Welcome to South Africa Rugby Europe Cup

Next season, in the Champions Cup, there will therefore potentially be a Stormers-Stade Toulousain, Bulls-Montpellier or Sharks-Bordeaux poster.

For those who hadn't followed, the former Pro 14, itself a former Celtic League, became the United Rugby Championship by integrating four South African franchises alongside the Irish, Welsh and Scottish provinces, not to mention the two Italian clubs.

A 16-team melting pot that will deliver its verdict soon.

But, one day from the end, it is already certain that the Sharks (currently 3rd), the Stormers (4th) and the Bulls (6th) finish among the first eight, qualified for the "big" European Cup (only the franchise of the Lions, 11th, will not cross the cut).

So there will be posters against South African opponents next season.

With only one representative, Scots and Welsh will mark time, regress.

Globalization oval ball version.

With its victims and its damage.

The victims are already known.

There will only be one Welsh province in the Champions Cup next season (Scarlets or Ospreys).

Only one Scottish team as well (the winner of the fiery confrontation between Glasgow and Edinburgh on the final day).

And, again, no more Italian representatives.

If Ireland is doing well by qualifying its three flagship provinces (Leinster, Munster, Ulster), Connacht is also a collateral victim.

Read alsoPhilippe Spanghero: “South Africa in the Six Nations Tournament?

Italy does not measure up”

This is obviously bad news for European rugby.

The European Cup is the intermediate level between domestic competitions and those of national selections.

With only one representative, Scots and Welsh will mark time, regress.

As for Italy, it loses all prospect of progress.

At the same time, South African rugby will take the opportunity to strengthen itself a little more.

It is also possible to evoke the frustration, even the feeling of injustice, that Georgian, Spanish or Portuguese teams can harbor, whose fate, promotion at least to the Challenge Cup for example, has not even been mentioned.

Twelve hours of flight, less time for recovery

Harmful for European nations.

And very worrying for the players concerned.

In extended seasons, without downtime, where the bodies are more and more stressed, injuries more and more frequent, they will accumulate a little more fatigue.

Admittedly, and this is the argument put forward by the EPCR, organizer of this tournament which no longer has much to do with Europe, and the South African federation, there is no time difference.

It's still happy.

But there are a dozen hours by plane between France and Pretoria (Bulls), Cape Town (Stormers) or Durban (Sharks).

Less time for active recovery or complete rest.

Extra trips for mental weariness too,

Last point to decide.

This addition, if it makes the shareholders of the EPCR and the treasurer of the South African federation happy, will it seduce the supporters?

Will the public come in droves, for example to Deflandre or Gerland, for a Franco-South African meeting?

Will aficionados get excited about this increasingly misguided competition (groups of 12 teams and convoluted qualification system)?

Or will this umpteenth incongruous arrangement definitely keep them away from this Champions Cup?

Who has long since abandoned the term European Cup.

Premonitory…