Strauss believes Bulls are on course to new golden era
Just like role players in other spheres of society were talking about opportunities to "reset" during the Covid-19 crisis, the Blue Bulls president also believes that administrators and players have made good use of the action-free time over the past five months to prepare for the Bull's new golden era.
The Covid-19 crisis has hurt sports teams and tournaments around the world and South Africa’s most successful rugby franchise, the Bulls, is no exception. Yet the president of the Blue Bulls believes that the popular team of Loftus Versfeld will emerge stronger from this crisis and that the team’s next golden era is on the horizon.
On and off the field, many things have changed dramatically since Strauss was elected acting president in March 2018 following the resignation of Gert Wessels.
Strauss immediately started making his mark on amateur rugby. Sponsors have been recruited for club leagues, new trans-provincial tournaments have been established and opportunities have been created for club players to play at a representative level again.
Club rugby is relevant again these days and the gap between top club players and some professional leagues such as the SuperSport series and even Currie Cup rugby has been dramatically reduced.
In the meantime, under Strauss’ leadership, work has begun to set up all the resources and structures of the Blue Bulls rugby union and the Blue Bulls Company in such a way that the whole system can work together in unison.
This strategy includes the management of schools (primary and secondary schools), juniors and clubs working together towards a common goal. Talent development and the re-establishment of elite squads at different age levels among school players is also part of it.
Shortly after Strauss’ position as president was strengthened when he was elected to that position for a four-year term in October 2018, the process also began to restructure the administration at Loftus Versfeld.
After years of dissatisfaction and urgent questions about the way the Bulls’ affairs were managed at all levels, the abscess of alleged mismanagement and corruption was scratched open and thoroughly investigated. This led to a dramatic change in the structures and a new administrative and management culture at Loftus.
The consequent financial damage that the Bulls suffered under the administrative shortcomings in the previous dispensation was largely addressed when financial stability was brought to both the Blue Bulls Company and the Blue Bulls Rugby Union last year, with the mediation of Strauss. This was made possible by a transaction in which two of South Africa’s top businessmen, Johan Rupert of Remgro and Patrice Motsepe of African Rainbow Minerals each acquired a 37% share in the Blue Bulls Company.
Although Strauss initially received opposition from some amateur role-players, he believes the financial stability the Bulls experienced during the Covid-19 crisis convinced many doubters that this was the right strategy.
“The union is still in charge of important assets such as Loftus Versfeld and all forms of amateur rugby, where the game is truly developed. But with the difficult climate in which we have to compete internationally – in whatever league – we can now concentrate again on attracting top-class players and coaches for our mission to be a world-class rugby brand due to our stable financial situation,” Strauss explained.
With the danger of financial collapse and bankruptcy averted, the new management were able to start chasing their last big goal before they were satisfied that the Bulls were ready to become South Africa’s top Rugby franchise again.
According to Strauss, from a rugby point of view, they knew that excellence and a competitive team on the field would only be achievable with the help of a world-class coach/rugby director.
“I firmly believe we found that man in Jake White,” Strauss told Rekord last week.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have begun preparations for the resumption of the 2020 season, which according to indications is likely to materialize by mid-September.
At this stage it looks like there will be two local tournaments for the Bulls this year. First, the four SuperRugby teams (Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers) will tackle each other in a single round Super-tournament, after which another single-round phase will be played in the Currie Cup tournament, which will also feature teams such as the Cheetahs, Kings, Pumas and Griquas.
Currently it appears that there will not be a Super Rugby tournament early next year and it seems that another local competition will again be South African’s fate early in 2020. This situation, of course, allows for large-scale changes to the rugby calendar, which could mean the deletion of the SuperRugby tournament as it has existed until now.
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