World Champions Springboks' Switch From Rugby Championship to 6 Nations a Possibility

• The Springboks could reportedly still be set for a switch to the Six Nations in what would be a seismic shift in rugby’s global structure
• According to a report in the Daily Mail, the reigning world champions are still very much intent on joining the Six Nations from 2025
• South Africa has been wooed by European rugby entities for a while now, and has already sent teams into the United Rugby Championship as a starter

Sanzaar made public the fact that its four member unions - South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina - would continue their decades long partnership until the year 2025.

According to the report, sources have suggested that if the Springboks join the Six Nations, the plan is not to expand the northern-hemisphere tournament.

The Boks inclusion would result in Italy's booting out of the competition, something that would infinitely increase the tournament's competitive edge, but put paid to a promotion-relegation system in Europe.

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Italy became part of the Six Nations in 2000, and have been the undisputed whipping boys of the competition. They have a pitiful 11 wins in their 23rd year of competing in the tournament, and have finished last in 16 out of 21 seasons.

While they have started overhauling their youth structures, with their U20 team recently claiming a win over England U20 in the youth version of the tournament, those results have yet to translate to their senior team.

The Six Nations received a mammoth cash boost in 2021 after private-equity company CVC Capital acquired a one-seventh stake in the competition. There are rumours that CVC is looking to have South Africa brought into the Six Nations fold.

SA Rugby has been gradually aligning with the north. After being left out of Super Rugby in 2020, the four franchises – the Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, Lions and Stormers – joined the newly branded Vodacom United Rugby Championship in 2021 and from next season could play in European tournaments.

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Springboks learn their 2022 opponents as Rugby World Cup defence draws nearer, look to consolidate no. 1 spot

The South African national men's rugby team now knows who they will take on in 2022 after its fixtures list was revealed today.

As reported on Sports Brief, the Springboks can look forward to 13 Test matches as they seek to consolidate their position atop World Rugby's international rankings.

The tourists to South Africa this year will come in the form of Wales for a three-Test series, while Ireland, France, Italy and England will be their foes on their tour of Europe in November.