We desperately try to stay clear of political content here on Rugby-Talk.com, however this week, after the loss by the Springboks to Los Pumas in Durban, it appears that another mini-storm has been brewing regarding the inclusion or non-inclusion of non-white players (such an ugly term in a new and supposedly democratic South Africa) in the Springboks.

Firstly it was reported that 5 Black Springboks (yet another unfortunate term in the new South Africa) have apporached trade union Cosatu about being sidelined in Test matches for the Springboks.

Then of course Cosatu, as we have come to know their standard methodology, responded about the supposedly racist choices of SA Rugby, condemning it and shouting from the rooftops.

Then there was the logical retort from SARU… not that it cleared matters up at all.

The Minister of Sport & Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, also jumped on board this discussion and seemed to be “the voice of reason” in this rather unfortunate circumstance, saying that South Africans must be patient with the pace of transformation in rugby in South Africa. From my side a small thank you to the Minister – good on you!

These political shannanigans always build on the discourse in South African traditional politics and fuel the devide, in stead of bringing harmony to this nation with so many possibilities.

I guess what I am asking myself, through all of this, is which other logical first choice Black Springboks merited 1st choice selection above their not so black peers?

Do we want the best team out there or do we want transformation tokens in our Springbok side?

To me it’s simple… do the transformation thing, but for goodness sakes, allow the Springbok coach to select the best Springbok squad out there, based on merit and merit alone, whether that squad only consists of White Springboks or only of Black Springboks or of a smattering of one and the other… the rest is immaterial to me!

South Africa will continue suffering the scurge of political debate about transformation in rugby, till a generation of players have come through the systems, where disadvantaged players have had access to proper facilities and an equal chance of progressing through the structures, rather than be fast-tracked through the systems and implimented as tokens or quotas (yet another very ugly phrase)! Of that I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever!

My plea to Government, Polititions, SARU, SASCOC, Trade Unions, Schools, Rugby Clubs, Provincial Unions and every South African is to promote and assist in the establishment of those critical facilities needed to achieve the goal of an equal chance to advance upwards… and then building that new generation of South African rugby players (a much better term for the new South Africa) to represent us at all levels of play.

To those polititions who use these issues for self-promotion and more racial devide, I hope your fingers turn into fish hooks and your nether private parts start itching uncontrollably! You know exactly who you are… yeah you too Tony Ehrenreich!

OK, that was my rather subdued rant for a Wednesday…

For clarity sake, below a few news articles on the matter, as it appeared in the media this week:

Springboks approach Cosatu over ‘all white’ team

Five black Springbok players have approached Cosatu to take up issues such as being sidelined in matches, the trade federation said on Monday.

Western Cape Cosatu chairperson Motlatsi Tsubane said two white Springboks had also “put their weight behind the matter” and felt not enough had been done to transform the team.

“Unfortunately for obvious reasons we are not in a position to give names because, at the end of the day, we still have to sit down and engage with them so they can give a clear overview of what is happening,” Tsubane said.

He said the players were afraid to speak out for fear of being victimised.

“In the days to come, we are going to set up a meeting with them.”

The Springboks lost 37 / 25 to Argentina in their final Rugby Championship Test in Durban on Saturday.

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich insisted that a more racially representative team be chosen for the next Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

(Sport24)

Cosatu condemns ‘racist choices’ of SA Rugby

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has condemned the “racist choices” of SA Rugby.

Cosatu, in a statement released on Tuesday, slammed the lack of transformation in SA rugby, suggesting that black players have been excluded to make place for Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s “white favourites”.

Cosatu’s press statement reads as followed:

The lack of black players in SA rugby teams have reached a crisis, with the latest choices of the team that lost to the Argentinians over the weekend. The team only had 2 black South African players in the starting line up. No other team could possibly perform worse than this team and we insist that a more representative team be picked for the next game against Argentinia. The performance next week of the mixed team should then lay to rest once and for all the obvious advantages of picking mixed teams. When we have clearly seen that the most mixed team [Stormers] had performed the best of all the SA teams in the Super 15 competition.

The coach played many of the white players out of their positions as he put them into specialist positions, where clearly there were black players available. When he does bring in a few black players, the quality of play changed; but too little too late. This adds insult to injury as the coach ignores the form players of the year as well as the form teams of the year in favour of his personal preferences. This Coach does not have the National interest at heart and demonstrates a sense of arrogance in disregarding the interest of the majority of South Africans, by treating SA rugby as his private fiefdom.

This coach has been the worst performing coach of all time over this tournament and yet not a word is spoken about this. When Coach De Villiers led the team the white establishment was quick to criticise him, yet there is a deafening silence now. There is a white cabal who still tries to control the Rugby team and who gets to play in it. They must be told in no uncertain terms that this Springbok team belongs to all South Africans and should reflect all South Africans.

There is a practice of reverse affirmative action in Rugby, where certain positions are still maintained for the white players. This maintenance and control of the white establishment is reflected in who gets the most lucrative contracts and who gets to continue on in the sport in leadership and administrative positions. Black Players have come to Cosatu to take up these issues for them, as they are often victimised when they raise it with the Rugby association. The Rugby establishment defends the privileged position of white players and the Captain Jean De Villiers is an example of this. Any other player anywhere else in the world would have to play himself back into the team after such a long absence, yet he gets to just walk back into the team, when he is clearly not the form player.

Cosatu calls on the Minister and the leadership of Rugby to stop pandering to this racist white interest represented and led by the Coach. We want the Coach removed and a more representative team selected that represents all the people of South Africa.  We need to get the nation behind the team and we certainly have a difficulty supporting a white team, when there are so many black players who are the form players in so many positions, excluded.  

This Rugby World Cup, Cosatu and the democratic sporting fraternity will take a stand against white control, domination and manipulation of the Rugby squad. We will make the issue about the exclusion of black players an International campaign to expose how certain sectors of South Africa refuses to transform, in line with the National ambition.

(Sport24)

SARU answers Cosatu

The South African Rugby Union has responded to the claims by the Congress of South African Trade Unions that the Springbok team is ‘too white’.

COSATU has come out all guns blazing in the wake of the Boks’ 25 / 37 loss to Argentina at the weekend – the first time the Pumas have beaten the Boks.

The trade union condemned what it called the “racist choices” of Bok coach Heyneke Meyer and demanded he immediately select more black players.

They also slammed the “white cabal” that sill runs the game.

There was also claims that five black players approached COSATU to take up issues such as being sidelined in matches.

Western Cape COSATU provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich insisted that a more racially representative team be chosen for the next Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The Springbok team management have referred all queries to SARU.

“SARU recently signed an MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] with the government and SASCOC on a strategic transformation plan for rugby,” a SARU spokesman told rugby365 in response to the COSATU outburst.

“Our focus now is on delivering on our understanding with them and we will continue to engage with sports leadership in the country on our progress.”

COSATU statement in full:

“Black Players Excluded to Make Place for Heynecke’s White Favourites.

“The lack of black players in SA rugby teams have reached a crisis, with the latest choices of the team that lost to the Argentineans over the weekend.

“The team only had 2 black South African players in the starting line up.

“No other team could possibly perform worse than this team and we insist that a more representative team be picked for the next game against Argentina. The performance next week of the mixed team should then lay to rest once and for all the obvious advantages of picking mixed teams.

“When we have clearly seen that the most mixed team [Stormers] had performed the best of all the SA teams in the Super 15 competition.

“The coach played many of the white players out of their positions as he put them into specialist positions, where clearly there were black players available.

“When he does bring in a few black players, the quality of play changed; but too little too late. This adds insult to injury as the coach ignores the form players of the year as well as the form teams of the year in favour of his personal preferences.

“This Coach does not have the National interest at heart and demonstrates a sense of arrogance in disregarding the interest of the majority of South Africans, by treating SA rugby as his private fiefdom.

“This coach has been the worst performing coach of all time over this tournament and yet not a word is spoken about this.

“When Coach De Villiers led the team the white establishment was quick to criticise him, yet there is a deafening silence now.

“There is a white cabal who still tries to control the Rugby team and who gets to play in it.

“They must be told in no uncertain terms that this Springbok team belongs to all South Africans and should reflect all South Africans.

“There is a practice of reverse affirmative action in Rugby, where certain positions are still maintained for the white players.

“This maintenance and control of the white establishment is reflected in who gets the most lucrative contracts and who gets to continue on in the sport in leadership and administrative positions.

“Black Players have come to COSATU to take up these issues for them, as they are often victimised when they raise it with the Rugby association.

“The Rugby establishment defends the privileged position of white players and the Captain Jean De Villiers is an example of this.

“Any other player anywhere else in the world would have to play himself back into the team after such a long absence, yet he gets to just walk back into the team, when he is clearly not the form player.

“COSATU calls on the Minister and the leadership of Rugby to stop pandering to this racist white interest represented and led by the Coach. We want the Coach removed and a more representative team selected that represents all the people of South Africa. We need to get the nation behind the team and we certainly have a difficulty supporting a white team, when there are so many black players who are the form players in so many positions, excluded.

“This Rugby World Cup, COSATU and the democratic sporting fraternity will take a stand against white control, domination and manipulation of the Rugby squad.

“We will make the issue about the exclusion of black players an International campaign to expose how certain sectors of South Africa refuses to transform, in line with the National ambition.” – Source: www.cosatu.org.za

(rugby365)

No quick fix to racial make-up of Boks – Mbalula

South Africans must be patient with the pace of transformation in the country’s national rugby side and will not be asking for more black players at the Rugby World Cup, sports minister Fikile Mbalula said.

The debate over racial quotas and transformation in the Springbok team flared up again in the wake of Saturday’s shock 37-25 home defeat to Argentina, with the country’s biggest trade union wading into the argument.

Two black players, Zimbabwe-born prop Tendai Mtwarira and experienced wing Bryan Habana, were included in coach Heyneke Meyer’s starting XV against The Pumas.

Flank Siya Kolisi, wing Lwazi Mvovo and prop Trevor Nyakane came off the bench.

Mbalula, a prolific user of Twitter, took to the social media platform to back the current set-up and suggest those frustrated cannot expect change “overnight”.

“Full transformation in rugby is not going to emerge overnight because we are going to the World Cup,” Mbalula said.

“I have (previously) addressed the transformation issues and I have gone a long way in doing so. We need a winning team that is black and white going to the World Cup.”

Issues around the racial make-up of the South African side have risen prior to every World Cup they have competed in – starting with their victory on home soil in 1995 when wing Chester Williams was the only non-white member of the squad.

The influential Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on South Africa to pick a more “mixed” team for Saturday’s Test in Argentina.

“No other team could possibly perform worse and we insist that a more representative team be picked for the next game against Argentina,” Cosatu said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The performance next week of the mixed team should then lay to rest once and for all the obvious advantages of picking mixed teams.

“The coach played many of the white players out of their positions… where clearly there were black players available.

“When he does bring in a few black players, the quality of play changed; but too little too late.

“There is a white cabal who still tries to control the rugby team and who gets to play in it.”

Up until 1992 black players were prohibited from playing for the Springboks when South African society was governed by Apartheid.

Sport24)