South Africa will be absent from the 38th edition of the World Rugby Classic when it starts at North Field, National Sports Centre, tomorrow.

Classic Springboks, seven-times winners of the event, have been one of the more popular teams since the tournament started in 1988. They made a strong impact in the last three editions, winning the Plate in 2023 and the overall title in 2024 before finishing runners-up last year.

John Kane, the Classic president, explained that the exclusion of the South Africans was down to budget constraints.

“We dropped South Africa for financial reasons,” Kane told The Royal Gazette.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to deal with airlines going up by 40 to 50 per cent and hotel rates going up by pretty much the same level over the years.

“We cut back to six teams last year and left out South Africa this year as we cannot afford eight teams, but they’ll definitely be back next year.”

Last year, when teams were reduced from eight to six, a round-robin format was adopted, with the six teams playing three matches each and the side topping the table declared winners of the tournament.

The same structure is in place this year, with Classic Canada, Classic Eagles, Italian Classic XI, Classic Lions, France Classic Rugby and champions Argentina Legends in action three times apiece. Whoever is on top at the conclusion of the round robin will be crowned champions.

“We are a playing on a league basis,” Kane said.

“Whoever has the most points at the end of the week is the winner of the tournament.”

There has been a change in the Classic Lions squad, with Wales legend George North unable to make it for the annual tournament.

“George North is no longer coming,” Kane added.

“He got an offer to go and coach or something like that. It’s at one of the clubs in England and they wanted him straight away.”