30 Years of professional rugby

Over the past 30 years, professionalism has revolutionised rugby, transforming it from a game rooted in tradition to a global sport driven by performance, commerce, and media. Players are now faster, stronger, and better prepared than ever, with scientific training, tactical analysis, and year-round conditioning elevating standards to unprecedented levels. The global calendar, high-stakes competitions, and financial rewards have expanded the game’s reach and profile dramatically.

However, the amateur ethos—built on camaraderie, loyalty, and a deep sense of community—has been diluted. The game was once a brotherhood where club and country pride outweighed contracts; today, player movement, commercial pressures, and short-term performance often overshadow long-term development and identity.

Is the game better? In many ways, yes—technically and commercially. Players are faster, stronger, and more skilled thanks to advanced sports science, nutrition, and coaching. The overall standard of play is higher than ever. The player earnings are at an all time high and many of our top players play rugby outside of South Africa. Japan and France lead the way when it comes to paying players. The game has expanded globally, with emerging nations like Japan, Georgia, Portugal and Chile making strides. Rugby is no longer confined to traditional powerhouses.

Clear career pathways now exist for players from school level to the professional ranks, providing real opportunities and financial security that were impossible in the amateur era. South Africa boasts the best schoolboy rugby system in the world, a powerful, deeply embedded culture that produces extraordinary talent year after year. From iconic interschool rivalries to world-class coaching structures and passionate community support, our schoolboy system is a pipeline that consistently feeds the national game. The challenge and the opportunity lies in how we nurture and develop this foundation. With better alignment between schools, unions, franchises, and national structures, we can not only retain more of our top talent but also broaden the base of participation and excellence. The future of South African rugby depends on how well we protect and evolve this unrivalled schoolboy ecosystem

The women’s game has grown rapidly internationally, with increased investment, professionalism, and visibility, inspiring a new generation of players and fans.

Digital innovation, enhanced broadcasting, and fan engagement tools have transformed how supporters interact with the game—on and off the field.

There is a greater focus on concussion protocols, workload management, and mental health shows a growing commitment to player wellbeing.

An area where we have fallen short is having a structured and transparent transfer market, much like football to grow, professionalise, and sustain our beautiful game. A well-regulated transfer system would incentivise talent development, reward clubs and academies for nurturing players, and create new commercial opportunities across the rugby ecosystem. By introducing mechanisms like transfer fees, and player trading windows, rugby can build a more sustainable economic model, reduce player poaching, and create a clear value chain from grassroots to the professional game. If we want rugby to thrive globally, we must embrace innovation and a formal transfer market is a crucial step forward.

And probably the most concerning state of our game is that, nearly 30 years after the sport turned professional, many national rugby unions and the majority of professional franchises continue to operate at a loss. This is not just unsustainable, it’s a warning signal. Despite rugby’s global popularity and deep cultural roots in countries like South Africa, New Zealand, France and the UK, the professional model has yet to consistently generate financial stability. If the game is to grow or even survive at the highest level, we need bold structural reforms, smarter commercial models, and a long-term commitment to building a more viable, global rugby economy.

Rugby has become more transactional and at times, soulless. The challenge now is to balance elite professionalism with the heart and humility that once defined rugby. After 30 years as an agent, I believe that preserving the spirit of the game while embracing its evolution is the key to its future.