The URC is currently just unsustainable
At the moment the negatives of South African participation in the URC are outweighing the positives
This weekend, on the same day as Wales faced South Africa at Twickenham, the United Rugby Championship final was held in Pretoria between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors. The fact the final was being played on the exact same day as a Test match between two of its participating unions is hardly a great look but the URC has even deeper problems.
There is no doubt whatsoever the South African sides have improved the standard of the URC on the field and are among the best club sides on the planet, but their participation in Northern Hemisphere rugby is simply unsustainable.
Following Glasgow's hard-fought semi-final victory over Munster at Thomond Park, the initial reaction in the visiting camp was joy but it would have been quickly replaced by a realisation they would have to travel more than 8,000 miles to reach the destination of the final in a matter of days. Due to the fact the URC does not predetermine the venue for its final it is left until the semi-finals are completed, with the club who finished highest in the regular league season earning the right to home advantage.
The Bulls' dominant semi-final victory over Leinster meant Glasgow would have to make arrangements to travel to the Southern Hemisphere for the final. Former Scotland scrum-half and pundit Andy Nicol took to social media platform X to voice his frustrations. "I’m sorry, but this tournament is flawed when a team and its fans have only a week to try and arrange to travel 9,000 miles to play in the final," he said.
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