Rugby athletes globally have been returning home following the Covid-19 Pandemic. This has now extended towards Jamie Roberts, who has been located in South Africa for a prolonged period. He’d initially been expected to remain self-isolated in Cape Town but after new travel restrictions were implemented, the 33 Years of Age Rugby Star returned home.

He flew from South Africa to England several hours before SA would enter their lockdown. These unprecedented times are forcing millions worldwide to alter their daily plans, with Jamie Roberts now unable to compete for Super Rugby’s “Stormers”. Ten games were completed throughout his contract with the Stormers before Super Rugby postponed their season. South Africa is now in an official lockdown period until April 15th.

Providing Accommodations for NHS Staff

Jamie Roberts celebrity across the United Kingdom grew exponentially throughout the last two weeks. He began offering his “Flat” in Cardiff to medical works with the National Health Service. This property is typically rented for weekly visits at $2,500.00. Providing free boarding to NHS Volunteers, Doctors or Nurses comes as a significant loss for the athlete. When questioned on why he’s donating the Flat until the Covid-19 pandemic is over, Jamie Roberts expressed that it’s better to be used by our heroes than some random individual.

Reporters requested if anybody was currently staying in the Cardiff Flat, where Jamie Roberts mentioned that an Emergency Doctor started staying there on Friday. Upwards of six individuals can live in this Cardiff Flat, with Roberts wanting to switch-out the workers every two weeks. It should be mentioned that this Rugby Star was previously trained as a professional doctor, having 3+ years of experience in the medical field. It’s not surprising that he’d support his previous community.

The Stormers

It hasn’t been confirmed if Jamie Roberts will return with the South African Stormers. There’s the chance that postponed seasons with both the British Rugby League and Super Rugby will force his respective contracts to be altered. The British & Irish Lions have priority control over Roberts future, meaning that SA would lose out on this formidable talent. It’ll be one of the countless fallouts associated with Covid-19.

Supporters behind the Indian Premier League were disappointed to learn that the remaining ODIs with South Africa have been terminated. Individuals that purchased tickets for these Kolkata and Lucknow venues will be provided refunds immediately. This cancellation of these events follows after the increased spread of COVID-19, with the Indian Premier League also being postponed until April 15th.

The announcement that these ODI matches would be terminated came after a cancelled game in Dharamshala, which was prompted by severe weather. Supporters of this ODI Series were provided insurances that the Cricket Control Board of India will converse with the CSA to guarantee this 3-Match ODI Series is rescheduled. An official statement was provided through a public press conference, with the CCBI noting that the safety of supporters and the overall cricket community has become their top priority. This announcement also indicated that South African Punters would play this revised series in India, making them the opposing team on an away series.

It should be mentioned that this decision was made more in benefit of South African citizens and players. Throughout India, there has been an excessive level of confirmed cases, which stand at eight-one. Similar protocols were enforced with the England Versus Sri Lanka Test Series, with all punters being informed to return home for self-isolation. Its unknown is these three matches will be rescheduled.

Dedicated supporters aren’t shocked to learn about the cancellation, with multiple protocols already having been enforced throughout this ODI Series. Players have informed not the shake hands and not to share equipment, which extended to warnings to the pitchers not to use saliva for additional grip. After considerable delegations with medical experts, it was determined that these actions aren’t enough to guarantee public safety with the coronavirus.

Protection Methods

Personal Hygiene Protocols have been implemented through the Cricket South Africa Association. The Cricket Control Board of India is enforcing similar strategies. It’s being recommended that individuals wash their hands with soap for twenty-seconds. This extends to additional warnings to use hand sanitizer, cover mouths when coughing and reporting any potential fevers or coughs. Medical experts have also suggested that global citizens don’t touch their face and avoid eating public food going forward.

The T20 International Tournament in South Africa is slated to begin in the coming days. Sporting analysts, athletes and coaching staff are already mentally preparing themselves for the onslaught of racist behaviour. South African viewers have become infamous in recent years for expressing ignorant and abusive comments towards Caucasian athletes. This is why Aaron Finch from the Australian National Team has promised to ignore the racist behaviour, to represent his nation with pride.

White tourists from Australia are concerned with attending this venue, with verbal taunts towards their stadium presence becoming stronger each year. It’s prompted lower visitation numbers from international supporters, with most of these South Africans recalling the “Sandpaper Scandal”. This crisis created a formidable fallout for the Australians, with Steve Smith being forced to resign his captaincy. This extended to David Warren and Cameron Bancroft, who faced significant backlash but remained with the Australians. Security forces are being amplified to account for the safety of Warren and Cameron, as well as all other players with the Australian cricket team.

Aaron Finch Speaks Out

 The new captain for the Australian Cricket Team spoke to reporters regarding the T20 International. He expressed that South African supporters are passionate, regardless of their surroundings or the local law enforcement. Our team expects that abusive comments will be uttered, and David Warren loves the banter anyways. Aaron Finch mentioned that visitors in the stands can act in any manner but that they won’t cave to their comments. Aaron Finch will use the assistance of coaching staff to keep all team members calm and level-headed. All players with the Australians that remained after the Sandpaper Scandal will use each other for inspiration to strengthen their resolve on the field.

The Head Coach, Justin Langer, also spoke with Australian reporters on the upcoming competition. He mentioned that all three players returned to the team without any difficulties, integrating into the new strategies with professionalism in mind. Justin noted that good work has been done and that they’re ready to prove themselves to South African supporters. Langer did express that the last tour was challenging for Aaron Finch and David Warren but that he’s proud of their behaviour following the scandal. Justin Langer finished his statements by mentioning sporting analysts and South Africans shouldn’t count the Australians out as they’ll compete harder than ever at the 2020 T20 International. 

Supporters of international rugby on the Southern Hemisphere have begun to express their confusion and disarray towards the concept of South Africa joining the Six Nations Tournament. This would force the international rugby outfit to leave the SANZAAR Tourney by 2024, with multiple supporters in South Africa noting that it’d be detrimental for local rugby. Chances that this decision will be altered are minimal, with the Springboks having determined they’ll become the seventh outfit and turn this championship into the “Seven Nations Tournament”. It would see South Africa compete against Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain. Individuals close to this agreement have expressed that things are falling smoothly into place and that 2024 is in sight.

The SANZAAR Alliance would lose one of their most notable outfits with the confirmation that this agreement is moving forward. It’d mean that Argentina, Australia and New Zealand would be the remaining nations engaging with this international rugby competition. It’d also mean an odd number, which would force SANZAAR to locate another country willing to participate in the Southern Hemisphere. It should be noted that the SANZAAR Alliance was first founded by South Africa, with Australia and New Zealand’s rugby unions following. This decision is considered disrespectful to the individuals that founded SANZAAR in 1995.

The Main Concern is Profits

It’s been rumoured through newspaper outlets for a prolonged period that an alliance between South Africa’s and Europe’s rugby unions would be inevitable. This decision is being made entirely based on money, with the Springboks having greater access to global television audiences with more favourable time zones. Organizations like the All Blacks earn millions yearly in revenue from retail products, with Springbok owners wanting to acquire similar valuations from team gear. Analysts are concerned that this decision could be unsafe for players with the Springboks, as racism towards African Americans in European sporting leagues has grown exponentially over the last two years. Seeming them enter the Six Nations Tournament could see substantial backlash towards the players. Greed isn’t worth violence.

Denying that this agreement isn’t almost finalized is foolish. The Springboks are entering final conversations for broadcasting agreements, which would remain active until 2030. This would immediately guarantee South Africa’s presence into the Six Nations Tournament for three years. Their presence alone means an alteration to this teams’ name; it’ll be hard to avoid any backlash. 

The historical alterations occurring in South Africa’s national sports are coming quickly. The demand for more Native Africans to play in their respective league is growing across South Africa. However, for a prolonged period, it’s been celebrated to operate Rugby or Cricket teams that excluded Non-White players. The South African Government has tried to resolve this issue, demanding selection quotes that would require five national Africans to be employed.

The South African Cricket and Rugby National Teams have refused to abide by the new legislation. It’s increasing the level of frustration amongst Non-White sports fans in South Africa, who are demanding changes or will begin to boycott these respective sports. Considering that South Africa is primarily of darker skin tones, these individuals boycotting Rugby and Cricket would prompt substantial losses in profits. Thando Manana, one of the former Rugby Players of African descent, expressed that people won’t accept the racial imbalance anymore.

The Economic Freedom Fighters, a group of radicalized terrorists of African descent, have publicly expressed this growing animosity towards the ignorance displayed by national teams. Considered a political party and movement, the EFF maintains 10.8% of the national voters, which is regarded as the working class. Their actions have been violent and disruptive to the South African economy, with the European Union and the United States deeming them a terrorist cell. It should be noted that the Economic Freedom Fighters began after police killed forty-seven mineworkers for no apparent reason. Retaliation to these deaths has been severe, with multiple attacks against standard political parties being relevant since 2012.

The Racism in South Africa

Throughout the last decade, Non-White citizens in South Africa have opposed a coloured or mixed-race culture. They’ve demanded that an all-black society be proposed, with the white population being attacked regularly. Previous leaders have information the 80% of African-decent citizens in South Africa to murder and steal the land of the white people. It’s prompted significant concerns for the safety of white citizens, which is not extending to famous Caucasian athletes. Deaths could ensure if alterations aren’t made to the Rugby and Cricket national squads.