My take on this is that you can't look at rugby in a vacuum.
Rugby players have to deal with the same macro issues that face SA. Professional rugby player exodus would probably trend along the same rates as other professions.
If you feel your future is uncertain you look elsewhere.
For me there are 3 major layers contributing to this
- Economy
- Government interference
- Contracting with Unions
The Rand is going down and down, with the next stop being junk status. Don't get me started on the ANC.
The government still has its non-value adding tentacles interwoven in sport and is creating unnecessary obstacles with race based policies.
My understanding of the Union structure in SA is that it's still very much has one foot in the amateur era and one foot in the pro era, in the way it operates at a national level. There are small Unions who have undue influence and are a drain on the system, spreading the money allocated by SA Rugby thinner. Apparently it's a legal nightmare hence why its never been truly changed. I understand that SA Rugby really wants to go the central contracting route like NZ and IRE. Probably a big reason why individual sponsorship is a key part of a player's income mix and I believe SA Rugby helps with this process.
What can Rassie influence:
Rassie can't do jack about the economy.
Now that he has the love of everyone, he might have the social credit to be able to push back on the ANCs selection policies. Highly unlikely though.
He's done really well at relationship building with the bigger Unions but it appears that is all in good faith. They have no obligation to listen as far as I understand. Doesn't solve the contracting issue though.
