Financial security off the field, success on it: SA Rugby has Boks to tick in 2025

SA Rugby's to-do list this year may not be long but it is likely to attract much interest.

On and off the field the organisation has boxes to tick and while some will be laden with the momentary feel-good factor, others hold potential long-term benefit.

SA Rugby's attempts to secure a deal with an equity partner are well documented. Their failure to get a deal done last year has put into sharp focus the need to get one done this year.

By their own admission their hand-to-mouth existence is far from desirable. Financial stability and the establishment of a subsequent cash reserves cushion is what they desire. Wasteful expenditure also needs addressing but the year holds promise.

This year South Africa will become a shareholder in the United Rugby Championship (URC), which will allow them access to the tournament's profits, not that that cup runneth over.

Nonetheless SA Rugby will gain full membership in June and they will no longer have to pick up the tab that allows the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers to play in that competition. That bill came to R330m in their latest annual report.

The tournament isn't just well attended but it keeps revising television audience records. Fully harnessing the tournament's popularity has to be high on the organisers' to-do list.

On the field South African rugby fans have much to look forward to.

With a bulging trophy cabinet and wins in recent seasons in locales that had long eluded the Springboks they will go into 2025 with a standout box to tick. They meet the All Blacks at Eden Park in the Rugby Championship on September 6 and will be desperate to bend the arc of history.

The hosts have not lost at their HQ since France beat them there in 1994 but for the Boks the wait at the All Blacks' citadel has been interminable. They have not won at Eden Park since 1937, which makes this year's fixture more than an itch that needs a nail.

The Springboks played in Auckland in 2023 but the match was staged at Mount Smart Stadium, a Rugby League stronghold. The Everest facing them this year is far more daunting but they will go into the match having established a healthy recent winning record over their old foes. Since that defeat at Mount Smart Stadium the Boks have won four in a row against the All Blacks, including the 12-11 win in the 2023 World Cup final in Paris, and will arrive at Eden Park perhaps more buoyant than any other team.

The Springbok Women's team will have their moment to shine around the same time.

They head to their fifth Rugby World Cup scheduled from August 22 to September 27 in England.

Swys de Bruin has injected energy and urgency to their ranks since his appointment last year, and though the results haven't always fallen their way the team has developed a harder competitive edge.

The four-time Rugby Africa Cup winners have some ground to make up against their North American and European opposition. In their last 10 matches against opposition from those territories they've won three (all against Spain) and lost seven.

South Africa are grouped with France, Italy and Brazil in Pool D of the 16-team tournament and their progress to the knock-out phases will have to include a surprise, or two. Their task will gradually increase in difficulty. They kick off their campaign against Brazil in Northampton before tackling Italy in York before returning to Franklins Garden for their clash against France.

Also keen to impress will be the Junior Springboks who finished with a less than satisfying record of three wins and four defeats in 2024. There has been a shake-up in those ranks and more introspection followed after the team finished seventh at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

The establishment of the Under-19 Academy was a key recommendation from an intensive review of the Junior Boks' season. They will almost certainly be better in 2025.