SA Rugby says it had no option but to have the Vodacom Bulls’ coaching staff and players travel on eight flights for Saturday’s Champions Cup playoff against the Northampton Saints.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White on Tuesday slammed SA Rugby for the logistical challenges, saying long-haul trips to Europe undermine SA teams’ chances to be competitive in EPCR competitions.
The Pretoria outfit will face Northampton in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup for the first time on Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens.
However, a Qatar Airways partnership to fly the SA franchises for EPCR matches has caused yet more logistical issues for the Bulls, with White’s charges leaving in eight different groups on Tuesday evening for their last-eight clash in England.
Responding to White’s criticism, SA Rugby said that given that the quarter-finals were only confirmed late on Sunday, the governing body only had a short period of time to get tickets for the 38-strong party travelling to England.
ICYMI: Eight flights is just not right – Jake
“SA Rugby provided 38 flights for the Bulls’ Champions Cup quarter-final squad – 33 in business class and five in economy class,” a statement released late on Tuesday night reads.
“The playing squad will arrive in London before 8am local time on Wednesday having travelled overnight in business class on two airlines: British Airways (24 players and management) and Lufthansa [4 players and management].
“The coach and CEO also flew directly to London overnight on Virgin in business class. The balance of eight of the tour squad [four management and four players] travelled via Zurich, Doha, and Dubai.
“Media will appreciate that the high demand for business class seats in and out of South Africa, allied to the reduced number of flights into the country and the late confirmation of the required seats [Sunday evening] made it well known to all parties that securing business class seats on a single flight would be impossible.
“Pre-booking seats was discounted as an option in view of the potential risk of loss of 100% of the flight cost for a group booking, should it not be required as it was unknown until 48 hours before departure whether the Bulls would qualify, or be playing home or away [in the event of qualification].
“SA Rugby believes that the flights sourced by SA Rugby for the Bulls [at a cost to SA Rugby of R4 108 449.00] represent the very best outcome it was possible to achieve in the circumstances.”
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