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Springboks to 'host' Tests abroad?

Cape Town - SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux says the possibility exists for the Springboks to 'host' internationals outside of South Africa.

Roux was speaking at SA Rugby’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Cape Town  on Thursday.

According to Netwerk24, SA Rugby made the far-reaching adjustment to its constitution, meaning that the Springboks could play home Tests abroad - if the price is right.

“If you do it on a rotational basis and plan way in advance, I think it would be acceptable,” said Roux.

“We passed a fairly large constitutional change whereby we can decide to play home Tests outside the country should it make sense commercially.”

Prior to this amendment, the requirement was for all home Tests to be played in a stadium managed or approved by a provincial union.

Meanwhile, at the same meeting - SA Rugby’s 25th since re-admission - president Mark Alexander said the organisation’s vision remains to be the leading rugby nation in the world.

"In Kimberley on March 20, 1992, four different national rugby governing bodies came together to create the organisation that we now lead," Alexander said in an SA Rugby statement.

"Now is the time to take stock of our journey and re-commit ourselves.

"We acknowledge that we have some way to go. We have made mistakes and we will not always get it right.

"But we have given South Africa moments of great joy and proved rugby’s supreme capacity to build our nation. Today, we must renew that journey."

Alexander said the Springboks’ lowly World Rugby ranking (7th) meant that the organisation was starting the next 25 years from a historically low base.

"Let’s not beat about the bush; it turned out to be the toughest and most challenging year in a quarter of a century - both on and off the field," he said.

"The fortunes of our business are chiefly determined by one over-riding factor: the performance of the flagship team. The form of the Springboks in 2016 was at its lowest ebb since rugby unity in 1992.

"The new era and new dawn we had all hoped for failed to materialise. But 2017 will be different.

"We have now held three coaching and two conditioning indabas and developed a coaching blueprint bought into by all our Super Rugby coaches. I would once again like to commend Johan Ackermann, Nollis Marais, Franco Smith, Deon Davids, Robert du Preez and Robbie Fleck for their fantastic co-operation, insight and support in this process. It has the potential to be truly game-changing for SA Rugby."

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