Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Springbok wing Bryan Habana has denied that the player drain in South African rugby comes down to money alone.
Habana, who has been at French club Toulon since 2013, says it is a combination of factors that contribute towards players deciding to leave South Africa for Europe.
The 33-year-old says that crime levels and politics in rugby have both been factors that have contributed to the player drain.
"I think a lot of people outside South Africa don't understand that there are a number of unique things happening in South Africa at the moment," the 124-Test veteran said on Sky Sports.
"Not only from a rugby point of view, but from a political, economic and safety point of view.
"A lot of people think rugby players go overseas to gain money, to gain a residency in another country, but there are so many different factors which people take into consideration."
Habana added that some young South African players might move abroad due to transformation targets, describing South Africa's unique situation of having previously disadvantaged players as "intricate".
"When these youngsters move, it's not just about leaving South African shores, it's about taking your future into consideration," he said.
