South Africa ace Cheslin Kolbe issues verdict on Springboks joining Six Nations

22 February 2023 , 11:04

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Cheslin Kolbe is backing South Africa's controversial move to join the Six Nations (Image: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

If there are any stars of the South Africa squad set against seeing the Springboks join the Six Nations, Cheslin Kolbe isn't one of them.

The current world champions play their annual Test rugby against fellow southern-hemisphere giants New Zealand, Australia and more recently Argentina in the boosted Rugby Championship. But rumours of a Six Nations shift have gathered momentum in recent years, either as a replacement for habitual strugglers Italy or as a complement to a new-look seven-team tournament.

The latter now looks more likely given Italy's improved 2022 campaign, during which they beat both Wales and Australia. And South Africa winger Kolbe is in favour of the change, with the country already well-represented in Europe's club circuit.

“I think if it does happen, it would be massive and change the whole scenario regarding the Six Nations,” said Kolbe during a recent appearance on the Telegraph Rugby podcast. “For the Springboks, it would be amazing to be part of the Six Nations.

"You get to play against top countries each week when you’re part of that competition. It would be amazing if it comes off one day, but who knows?”

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South Africa star Cheslin Kolbe believes it would be "amazing" to link up with the Six Nations (Clement Mahoudeau/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Not only does South Africa boast four teams in the United Rugby Championship (formerly made up solely of clubs from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy), but the contingent has thrived in its new surroundings. The Cape Town-based Stormers beat Pretoria's Bulls as two South African teams made it to the final in their inaugural URC season, while all three teams that qualified for the Champions Cup have made it to the knockout stage.

Kolbe, 29, spent four years with the Stormers before accepting a move to Toulouse in 2017. He excelled to two Top 14 titles and a Champions Cup crown with Les Rouge et Noir in 2021 before joining rivals Toulon, giving the pint-sized talisman plenty of time to appreciate the 'joie de vivre' of playing in Europe.

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South Africa's mooted move into the northern hemisphere's Test arena has been met with a mixed response. Traditionalists have decried the move and called for Europe's top international competition to remain exactly that, while others have backed it as an aid to rugby's recent ails attempting to become a more global sport.

SANZAAR—the organisation that oversees the Rugby Championship on behalf of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina—announced just last year the Springboks will remain part of the contest until the end of 2025. That leaves just three more editions of the southern-hemisphere competition (including this year's diluted edition due to the Rugby World Cup) before one of the sport's superpowers could be free to enact major change in the international landscape.

Tom Sunderland