- Local franchises have been granted a small reprieve to cope with their depth issues in the upcoming Currie Cup by being allowed to temporarily have a group of 50 senior group players.
- The Bulls and Sharks are particularly in a pickle given their prospects of reaching the Rainbow Cup final.
- But that measure might not prove enough and franchises will likely have to delve in their club ranks too.
South Africa's PRO16 franchises have gained a small victory in their fight to cope with depth issues in the upcoming Currie Cup.
The Bulls and Sharks, notably, raised concerns over how they would cope with a double round of the domestic competition given the scheduling of the British & Irish Lions tour as well as future Springbok commitments.
Sport24 understands that, following discussions between relevant stakeholders, teams are allowed to temporarily increase their 45-man cap of senior players to 50.
The Bulls are predominantly concerned over potentially playing in the Rainbow Cup final on 19 June in Italy on the same weekend as the start of the Currie Cup.
That would necessitate having 46 players available to fill the two respective match squads, with their four Springboks - Duane Vermeulen, Marco van Staden, Trevor Nyakane and Morne Steyn - unavailable.
Furthermore, there's also the challenge of having to yank about 26 players out of the local system temporarily to fulfill the mandatory 10-day hard bio-bubble requirement before playing a tour match against the Lions.
The Sharks, who can also still clinch a spot in the north-south final, would be squeezed even harder as they have no less than nine players in the Springbok squad.
While the Durbanites have a bit of room to manouevre due to a few of their contracted players being players of national interest - which don't count towards the 45-man cap - and are, according to Rapport, eyeing moves for Bongi Mbonambi, Lionel Cronje, Lourens Adriaanse, Tinotenda Mavesere and Etiennie Janeke.
But they would still be stretched to fill multiple squads.
Back at Loftus, the Bulls will capitalise on their vibrant club rugby scene to fill some of their gaps.
Given that local contracting regulations prevent unions from offering deals to players for less than a year, inviting club players is a shrewd and necessary move.
A prominent Bulls official confirmed on Saturday that eight club stalwarts will join the franchise's Currie Cup preparations.
Hooker Sidney Tobias, son of former Bok pivot Errol, has been confirmed as one of the attendees.
Several other former first-class players are currently performing with distinction on Pretoria's club circuit such as former Kings wing Andell Loubser, Junior Springbok Vaughen Isaacs and speedster Kefentse Mahlo.
Seasoned prop Hencus van Wyk is also back from Japan and turned out for Naka Bulls before getting a short-term contract from the Cheetahs.