South Africa's professional rugby players have warned internal bickering within the southern hemisphere grouping SANZAR could have "serious implications" for the sport worldwide.
The reported divisions within the group that has steered professional rugby in the southern hemisphere since 1996 threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of professional players in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, South African Professional Rugby Players Association head Piet Heymans said in a statement released Thursday.
South Africa has reportedly threatened to walk away from SANZAR over differences with the Australian Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union, threatening the future of the Tri-Nations and Super 15 competitions.
"The players view Super rugby and the Tri-Nations as the best rugby competitions in the world and also the toughest to participate in," Heymans said. "The players are concerned that emotions are driving the current differences within SANZAR.
"Should the SANZAR partnership be dissolved it could have serious implications, not just for South African rugby but world rugby as a whole."
"During the renewal of the SANZAR broadcast deal various alternatives were investigated and the reality is that there are not viable options that can provide the players and the public with exciting world class rugby."
Heymans said a players' voice might be needed during discussions about SANZAR's future to ensure their best interests were represented.”
