ABSA, one of the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) biggest sponsors, are upset over several of the predominantly white teams in the Currie Cup.
News24
ABSA’s primary concern regards SARU’s “serious lack of commitment to transformation” which resulted in SARU president Oregan Hoskins sending a letter to all unions in which he requested the matter be dealt with.
In the letter, which was sent earlier this week to the provincial presidents of the 14 unions and executive heads and of whichBeeld has obtained a copy, Hoskins asked his members (provinces) to deal with the apparent lack of transformation with immediate effect.
Hoskins confirmed that ABSA, as current and future sponsors of rugby, are among other grievances, unhappy about the lack of transformation in rugby in South Africa.
ABSA sponsor the Currie Cup and will also be the new Springbok jersey sponsors after the current contract with Sasol expires at the end of the year, although this still has to be officially announced.
“Up until now only politicians complained about the lack of black players in our teams, but now, for the first time, a sponsor has also expressed concern,” wrote Hoskins.
“If our sponsors feel moved to get involved in this aspect of the game, it’s a clear cause for tremendous concern.”
Hoskins also confirmed in the letter that ABSA will be the new sponsors of the Springbok jersey.
“We recently signed a memorandum of understanding with ABSA to become the sponsors of our national team for the next five years.”
“The make-up of our teams therefore directly threatens our ability to keep the support of businesses,” warned Hoskins.
Hoskins singled out specifically the Lions, Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs.
The letter went on to state that Johan Prinsloo, executive head of SARU, recently also raised the issue of transformation in a letter to the unions.
Happy Ntshingila, ABSA’s executive director for marketing and corporate affairs, said the company supports SARU’s attempts to promote transformation in rugby, reports Daniëlla du Plooy.
“As sponsors we would like to see the acceleration of transformation in rugby and we will support all attempts to get this going,” Ntshingila said.
Ntshingila praised SARU’s attempts to promote the sport in the townships.
“But we believe transformation can’t be limited to the playing field, it has to reach every level of society,” he concluded.
Oi, saw this and hoped it would be avoided here on R-T.
I can guarantee you that if there were enough POC’s of good quality they would be playing. The unfortunate truth is that there are too many Bolla Conradie’s, Solly Tybilka’s, Ricky Januarie’s and not enough Gurthro Steenkamps, Mvovo’s, Mapoe’s and Ashley Johnson’s.
Sadly this is building up slowly but surely.
Just look at the timing, a year before the WC. We are now vulnerable and the vultures will attack.
I really did not count at anytime the demographics , but i think that when the calculations are finished a few people will be surprised at the Bulls numbers.
Jy kannie fLokken transformasie rush nie, as daar nie genoeg talent is nie, se vir die governmanet hulle moet bleddie rugby velde bou by al die donnerse skloe wat nie rugby velde het nie.
F@k ABSA !!!!
@ Blouste:
Jy is sommer vroeg al agro, n k@k Vrydagie vir my pel?
Valke 18-15
Halftyd
Having just resigned as a “white” chairman at a “coloured” club in Johannesburg I think I know a thing or two surrounding this issue and would like to comment as follows.
Firstly, at our club we banished the term “transformation” from the vocabulary. The fact is that transformation is a natural consequence of DEVELOPMENT.
If Rugby Development is handled correctly across the sport, those players, coaches, referees and administrators that are directly involved in the development will naturally grow into positions relative to their abilities and will never be in a position where anyone could accuse them of being a “quota”, an “AA” appointment or any other derogatory term, purely because they would be worthy of their position.
I don’t for one moment insinuate that the current crop of “previously disadvantaged” people at the top of the Rugby food chain aren’t there on merit, quite the opposite (for the most part). However I do contest that most of the “non-white” players currently playing Provincial and National Rugby are anything but “previously disdavantaged”, having gone to elite schools and been “fast tracked” through the ranks to where they are now.
How many “non-white” Provincial players come from the squatter camps that blight this country, or even just some of the sprawling townships? Not many I’ll wager.
In 1995 SARU (or whatever they were then) had a golden opportunity to take the issue by the scruf of the neck and really do some grass roots development. The whole of the Nation loved Rugby and would gladly have grasped the Rugby olive branch. Unfortunately it never happened.
Opportunity came knocking again in 2007. Again no real action from SARU.
For Mr Hoskins to now stand up and start “spouting off” is just typical of SARU, and in my opinion shows the contempt with which they view the fans that ultimately keep them in a job.
In the 5 years that I was involved with the club NOT ONE CENT was ever received from SARU to help towards Rugby development!
As far as the GLRU and Club Rugby Development is concerned, the last visit by any member of the GLRU’s management, coaching staff or Exco’ to our club during either a prcatice or a match was by………..Frans Ludeke before he joined the Bulls!
Enough said.
Nee wat super.
Hierdie goed begin my nou net af te pis…
As almal kwansuis gelyk is waarom al die k@k ?
Se dan eerder reguit..kyk dit is hoe sake staan. Maar nee, aag kom ons los dit eerder.
Twee tree vorentoe, drie agteruit !!!
“Currie Cup too white” what a racist thing to say…shame on you ABSA
@ bos_otter:
ABSA to red to my liking….
Funny, they don’t care to flap their traps about Bafana Bafana being almost just black…..
Today, Tomorrow, Together……..
This really get’s under my skin….pathetic ABSA!!! making statements like this.
Skoothondjie Hoskins….loop om almal se bene en pis pis pis!! nes n bangat hond.
@ bos_otter:
Hulle beskerm hul besigheid deur weer op die bandwagon te klim, kyk maar hoe hulle nou die regte uitsprake maak.
Die worrying thing is hulle begin klaar na die groen en goud kyk.
@ superBul: so word ons stelselmatig afbreek… spul inhalige kliks@ms nie…..wil net he he he….en sommer op n silver skinbord ook.
Gelukkig is ek nie by ABSA nie, plaas kyk hulle na mens se geld, nou kyk hulle na ander klomp dinges…..lol
Maar dan weer, wat verwag mens van die berig, dis nou nie dat ‘n vd Merwe of so die ding stellings maak nie, dis ‘n Ntshingila.
Maar ja, mens sal nooit niks hoor oor Bafana wat te donker is nie, ens….Politiek is sport maak my phokking NAAR.
Stadig manne… onthou HOEKOM hierdie blog weggebreek het van Voldy af.
Natuurlik pla die goed (uitsprake) ons, of baie van ons…. maar ons moenie in die strik trap hier wat ons juis wil vermy nie.
SA Rugby is not considering reverting to the quota system following pressure from sponsors for greater “black representivity” in the Currie Cup, says president Oregan Hoskins.
“We’re not even thinking about quotas,” Hoskins told the Cape Argus on Friday. “We’re just asking the question of the five big unions – which is where the Springboks come from – are you doing as much as you can for transformation? The nine other (provincial) unions don’t seem to have a problem.”
I tell you mister Hoskins this 5 big Unions have the money to buy the best. If you look at their results you can see why they will smash any of those small 9 Unions.
Scrumdown, thanks for your enlightened posting born of personal experience.
@ grootblousmile:
Ek stem saam dat ons nie beledigend raak nie, kyk maar net dat ons die ding reg aanpak. In n opvolg berig op IOL lyk dit of Hoskins nie die vyand van ons gemaak moet word nie.
@ grootblousmile: ja GBS….help nie as ons manne by die Vrystaat dros of afgekoop word omdat omdat hulle nie genoeg betaal word nie 🙂 ons vat maar wat ons krr 🙂
politiek en sport is veronderstel om nike met mekaar te doen te he nie….
Thanks Gbs, I have no problem discussing politics even though my own position will differ radically from some of my R-T friends here. But do we really need the political soap box here if it only serves to divide us?
22@ fender:
It is indeed an enlightened comment from someone who has lived through it.
I remember, when I was involved with SARSU (South African Rugby Supporters Union) in what plight the Soweto Rugby Club was for the simple things like tackle bags, jerseys and just simple transport money to go play against the Zebra’s from Bethlehem…
Like Scrumdown suggests, money and resources for grass-roots development is simply absent, and that is so sad.
26@ fender:
Indeed, we should focus on the stuff that unites us….
Any of you see this initiative last night on Boots & All:
http://www.blood-brothers.co.za/
By favouring one group over another you merely perpetuate the problem and the group that has the short end of the stick will not willingly pass on their skills and knowledge…fact. Affirmative action was kicked to touch in the USA and UK years ago, because it doesnt work. People must advance on their own recognisance. 16 years later and the problem is nowhere near being solved, in fact the standard of administration is dropping. Social manipulation does not work, apartheid taught us that and so did communism. There is a hidden agenda in my opinion, why now just before the world cup. Look no further than the senior directorship of ABSA and you will see the answers there.
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