the players are aware of the potential for a ban from SARU.

“But most of them aren’t employed [signed] in the SARU system,” Dumond told @rugby365com.

“Many of them have children and families, so we give them an opportunity.”

Despite there being ‘no guarantees’ that the Mzansi Rugby League will be a success, Dumond feels that the first year (2027) is going to be crucial.

They have also kept the league down to just 10 teams to make it viable as a business. The teams are Jozi Wildcats, Pretoria Warthogs, Vaal Meerkats, Cape Town Kudus, Paarl Caracals, Stellenbosch Bushbucks, Durban Hyenas, Ballito Barracudas, Midlands Bongos and Potchefstroom Sables.

The coaching staff will also not be as large as in the domestic and international leagues.

When asked about guarantees, Dumond said that he is still owed money from his time at the EP Kings.

He said that the standard of rugby will be somewhere between the First Division and Currie Cup due to the quality of players they have signed.

A number of the players have played in the First Division and some have 30-40 first-class caps.

There are also players from Namibia and Zimbabwe and others who have come back from playing abroad.

Dumond is adamant that they are not a Rebel League and feel that they deserve SARU’s ‘endorsement’ for more opportunities for young players.

When asked why he decided to play for the MRL, Dumond was honest with his answer.

“It was a very simple decision. It’s not about me as a player; it’s about the young players getting opportunities.

“There’s so many players that have potential to play higher but just don’t get the opportunities.

“The franchises and provinces can only offer so many contracts and there’s always a new batch of talented players coming through. New Markus Mullers, new Siyayas, etc.

“We’ve got so much talent in this country and so many players slip through the cracks and could have made it in a professional set-up.

“This is an extra opportunity for those players.”

The story continues below…

Dumond (150+ first-class caps) said that the requirements to sign for the MRL are quite high. Players need to have played in a Craven Week, Academy Week, Varsity Cup or age-group provincial rugby.

“You also have to pass the usual medicals before you play,” he added.

Dumond added that it could be an opportunity for young players to show off their talents to get opportunities outside of the Republic, Europe, UK or America.

It will also create opportunities for coaches and support staff such as doctors, physios and S&C coaches.

“If SARU would bless us then it’s going to be good for rugby in SA. We don’t want to fight with SARU,” Dumond said.

The players they have already ‘recruited’ are players who aren’t getting opportunities in the SARU structures and realistically won’t get any opportunities in the future. However, they have potential.

Unlike most First Division players who have to deal with 6 or 8-month contracts, the MRL have contracts from 1-3 years.

The MRL are expected to kick off in March 2027 and are offering monthly salaries of between R10,000 and R25,000 plus medical aid.