I cannot help but think that people misunderstand the importance of a franchise in the Eastern Cape and what it will do for transformation in the game of rugby.
I am not surprised however, transformation has grown over the years to be the most hated word amongst rugby supporters for the blatant window dressing it created amongst rugby unions and SA Rugby in large. This in itself can be laid in front of the door of SA Rugby’s administration but that is a discussion for another day.
A large portion of the blame can also go to the guys from the Eastern Cape themselves for continually punting the transformation line to give their cause (to establish a franchise) some form of credibility.
They have a point which I will illustrate a bit later but the way they ‘market’ the region for inclusion into the lucrative Super rugby structures has been done all wrong in my view.
Rugby is an elitist sport, enjoyed mostly by white South Africans. This is thanks largely to the history of our country in the isolation days but one should never blame the love for the game amongst predominantly white people on anything other than what it is, a way of life.
I, like many other white South Africans grew up with rugby from the day I could walk. It was a way of life. It dominated my home life, my social life (with friends and family) and even today, my professional life. From playing with my brothers, cousins (boys and girls), friends and mates in the afternoon, during breaks at school and of course, as a sport while I was in school.
Saturdays was all about rugby. We had knitted jerseys my mom made with our favourite players number on it, my parents friends came over, a braai would be lit, us kids would play rugby in the garden to the amusement of the parents and then everyone would sit in front of the TV when it was game time – it was about the only time the kids were allowed in front of the television in the house with the parents!
It formed part of who I was, my culture, it is what I associated with and felt comfortable with. I identified my heroes and dreamed of one day go and do what they do. I loved the game then, and I still do.
And it is in this where I believe people get it wrong on just what rugby could mean for the black population in South Africa if we do succeed in establishing a franchise in the Eastern Cape.
Although times have changed dramatically in the last 20 years, the traditional big 5 rugby unions does not have a large black supporter following. Apart from the Boland and Western Cape area black rugby struggles in most areas where there is little interest in the game.
The Eastern Cape has always been touted as the ‘base’ or ‘hub’ for black rugby players in South Africa, and rightly so, figures will show you that the biggest concentration of clubs and players are from this region.
Where the region or administration of this region fails in my view however is where they do not seem to recognise that creating a franchise will not magically see an influx of black players to top level rugby, nor will we suddenly see 9 black rugby players selected for the Boks within a year.
What we could however create for the guys here, is something they can associate themselves with. A team which becomes part of their lives, a culture. Where else should we create a culture or association for black people than right where they live? Where most of their ‘heroes’ play the game, a place which they call home, mine, ours.
The biggest transformation coup SA Rugby could wish to achieve will be for the people of the Eastern Cape to start associating themselves with a team, a region, a brand, and their own bunch of heroes competing against the best South Africa has to offer and possibly our Antipodean cousins.
Anyone who thinks the purpose of an Eastern Cape franchise is an immediate fix to increase black playing numbers at top level rugby is living in cuckoo land. Establishing a franchise in the Eastern Cape will in fact in my view, rid us of the social engineering and cosmetic application of transformation in rugby in South Africa, where players and supporters won’t join, follow and play the game for any other reason that they now can associate themselves with something, or someone.
The mechanics surrounding building a franchise is simple in my view and something we discussed many times. With the correct administration there should be no reason why the Eastern Cape cannot build a successful rugby franchise.
Our fanatical support for rugby was born out of a culture where rugby is a religion, we need to do the same with the Eastern Cape, but firstly we must give them something to play for.
Good article Morne!
The issue here is that SA Rugby has made rugby in the country divisive by excluding the Eastern Cape in a Super Rugby franchise.
Firstly, they are in violation of their own Constitution by failing to uphold legal and binding agreements and Secondly, it is unheard of any where in the world for a parent sports body to deliberately exclude an entire geographical area from elite rugby.
We share the same sentiments here – May the best team win. It must only be about performance. Not for one game but consistency.
This is all about performance on the field and if a team can do it and prove that they play based on performance and that the appropriate relegation and promotion fixtures are in place to create an equal and fair tournament, let the best team advance.
Finally, SA Rugby have failed to author a coherent blueprint of rugby in South Africa for the next 5 and 10 years and the tournaments we have are a mish mash of dates and cobbled together from one year to the next, which is why we have these incessant problems.
Do the Master Plan and include everyone.
TonyM @31
Praat van die duiwel, en hier is jy wragtag!
Pas met Gwen gesels, btw.
Hoessit jou kant?
#30 Pietman
Ja, they already have a vibrant rugby culture down there and I agree with Morne about the importance of also having their homegrown heroes play down there every Saturday. You know the players and their backgrounds better than what I do, but it would be interesting to put together a home-grown Eatern Cape (comprising guys that learnt their rugby in the SWD/PE/Border and EC districts).
Ja, Pietman wat kan ek jou tog vertel omtrent politiek wat jy nie al self wetie. Politiek en eieregtigheid is mos ma dieselle woord ennis so deel vannie human faultline sosie Swart Suid-Oos deel is vannie Kaap. Nie een van daai twee kan weggewens wordie..
Ma dit beteken okie ons moet op ons gat sit en soos Van Hunk pyp rook samettie duiwel nie, of wat praat ek alles?
smallies72
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:36 AM
Smallies if we want to talk fairness then I can list 10 million things currently happening in SA RUgby which is unfair to those 3 unions if compared to other unions.
People continually highlight the likes of Griquas. Gents with respect to Griquas (because I love them and reckon Dawie is one of the most underrated coaches in SA) they benefit from their direct involvement with the central union franchise (Cheetahs).
That means financially and from a resource point of view.
The three EC unions has no such luck.
They cannot compete financially with the other unions in SA who are entrenched with Super rugby franchises either directly or indirectly (partnerships).
The problem then exists that if they play in the first division, sponsors are not interested (no brand exposure for them), with that comes no money, with no money comes no players of quality, with no players of quality they will never get out of the first division.
It is an evil circle and keeps on repeating itself.
The EC never wanted hand outs – even in the days of the Spears. They were willing to fight for their spot on the field, and that is still the case today. But as 3 seperate unions that will never happen. As a franchise, it just might…
fender
Nee, jy praat reg Capie, hehehehe!
Hoesit Pietman!
Kry jy Gwenn se Vrydag grappies?
Gunner,
Having experienced the insides of WP rugby (playing in earlier years), the club structures and the politics involved I can tell you some issues wrt the union is sick and politicised to the core of the union.
The problem with WP, as with the Lions, is that this sort of thing is almost a culture now.
The issues are historical in most cases too and it will be damn difficult for anyone to come in and make peace between different power players within the union on issues that has been raging for years.
IN short, it is gross incompetence.
The only thing that keeps WP rugby going in my view is their fans.
In a case like the Kings however, you get something that will be started from nothing, no history, no penis-envy – something brand new and people who will have a lot of hope not bothered by past problems or politics.
In WP, you will have to fix something first, before you can move forward.
You know what Nick Mallet’s parting words were as DIRECTOR OF RUGBY?
“My hands are cut off in this union”…
That from a Director of Rugby???
And of course, not to mention tapping into the talent of the EC which really excites me!!!
Tony@ 36
Ja, ek kry dankie.
Het haar n paar gestuur ook.
Maar altyd besig Vrydae hier, so ek is meesal laat et die antwoorde.
Snaakse meisiekind daai, Gwen!
#34 Morne – “with no money comes no players”
Jip, money makes the players go round while they’re still playing, and money makes the players grow round once they’ve stopped playing. 😉
Seriously, this thinking is in line with your franchise runs the unions concept, Morne – and I believe it has a lot of merit. But, getting around the vested interests will be the problem.
Do you or TonyM have any ideas of how we can tackle that problem?
#40 Fender
Fire the current SARU Administration!!! 😉
Seriously, I think we need strong leadership and vision from our rugby administration.
People that do not buckle under the pressure from the Big 5 unions and has the interest of the game (nationally) at heart.
There is simply too much politiking and backslapping going around at the moment.
There are millions of great ideas out there, but as long as our administration makes themselves guilty of gross incompetence and mismanagement, it will mean very little.
Tony has a lot of good ideas, ask him to publish a few for you – he knows the structures and problems inside out!
@ morny the kwas were allready a premier div team when the cheetahs were set up.my prob is that e.p.was one of the big 6 test unions and they destroyed themselfs .they MUST get themselfs back in to shape NO other way
#8, gbs
#29, fender
I may be young, but I’ve been in every province for a while. I’ve been in KZN for two years and stayed in the EC for a few months. I am most definitely aware of the interest in rugby in the EC, can’t say I agree about KZN though.
I was, however, talking about South Africa as a whole. Perhaps the interest in the EC is enough to put the Spears on the map, but from what I’ve seen their pockets aren’t deep enough to be blunt. Not trying to make a statement, just being realistic. This will force the brand to rely on funds created by shirt sales etc across the country., and I’m worried that there won’t be enough interest for them to have profits big enough to run a rugby-club equipped to take on the big boys. They will need a brilliant marketing team. I think Namibia is a market that needs to be looked at, really decent rugby-following there.
Corruption is something I will not go into, but it is most definitely something that will also play a huge part.
I was taking for granted that everyone around here knows about the support in the EC and that this doesn’t have to be referred to. It’s called common knowledge.
Not that my Cheetahs have a good marketing team. 2,5 trophies in the last four years and the stadium looks like that?
#44 My apologies then, Valk. And I’m glad you’ve seen EC for yourself.
Regarding the pockets not being deep enough: I believe that Morne and TonyM are suggesting that granting the EC a franchise will deepen the pocket.
Corruption is a world-wide phenomenon and knows no cultural or geographic boundaries.
#43
Before that, Cheetahs was also already part of Super rugby through the Cats…
#44,
Once the Kings or whoever is entrenched in a major comp, sponsors will fly onboard.
Brand exposure through television audiences…
Spears had sponsors lined up, but they are only willing to come on-board was entrenched in a competition (even the CC).
Current Kings DOR is willing to sign a 3 year contract but only if the Kings actually launches and gets entrenched in a competition.
It still amazes me how we think certain teams have a right to be included in Super rugby (through historical reasoning) and others not…???
Let the Kings fight their way to Super rugby entrenchment…
Let’s see what happens, if they can dig themselves out of a hole.
But shitting hell, at least give them a chance – something that has not happened yet.
48@morney and e.p ,border were part of the sharks and swd of the stormers.
#47 fender,
Yes, but it’s the scale of it that differs.
On a more positive note I truly hope this works out, as it would be great for the union and for rugby in general.
And it would (hopefully) shut a few politicians up, that’s enough reason on its own!
Morne,
It’s will not be as simple as all that, but I am sincere when I say that I wish them all the best.
They must be given a chance, it is a disgrace that they have to bitch and beg to be noticed.
#50
How long ago?
#51
Me too.
#50
And let’s be honest, that was about as practical as the Lions and Cheetahs partnership…
Once again Morne,
Good article, good read.
Hopefully something will be done to accomodate them, but I doubt it.
Morning all….my dad was part of EP rugby in the early 70’s….seems the more things change , the more they stay the same!
#54 fender,
What kind of name is ‘The Cats’ anyway. That was a nightmare.
With the fantastic draw we have for the Super 14 and with the experience the guys have gained, this must be our breakthrough year.
I am an optimist, so I am dreaming of the semis, but anything in the top half of the table would be fantastic.
Who do you support?
EP always sucked hind tit when it comes to rugby decision in SA…..They have a very strong school and club setup…but therafter something drastically goes wrong!
Sorry, 57 is directed to comment 47.
#57 Valk
I didn’t post #54 so I’m not sure whether you are talking to me or not.
For the record, I’m affie Kaap and I tend to support my own, hehe!!
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