The people who own the Western Stormers super rugby franchise also own English champions, Saracens in London.

In their quest for a dual hemisphere double, they have recruited Schalk Brits back into the Stormers squad to play the Crusaders in the semi-final of the southern hemisphere’s biggest rugby prize.

It’s not surprising that players need to be drafted in as injury cover when squads get depleted in what can be a brutal rugby competition.

The Crusaders called on Brent Ward who was playing club rugby in Auckland after returning from a 3 year stint in France.

I guess it is a little surprising when it involves players who have left the country, signed with another team and are still with that team. Players of the class of Schalk Brits – an exceptional athlete.

In most instances the club who holds a players’ contract is never going to release them to play for another team regardless of whether they are in a different competition even if it is the off-season.

This is where it pays off to own a team in a different competition. Not only are there additional playing resources but players remain ‘in the system’ – they are not lost to a foreign club in a foreign competition. They are still around and available to switch hemispheres.

As part of his Saracens contract ex-All Black Chris Jack was required to play a Currie Cup season for Western Province before he could come home. He made a significant contribution to the team, strengthening their tight five and scoring a try in his first 20 seconds of play.

In the late 1990s Auckland was involved in serious talks with Blackheath – then in the English second division. Auckland coach Graham Henry took training sessions at the Kent-based club and 1-2 players travelled between the countries for experience.

I was at Blackheath the next season after a promising young English player had spent the (English) summer playing for the Auckland colts and living with Craig Dowd. Then Auckland player John Ratcliffe was put up by Blackheath to play in the English second division.

No deal was reached but the theory was sound – to extend the playing and coaching resources of a strong rugby organisation by reaching out to the northern hemisphere.

It looks like it is paying dividends for both the Stormers and Saracens.