Saru’s new transformation charter
26 May 2006
South Africa’s rugby bosses on Friday formally adopted a transformation charter designed to significantly increase the number of black people involved in the sport.
SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskens told a media briefing in Cape Town that SARU’s President’s Council had given its blessing to the “scientifically-based” seven page document, Sapa reported.
He said the charter aimed to bring about transformation in a “true and holistic” way by ensuring equitable access at all levels to resources including finance, support services, and participation
opportunities.
It also sought to promote the game in all communities in order to extend rugby’s participation and support base.
A “scorecard” mechanism would be used to monitor progress towards these goals. The charter commits all Saru components to develop a “culture of rugby” that includes ensuring facilities are provided close to where people live, that clubs are established or rekindled in communities, and that rugby increases its share of overall sport participation at school level.
It also commits them to “work tirelessly towards the eradication of institutionalised racism in rugby”. In an apparent reference to quotas, it says the transformation process will involve “the dual application of the principles of universality and merit until the ‘playing fields’ are levelled”.
Asked what the charter would mean for the overwhelmingly white Springbok team, Hoskens said the Boks would always be an area of major importance.
“But what we’re saying is that transformation doesn’t start or end with representivity in the national team or senior provincial teams.
“Transformation is an enduring issue which needs to be tackled properly, holistically and really methodically.”
He said the quota system that was introduced in rugby at senior levels had been criticised as being extremely negative and detrimental to the quota players themselves.
“So officially South African rugby doesn’t have a quota system… but we know that teams have the reality of playing certain black players because it’s going to look silly if they don’t have those black players in the team.
“And we see it as a positive thing that players are not called quota players any more, but they’re in the team because… they’re good enough to be in that team.”
He hoped that numbers would increase steadily to the extent that there would one day be a “truly South African team” that everyone could support without having to bother about the colour of players.
“We don’t want to be destructive and stand at their door and say, let’s see how many black players are running past or you’re not going to take the field…. We’re pragmatic about it.”
24 Comments
26 May 2006, 21:57 pm
“And we see it as a positive thing that players are not called quota players any more, but they’re in the team because… they’re good enough to be in that team.â€
Is he talking about Shimange and Januarie here? They’re not even good enough to make the Super 14 at the moment, not to mention the Bok team. But if our great leader tells us that the Pope is Hindu, then we’ll believe him as well!
26 May 2006, 21:57 pm
hier kom die manne in die groen en goud
26 May 2006, 21:58 pm
We’ll see if this lasts. Wait till just before a real important match then the ANC will demand that more players or colour is inlcuded in the match 22.
Watch this space….
26 May 2006, 22:30 pm
For anyone who is NOT South African (Like myself), it is difficult to understand the political picture in an old or new RSA.
However, it is hardly difficult from a Rugby supporters viewpoint, as I was always under the impression that talent and ability were enough to propel players to the pinnacle of the sport, regardless of Race, Colour or creed.
Before I get dennounced for my viewpoint, let me say that, any country that has an untapped pool of potential (African players or potential players) as the RSA does and wantenly ignores it, can only blame itself for it`s evential demise.
No, I do NOT agree with the “QUOTA” system, not only is it political, but highly unattractive and destructive for both country and players, the answer would have to be “Grass Roots Rugby” the support of young school players, suburban clubs and city teams.
This is how “grass roots” is developed in any other sport as well as, in any other Rugby playing country, people must be allowed to show potential and improve with a support mechanism servicing ALL RUGBY PLAYERS, not just a few chosen “quota” window dressers, which will serve little purpose other than to give some people a warm fuzzy feeling, it needs a long term plan and goal, for it to be sucessful and beneficial to both the sport and the country.
This latest “Charter” may well be the start of such a potentialy based system.
26 May 2006, 22:32 pm
Well it sounds positive. No use acting like a typical White South African and saying that ist **** before we see it implemented. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt. Our black communities need fascillities, not quotas.
26 May 2006, 22:43 pm
Too right Kiwiin Oz
For too long our rugby has ignored this pool of talent. In fact I think our bad results in 2003 was a blessing in disguise as it showed us that our historical advatages counted for little in modern rugby. I tell you in school games its amazing to see the talent coming through and its all black.
Gives me lots of hope reading this. Lets hope they can show the money. Now is a good time as well with SA soccer being at its all-time low so people are looking elsewhere for inspiration.
26 May 2006, 22:59 pm
There has been millions and millions invested in black communities to promote rugby with little effect. Soccer will always be the no. 1 game for black South Africans and nothing is going to change that. It’s like trying to get Maoris to play cricket. They’re just not interested, rugby is their game.
27 May 2006, 00:31 am
Wespa,you are right,kinda.
Yes,soccer will always be the number one sport in those communities, BUT it deosn’t mean we can’t convert a good % of them to the oval game.
27 May 2006, 01:06 am
Shields,
# 5
When facilities or money is given to the so-called previously disadvataged, they always succeed in f$%^#ing it up – Just look at the Spears as the latest example…
27 May 2006, 02:53 am
Jake left out the Ndungane twins and Dlulane but now everybody is raving about the Charter. It seems to be a lot of hot air. After all the promises to the Spears, nothing came from it.
I think the politicians must worry about the Bafana Bafana and leave rugby to do its own thing. Ou so-called national sport is becoming our national disgrace!
27 May 2006, 04:32 am
The typical white South African as you called us Shields cried out loudly after Jake anounced his training squad ,WHERE IS THE NDUNGANE BROSS , AND WHY SOLLY AND NOT TIM DLULANE?????? And to add the majority questioned MJs and DWB inclusion.
I agree we cant stop finding new talent and we wil ,in my little town where Chillyboy come from i read in the loca newspaper that his ex primary school have 2 players chosen for the Limpopo schools team and can you believe it they are both BLACK. I have no problem with that because the white players rather play PSP instead of getting out on a rugby field. My problem with the schools around here is, if we built a rugby field at every school around here , wil rugby be played on the grass covered rugby field or will the soccer players demand the rugby field because they are the majority? Rugby and soccer SA must work together here , can they?.
27 May 2006, 08:26 am
Polar Lion
You have just f$%^#ed up your own brain. The Spears issue and this is completely seperate things. You just see them(non white)and us and then make stupid remarks like that.
27 May 2006, 09:24 am
When the soccer world cup arrives in SA, the number of black players will increase in that code, rugby union will slowly lose its hold on some of the promising young black players. Hope not.
27 May 2006, 12:03 pm
Oh, come on! A race quota by any name will smell as stinky, no matter how pseudo-”scientific” it is dressed up to fool the stupid and the gullible of this world! Quota players will remain quota players. Everyone knows that. Why pretend anything else?
27 May 2006, 13:43 pm
Put all quotas in the Spears team and make the Spears a sort of experiment to see how transformation will work when enforced on a franchise. In that way no matter what the outcome of all their games no-one will care anyway. Also make it compulsory for all BEE owned companies to sponsor them.
27 May 2006, 16:35 pm
a quota system wouldnt be that bad if they just implemented it at lower levels, like club and school, BUT please just leave the springbok team alone, the good black players will come through, not gona help to throw them in the deep end, they’ll just look like fools, like eddie andrews.
27 May 2006, 19:24 pm
Obronie,
Everyone knows the “Spears Experiment” was just another effort at transformation. Quotas and transformation had everything to do with one another. Just a pity R 5 000 000 was lost in the process already. It’s a good thing the idiots got kicked out of the Currie Cup. It is time everyone fends for themselves and take control of their own destinies. This spoon feeding culture in SA is absolutely shocking.
We demand – bla bla bla bla….
27 May 2006, 19:55 pm
it is absolutely necessary to have quotas.
certain unions are failing to transform.
the bulls, sharks and cheetahs played the required minimum of blacks for most games.
frikkie welsh returned and it was between habana and ndungane to compete for 2nd quota place(dlulane filling one).
hopefully we will have a minimum of 4 players for next seasons super 14.
27 May 2006, 23:49 pm
The more you “transform” the more heavily you lose tests.
28 May 2006, 01:34 am
transformation is more important than winning tests.
28 May 2006, 04:49 am
Really? Then why not just give up tests then and stop wasting everyone else’s time.
28 May 2006, 06:00 am
“transformation is more important than winning tests.”
Thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard. Why do we stil play rugby if we don’t care about the results? Transformation is important, but not at test level, selecting ur best players is the way to go, transformation at lower levels is important, because that’s how black players will come through the ranks. At the moment it’s a joke that someone like shimange, julies and solly can have springbok spots, while they cannot even make s14 sides, its shocking. But i guess most people must have ur attitude, because for some reason transformation is given higher priority than winning at the moment.
28 May 2006, 06:30 am
From Rugby365.com…..
” SARU president Oregan Hoskins said on Friday that the President’s Council gave White a “mandate” and told him that they are putting their full trust in him.
In short, White can rest players at his own discretion – both in the upcoming international season and the Currie Cup – and the president’s council will support him.
But the national body will hear nothing of “dropping a few matches” in the process. Winning remains top priority…. ”
Well, looks like Oregan Hoskins wants a bob each way, doesn’t it? Winning is top priority but “transformation” must go ahead at all costs.
These two thins are mutually-exclusive. It’s up to Hoskins to settle on a REAL top priority. Either/Or
28 May 2006, 07:20 am
haha
So in other words, Jake White cannot rest whoever he wants, because if he rests habana and burger, they will think that his top priority is not winning. Ridiculous!
SA does not have the depth like nz, they cannot rest top players and still win all their games.
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