SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer has expressed his concerns regarding some of the recent law variations being pushed by World Rugby. The international governing body has been working on a series of law changes that aim to enhance the viewing and playing experience by promoting faster play, reducing stoppages, and improving officiating consistency.
During the Springboks’ first official press conference of the season, held at SA Rugby’s offices in Plattekloof, Cape Town, Oberholzer clarified the distinction between law changes and law variations. He stated,
“There are no [law] changes for this season. We are still working through some variations.”
He went on to admit that the process of discussing these changes can be challenging, as different countries have varying opinions on the proposed changes.
Oberholzer also hinted that the ongoing law variations seem to have an immediate impact on the Springboks, suggesting that these changes might be a deliberate attempt to hinder the current world champions.
“It feels that when you become world champion, you get punished by World Rugby with certain law changes they’re suggesting,” he added.
Despite these concerns, Oberholzer reassured that there would be no significant law changes this season that would directly affect Rassie Erasmus and the team’s preparation for the 2027 World Cup. However, he indicated that major changes could be on the horizon after the 2027 World Cup. He also mentioned that one particular change, the 20-minute red card, had sparked considerable debate.
With these law variations continuing to evolve, Oberholzer’s comments reflect the challenges facing the Springboks as they navigate these changes while preparing for future competitions.
