This comes due to the uncertainty of South Africa’s participation in Super Rugby. The global Covid-19 pandemic has not helped matters any, and in fact, it’s added to the uncertainty.

The understanding is the South Africa Super Rugby franchises are preparing to head north as opposed to playing against the best team from Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

Claassen agrees that South African teams must consider moving north as it would make logistical and financial sense.

The Schweizer-Reneke-born Claassen, who has no affiliation to the Free State, told OFM Sport that a plan must be made to include the Cheetahs.

“I think it’s ludicrous to kick them out or replace them,” said Claassen who represented the then Northern Transvaal and Natal in his playing days.

“They’ve been there for three years now and they have done pretty well.

“Apart from that, the Free State or the Cheetahs is a feeding ground for all South African rugby. If you look at the quality of that players over the years that have come through Grey College and the Cheetahs, who went to other provinces and became well-known over there.

“I believe that they are actually a very important factor in South African rugby. You must accommodate the Cheetahs. They must make another plan or they must sit down with the guys from Europe and make sure you accommodate all of our teams.

“The problem team is the Southern Kings. I understand the Kings from a political point of view. The feeding ground for black rugby is in the Eastern Cape. That is quite important as well.

“Why can’t we have an extra team? That’s the thing that they have got to work out. If Europe wants us so badly then they’ve got to restructure their competitions to accommodate us as well.”

In 2017 the Cheetahs, Southern Kings and the Perth-based Western Force were booted out of the Super Rugby when it was decided to reduce the number of teams from 18 to 15.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport