Fiji fever hits Cape Town
19 Apr 2006
Western Province Director of Rugby Nick Mallett is in Fiji on a shopping expedition, confident of luring talented Fijian players to Cape Town.
Mallett confirmed to the Fiji Times that the province was looking at six players, between the age of 17 and 20, to relocate to the Western Province Academy and hopefully to play for Western Province, the Stormers and Springboks.
The Fijian factor is something Mallett has focused on for the past year and he also believes that if Auckland and the like can lure Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players then why can’t Cape Town?
It is an action that will no doubt be seen negatively by some, but it is one that should be applauded. It is long overdue and finally someone has done more than talk about it.
Australia and New Zealand have for years tapped into the Island resources, why not South Africa?
Mallett returns to South Africa at the weekend and he expressed confidence that there was enough talent to identify six promising players, who in three to five years could be playing for the Boks.
520 Comments
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19 Apr 2006, 09:35 am
So Nick is following the lead taken by Rudi Streauli in recruiting Island players. Hardly the first in SA to do something like this.
19 Apr 2006, 09:36 am
Oh Boy
This will create enough political fallout to keep this site buzzing for the next few months.
19 Apr 2006, 09:37 am
This is an insult to all the coloured youngsters in the cape.
19 Apr 2006, 09:40 am
Nick Mallet is a fool if he is doing what is reported.
Worse, he is squandering valuable resources in not developing talent on his own back door – where ever that may be.
19 Apr 2006, 09:40 am
The Crime will pick up again after this
19 Apr 2006, 09:42 am
A serious question:
Will the Fijians qualify as players to fill up the quotas?
19 Apr 2006, 09:45 am
Do Fijians qualify as players of colour
19 Apr 2006, 09:47 am
No they dont, not that it matters cos our ‘white’ players are playing just as shite as any newcomer regardless of colour. I think its a great idea. I was suggesting this to some mates on the weekend. We should also look to Argentina.
Now we have to lure some oldies at the end of their careers and the local boys can skrik wakker and start playing for their spots.
19 Apr 2006, 09:47 am
Thanks for duplicating there Coach – no-one would have seen my question
19 Apr 2006, 09:48 am
DotDan…Huh?
19 Apr 2006, 09:49 am
That would be blatant poaching.
Pacific Islanders play for NZ because many of them were born in NZ, most of the others arrived when they were just toddlers. VERY FEW already established players (i.e Pacific-island raised or more specifically those who learnt their rugby in Polynesia as opposed to NZ)have turned out for NZ. I can think of just two – Joeli Vidiri who played just one test and Sivivatu who at least did a couple of years in a NZ high school.
But to approach already established young island raised Polynesians and lure them to SA is a waste of time and money and as Stan points out an insult to homegrown SA players, many of whom would have very limited earning power outside of rugby.
Com on Nick, SA deserves better.
19 Apr 2006, 09:49 am
Joesox – havnig a team with two distinct mother tongue groups is one thing, but now you want to add Spanish over and above what the Fijians speak!
The line-outs would be a mess!
19 Apr 2006, 09:50 am
You beat me to it Dingman
19 Apr 2006, 09:51 am
No they will not be regarded as quota players. The objective of the quota system is to provide non-white South Africans with opportunities.
The fact that Fijians are dark in complexion is completely irrelevant. Had the foreign players been Argentinians, French, Canadians, etc they would also not have been regarded as quota players.
19 Apr 2006, 09:52 am
Dingman & Coach
If they did, the whole system would be a joke. So on that basis alone I very much dount they would qualify.
The first test would be Nick actually found someone or three and they THEN progressed to being internationals.
I have already given my opinion on his supposed idea/plan – so advancing to Bok level will never happen.
19 Apr 2006, 09:53 am
What a shambles SA rugby is becoming, youre telling me WP /Stormers / SA Rugby is unable to find
six south african ( any colour) 17year olds that can be put into a development program to prepare them for professional rugby.
We dont want islanders playinging for the Boks PERIOD
19 Apr 2006, 09:54 am
I say bring them – it’s obvious that WP lacks in the homegrown talent department. Sone of the backline players also seriously lack in the size department. Good on you Nick
19 Apr 2006, 09:54 am
stan,
i think you have insluted the coloured youth in the cape more since i have been hanging around here.
i agree i think wp are have not done enough to develop and keep the vast amount of talent at their doorstep.
rugby is a profesional game. it is common in other preofessional sporting codes for clubs/franchises to open-up academies in and recruit talent from other cities/countries. this will become more prevelant in rugby as the sport matures in its proffesionalism. wp, though, are from from having exhausted the talent at their disposal.
physiologically west africans are similar to pacific islanders. big, strong, explosive. i think someone should focus their efforts there. we would also be helping to grow the game on our continent
19 Apr 2006, 09:54 am
So does the quota system refer to non white or disadvantaged people
19 Apr 2006, 09:55 am
I think this is worth a shot. 99% of our players of colour are just not good enough. It’s as simple as that… eg If Quinten Davids was white he would have never played for the Boks.
19 Apr 2006, 09:57 am
Brads I hear you – but isn’t is also true that say a Nigerian who comes to SA and acquires residency is within the purview of AA legislation?
19 Apr 2006, 09:57 am
I think it’s a good idea. It is a proffessional game, so keep up with the times.
19 Apr 2006, 09:57 am
Guys,
The fact that Fijians are dark in complexion should not even be regarded as a factor.
Nick Mallet is clearly sending out the message that he feels we lack quality players (black or white). Hence he is shopping abroad. Its not a colour issue but rather a perceived quality issue.
19 Apr 2006, 09:58 am
Bigg
And if you were black you would have. Eh?
19 Apr 2006, 09:58 am
Good question Coach
19 Apr 2006, 09:58 am
IT’S ABOUT A PERCEIVED LACK OF QUALITY NOT COLOUR!!!!!
19 Apr 2006, 10:00 am
Nick Mallet has always had the opinion that our home grown players are not big and quick enough. We simply do not have backline players that are well over 100kg, 6ft 3 plus and can gallop at sub 11 sec over the 100m with skills to match. We are equal in the forward exchanges but our backline play and players are a mess. If Aus or NZ can do it then why can’t we. What about our home grown coloured, black or white players? Well they should start stepping up to the plate!
19 Apr 2006, 10:00 am
Saffa_Guy you are quite right, but I think the issue of quotas is an inextricable part of SA rugby so that question has to be addressed. No-one has said or even implied that the black WOP players are not good enough
19 Apr 2006, 10:00 am
people are just fixated with race on this board
19 Apr 2006, 10:01 am
Also, we claim to want to help raise the standard of rugby in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga so that they become more competitive in test rugby and perhaps one day be included in a regional competition. But at the same time we reckon it’s perfectly acceptable for us (and NZ and Oz) to snap up all the best ones on a shopping spree to strengthen our ranks.
We alll agree our brain drain of skilled workers to western countries is detrimental to our economy. But it’s fine in sports when you’re on the receiving end?
19 Apr 2006, 10:01 am
If quota refers to disadvantaged players then Habana cannot be classified as a quota. His father is super rich
19 Apr 2006, 10:02 am
Saffa_guy what’s wrong with asking whether the Fijians will qualify as qoutas?
19 Apr 2006, 10:02 am
Coach,
Post #19
My understanding is that quota refers to non-white South African (due to our history the traditionally and generally disadvantaged sector of society).
For example Jason Robinson would not be regarded as a quota player should he ply his trade in SA.
19 Apr 2006, 10:03 am
Even if Nick Mallet was successful in luring talented youngsters from the Island’s – it wouldn’t be hard considering the economies they would be leaving.
But expecting to turn them into professional sportsmen while living in SA is a real hoot.
Maybe 1 in 10 will come through. But that requires very deep pockets to get results. And then we are only talking about S14 level.
19 Apr 2006, 10:04 am
Dingman,
Nothing wrong with asking buddy. Just did not want another thread turning into a race issue … and this coming from me the local left wing militant
Apologies if i came across as being aggro ..
19 Apr 2006, 10:04 am
Mr_rugga_luva, what did you expect in a society where the colour of one’s skin is entrenched in numerous laws? Obviously if will become a focal point of discussions!
19 Apr 2006, 10:05 am
This is not a bad move by Mallet. Imagine having a Rocococo, Tiquirie and Caucanibuca in our national team. Forget about the politics involved here. It’s good for the game of rugby in South Africa. Another thing I’ve noticed is the WP team to play the Eagles this week end. Huia Edmonts is starting off the bench. What was the purpose of luring him to Cape Town if he is only second best in the Vodacom cup? I also see Shandre Frolick is starting the game at full back. I’m very pleased to see that he’s back. Gio Aplon at flyhalf??? Interesting!!!! I’m all for the Island players moving here. Again forget about politics. It’s great for our game, including sevens.
19 Apr 2006, 10:06 am
Atully…
That is it. The Polenisian (spelling) players are more gifted than us in the speed and size dept, thats why he is there and not looking for A 60kg Earl Rose…
19 Apr 2006, 10:06 am
Saffa_guy I know what you mean, but like I said, race and qoutas are part and parcel of SA life. We cannot just expect people to ignore it
19 Apr 2006, 10:09 am
If thats the case then the quota system is not achieving its objective
19 Apr 2006, 10:09 am
Wat van Samoane? Kom Lomu nie daarvan nie? Daar is ‘n paar groot menere wat daar rondloop en kan daai manne tackle???
19 Apr 2006, 10:09 am
dingman, i agree. but often people put an ethnicity angle on something even though it has nothing to do with it. nothin in the rport uggested anything about race or quotas but just because fijians are dark skinned the people on this board made it about race. its common sensical to me that fijians would not qualify as “quota players”, but then again common sense is not really that common
19 Apr 2006, 10:10 am
so Coach it seems from what Saffa_Guy says, that once the Fijians get their citizenship the coaches can tick them off as qoutas. What a strange, if not mind boggling situation indeed.
19 Apr 2006, 10:11 am
Coach,
Please explain …
19 Apr 2006, 10:11 am
Sniff the salts guys
Number 1 – Anyone who is not a BLACK SA does not qualify as a quota player. For goodness sakes, Coloured’s don’t even fit the bill. So forget about that issue.
Number 2 – PI’s are family people. Unless Mallet is prepared to relocate the players extended family as well, then he will be wasting his time.
19 Apr 2006, 10:12 am
Yip this sounds like a good thing if the kiwi’s and convicts can do it why can’t sa do it?
19 Apr 2006, 10:13 am
Solank hulle net forwards is of wat van ‘n afrigter vanaf Fiji?
19 Apr 2006, 10:13 am
I understand you Mr_Rugga_Luva (Shabba Ranks?)
But it’s a bit like putting up a post on Tom Cruise’s new movbie and then not expecting the discussion to drift onto his strange behaviour like his recent vow to eat Katies placenta and ambilical cord
19 Apr 2006, 10:15 am
I did not read through all the comments as I am a bit tied up for time today, so my apologies if someone already asked this…
keo, serious question, how can you say this must be applauded?
Sure, scouting for talent is the way to go but I have two concerns here.
Wasn’t Mallet one of those guys that believed we have enough talent in SA to be the best?
Secondly, if we, as South Africa, want to develop rugby why not ‘scout’ for talent in the rest of Africa rather than the Pacific Islands?
Why not go and look for players in Namibia, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.?
Is it not South African rugby’s duty to promote rugby in Africa first, rather than promote rugby in the Islands?
The benefit of looking in Africa first is two-fold. The other countries are poor, the people are poor, they cannot afford the facilities and training available in SA. So to go out and get 6 talented youngsters in Africa will not only expose those kids to top quality training and facilities, but it will also equip them to become top players for their country and just maybe it will encourage other youngsters to take the game up.
Not all of them will play for the Boks, and if it was up to me, I would go as far as saying they should not be allowed to, we have enough talent within SA.
If they do decide however their future is here who can stop them, but the point is not only will we improve our local competition by getting really talented youngsters in from around Africa, but we will also promote the game in Africa.
I am sorry, I cannot applaud Mallet’s move, what benefit is there in getting islanders, what because the Kiwi’s and Ozzie’s are doing it we should too? Bullshit.
Why adopt their style of play, with their type of players? Why not go back to our traditions or establish the “African” brand of rugby, and not Stan that does not mean “Black” rugby
Point I am trying to make, we are forever trying to emulate or copy the Ozzies or Kiwi’s, we have lost our own identity, I will applaud Mallet if he positively contribute to that, creating our own identity and style of play.
19 Apr 2006, 10:16 am
Dingman,
The quota system is a mechanism used to address the imbalances created by our past. The Fijians are not subject to the imbalances of our past.
Please explain how it’s strange
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