"Old-school" Jake White firmly against Springboks joining Six Nations

South Africa are currently committed to Sanzaar until the end of 2025, which means their participation in the Rugby Championship thereafter is very much up in the air.

That has led to rumours of the Boks possibly joining the Six Nations, which, unlike the Rugby Championship, has its games take place in the same time zone as South Africa.

White was quizzed on the Springboks˜ future after his side, the Bulls, had defeated Bristol Bears 31-17 in the Champions Cup and was firm in his view on the matter.

"I'm an old-school guy. I can't see that you can ever have South Africa playing Six Nations," the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning head coach said to reporters.

"I look back at games, and you find memories of guys such as JPR Williams, who [recently] passed away. I can't see South Africa playing in the Six Nations."

The director of rugby added: "I don't know, so many things have changed in rugby, and hopefully we will hang on to that Six Nations is for the six nations that play in the north."

The Bulls left Super Rugby and, along with the Lions, Sharks and Stormers, feature in the United Rugby Championship, with the Cheetahs involved in the Challenge Cup.

That has understandably led to talk that the Springboks could follow suit and join the northern hemisphere's international schedule, which White admits he is wary about.

"Once you start bringing [in] South Africa, what is stopping you from bringing [in] New Zealand and Australia and all that sort of thing? Then it's not the Six Nations," he said.

"As an old-school guy, I hope it won't happen. I'd probably get killed for saying that back home."

This year's Six Nations kicks off on Friday, February 2 with France hosting reigning champions Ireland before Italy face England and Wales host Scotland on Saturday.

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