How Canada's 'One Squad' philosophy could transform SA

THE Springbok Women are hard at work in their latest high-intensity training camp, with Wednesday marking 100 days until the Rugby World Cup kicks off in England.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The squad was joined at the weekend by sevens players who did duty in the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Los Angeles.

A number of those players have had to juggle a demanding schedule as they yo-yo between the two formats throughout the season.

This can be extremely disruptive to players and management teams. While the South African national teams are not unique in this regard, there is a potential solution.

Canada Women's rugby uses a One Squad philosophy, which means a single group of players is selected for both the XVs and Sevens teams, enabling players to potentially compete in both formats.

The system aims to unify and align the entire Canadian rugby ecosystem, from players to coaches, fans, and administrators, to create a stronger, more connected rugby community and ultimately, a more successful national team.