Bob Skinstad and John Barclay discuss Boks in the Six Nations

The debate surrounding South Africa’s possible entrance to the Six Nations rages on with many calling it an inevitable prospect while others stand firm behind the tournament as it is.  

Two well-known figures of the game – John Barclay and Bob Skinstad – recently shared thoughts on the idea. 

As things stand, Six Nations organisers have stated that they have no plans to include the Springboks after 2025, when their contract with The Rugby Championship ends. 

Barclay, who notched up 76 Tests for Scotland, is not convinced. 

“If South Africa is to join the Six Nations, it couldn’t become the Seven Nations,” he said, before pointing out that Italy, in all likelihood, would ‘veto’ the move. 

“If Italy doesn’t veto it, they won’t be in the Six Nations. 

“There is not enough space in the current calendar, as it is, to have South Africa in the Six Nations.” 

Barclay did, however, express excitement at seeing the South African teams competing in the Champions and Challenge Cups next year. 

“The dynamics, the style of play they brought to the United Rugby Championship and the totally different athletes they have will make a really exciting competition,” he said of the move to the European Cup. 

“I am not sure if it is the right thing to have them in the Six Nations.” 

Skinstad, a World Cup winner and former Springbok captain, had the following to say: 

“The heritage of the tournament and the fact that it is a European product, protecting that heritage and the history of the tournament is important to the people,” he said. 

“We [South Africa] come from a little corner of Africa where we don’t have the spending power and fan power of the European competitions. 

“A boost to South African rugby to compete on a yearly basis and earn revenue on a yearly basis in that environment would be very good,” the now-retired former Springbok sipper said. 

“How they do it, would have to be respectful of the amazing traditions and history of the tournament. 

“They would also need to be respectful of the fact that there are a lot of teams a lot closer to this tournament,” he said, adding: “They are not World Championship teams at the moment, but teams that have competed close to this tournament and deserve the first shot at it. 

“The cold, hard reality is that the people that are investing in rugby now see a future where the biggest and best teams in the world play each other on a regular enough basis to earn more money for those teams. 

“Whether that serves rugby best is something we can debate long into the night. 

“A tournament that included South Africa would be a good one, but we would potentially always be an ‘outlier’, so maybe there is an interim solution of only playing every second year.”