The English ground chosen by the Bulls and the reasons why South African teams are unable to host a Champions Cup semifinal
It appears that the Stormers and Bulls will make it to the round of sixteen in the competition. However, regardless of seeding, if they advance to the final four, they will not be permitted to host a semi-final. After the Bulls defeated the Bristol Bears 31-17 on Saturday, White made this confirmation.
Ashton Gate may see a comeback of bulls.
“I don’t know if you guys know, but the South African teams are unable to host a semifinal,” White said to the press.
We selected Ashton Gate as our home field, so it’s really hilarious that we win here. If we also win at Loftus (against Bordeaux) and our next two home games there (the quarterfinal and the last 16), we’ll play again at Ashton Gate. Who knows, perhaps the stars will align.
A week prior to the Finals weekend at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, South African rugby is not yet a shareholder in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and EPCR, according to White, who was questioned about the reason the South African teams are unable to host a semi-final match.
“As non-shareholders, the semi-finals have to be based in Europe, I think,” he said. “We are not shareholders of the URC or the EPCR yet; that still takes some time.”
Super Rugby versus European rugby
White stated that even with the difficulties the South African teams have when participating in the URC and EPCR competitions, he still favors the European leagues over Super Rugby.
The commencement of the current term of the former Springboks coach, who has experience coaching in the Top 14, coincided with South Africa’s elimination from Super Rugby. He also coached the Australian Super Rugby side, the Brumbies.
He remarked, “I probably prefer this [the URC and Champions Cup] because I have been around for a long time and I was with Super Rugby as well.”
“It’s not like Super Rugby,” the player said. “I say this with respect to the competition because I was involved from the start when I was with the Lions Transvaal back then. Super eight, Super 10, and Super 12 happened in 1996, and to be honest, I believe that once it reached conferences and players weren’t paired off, a lot of the excitement was lost.
This is exciting because we get to play in the Champions Cup, which is the greatest club competition in the world in my opinion.
Rugby, in my opinion, will follow football in that players will want to leave if their team isn’t selected for the Champions League.