Saru to launch transformation initiative
8 Dec 2011
With the backing of the National Lottery and Department of Sport and Recreation, Saru plans to launch a major Academy Project that has the potential to dramatically increase the opportunities for black players.
Fikile Mbalula, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, announced a Saru pilot initiative to open four rugby academies within the Eastern Province, Border, South Western Districts and Boland Rugby Unions. The plan is dependent on the release of funding by the National Lottery.
Saru hopes to induct 120 young players into the academies across the Eastern, Southern and Western Cape regions. They will receive expert coaching as well sports science, dietary and supplementation support. They will play for the age group teams of their unions and ‘graduate’ at the age of 21.
‘We are hopeful of confirming this major Saru initiative in due course,’ said Oregan Hoskins, the president of Saru. ‘It has the potential to break significant, new ground and will help address our long-standing concern over the drop off in black player numbers between schools and professional rugby.
‘The programme will also equip young players with the life skills to manage their careers and its demands in a way that was clearly and so tragically absent in the life of Solly Tyibilika.
‘But, in its basics, it is about levelling the playing field and giving talented young players the chance to compete with their peers on an equal footing.’
Hoskins warned however that the academy initiative would remain stalled without extended backing. Saru hopes to confirm details in the new year.
The project is planned to start with a grant of R35m by Lotto. The application was made in September 2010 and Saru hopes to receive the written confirmation in the very near future. Funding beyond the first year is still being sourced but Mbalula said he would support Saru’s application for funding on a continuous basis.
The academies will use existing facilities to concentrate spending on player development. Each academy will have a full-time staff of six and a part-time doctor. Players will spend 40 weeks of the year at the academy and will, in addition, pursue further education programmes.
Hoskins said that although creating new Springboks was desirable, the focus of the academies was more fundamental.
‘Let’s not have any illusions,’ he said. ‘These academies are not expected to be new “Springbok conveyor belts”. We are not in competition with the metropolitan unions for young players and those unions will continue to select and recruit the very best emerging players from all communities.
‘But there are a large number of talented young players who show outstanding potential but then fail to make the cut for reasons of conditioning and nutrition as much as skill and ability. These academies will go some way to addressing that issue by providing a safety net.’
Saru is pursuing plans to open five further academies across the country. An application for two further academies – at the Griffons and Valke provincial unions – was not successful at the first attempt.
139 Comments
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9 Dec 2011, 08:23 am
20 years on and SA still talking transformation,35 million lottery money could be spend on education for longer term results
9 Dec 2011, 08:26 am
is real transformation, let all the doomsayers keep quiet as transformation is finally in motion and the need to transform is going nowhere in South Africa.
Take Spies and Smit, despite all the access to best training and coaching from young level, both are just a pathetic and skill-less in their positions, only good on my PS3 but he still makes the Bok team, if both were black, whites on this blog would be wearing black ribbons and slamming their selection at all cylinders as a quota. Being white saved Smit and Spies. We don’t want that and don’t tell me Smit is the greatest captain, surely he is not in the league of McCaw or O’Driscoll who won matches for their countries. Smit has never won a match for SA
9 Dec 2011, 08:32 am
JL1 – whites delay transformation so they r just prolonging the process. If no Transformation takes place in 50 years, its not going away, it will lead to regulating it like its done with BEE.
Good times r coming as in the next year or two, Fronting by white companies using black gardeners as shareholders or directors to win tenders will be criminal offence and white people will go to jail for doing it.
9 Dec 2011, 08:36 am
@Sir Watson-102: blahblahblah….get a life
9 Dec 2011, 08:37 am
@BULLET-93:
The chinese man.
The chinese.
9 Dec 2011, 08:43 am
I think this is a very good and long overdue initiative…
I would’ve thought more people on keo would welcome and support such an enterprise… How long have have so many said transformation does not start at Bok level… it should start at grass roots and work it’s way up so that when it comes time to select the Boks all the players in contention are there on merit and the team can be selected purely on the basis of who is best…
Of course the road to transformational Bok glory is paved with the best intentions so we have to see whether SARU and Fikile (who I’m liking more and more) can actually get this project off the ground and running successfully…
Oh… someone mentioned earlier on in the thread that it would be meaningless (or words to that effect) with only 120 kids…
but the thing to remember is that this will not only affect 120 children… if the best children with the most potential are picked from their regions then these academies will affect and incentivise thousands of children as they compete for places in the various academies… so… far from being meaningless it could actually result in a higher standard being attained as the kids really put in the time and effort to make the grade…
anyway… i wish them all the best… and hope that they get ex boks involved in coaching clinics on a regular basis…
9 Dec 2011, 08:44 am
I’m always up for an initiative that addresses talent identification and development.
Consider the following however:
The Eastern cape has long being “touted” as a hotbed of young black talent.
The Eastern cape is the most economically impoverished major metropole in SA.
The government structures are in a mess.
The Municipalities are amongst some of the worst run in the country,
The school system is paying for “ghost’ teachers in the millions.
Much of this is funding that could go in to providing for better school facilities (not just sport).
Many, if not most of the young school leavers have to leave the area to seek jobs elsewhere.
Why is it no surprise that they don’t keep playing rugby? I mean there are other priorities, aren’t there for those guys?
The point I’m making is that putting money into something which operates within this broader problem is massively inefficient. I can see wastage on a very big scale coming here.
I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and hope it does some good.
9 Dec 2011, 08:45 am
@stormersboy-107: To expand on what i said above, i know that this is not just about the Eastern Cape, it’s a national initiative, but others here were referring to the Eastern Cape.
9 Dec 2011, 08:47 am
This is going to be a short day for me. Customary pub lunch followed by the cricket final at Newlands.
Go Cobras!
9 Dec 2011, 08:49 am
@stormersboy-107:
Don’t come here with your imperialist counter-revolutionary anti-african agenda.
We will take that rubbish in your pants and make a tobacco pouch for our beloved president.
9 Dec 2011, 08:54 am
@stormersboy-109:
hey bud…
perfect day in cape town for a pub lunch and cricket at newlands… enjoy!!
9 Dec 2011, 08:54 am
Hi All,
Thanks for helping with the demographics. I was unsure. Anyway, a few of you have pointed out, we need to account for Chinese as well, and I suppose the native Zimbo’s, but since we have Beast & if necessary, Mujati, were probably covered.
This is the joke that is SA rugby
Politics will always ruin a good or a bad intention as the country is too politically sensitive & corrupt. Every vote has their own agenda. Its sad really
Imaging a R35m boost in NZ? I doubt that the administrators will be whinging about how may native maori’s versus new zealanders are in the make up of the development programme. I also doubt that the influx of cash would be spent on anything other than rugby.
9 Dec 2011, 08:59 am
so R30mil wil go to the “administrators”, R4mil for hotel, caviar and Johnny Blue, and the rest might actually be utilised for the academies
9 Dec 2011, 09:00 am
@BULLET-112:
Indeed.
I don’t see the Cape Spanish on your list either buddy.
If you don’t pull your socks up we are going to have to send you to keo’s political school.
9 Dec 2011, 09:04 am
Jacobs snubs Stormers
2011-12-09 07:31
Cape Town – Springbok centre Adrian Jacobs looks unlikely to play for the Stormers in next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Jacobs earlier expressed an interest to join the Cape side after his contract at the Sharks was not renewed. The Stormers coach then invited Jacobs to train with the Cape franchise to try and convince them to give him a contract.
However, Coetzee told Die Burger newspaper that Jacobs did not react to his invitation to train with them, which is the reason for his omission.
The squad will be reduced by between 10 and 15 players in January before they embark on a training camp to Hermanus.
9 Dec 2011, 09:13 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-110:
9 Dec 2011, 09:20 am
Want to see an outstanding try? Check this:
http://www.rugbydump.com/2011/12/2271/biarritz-score-a-sensational-team-try-against-montpellier#allcomments
9 Dec 2011, 09:21 am
@Treehugger-116: Why are you laughing missy? I thought you were a vegetarian?
9 Dec 2011, 09:23 am
@Upho-115:
oh that fine line a coach/dor dances between success and failure….it is the touchline of rugby life..is he in?… or is he out?.. and acsie (allister coetzee – rassie) more than most know how to dance that line.
9 Dec 2011, 09:25 am
@stormersboy-118:
she is.
except for pork.
9 Dec 2011, 09:27 am
so the lions are going broke…brokeback broke… by the looks of it..?…
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lions-not-going-under-20111208
9 Dec 2011, 09:32 am
@stormersboy-118: was very funny, unpleasant for you though
9 Dec 2011, 09:33 am
@>^..^< katman-117: Just watched it. Fantastic!
9 Dec 2011, 09:36 am
@Upho-111: it promised to be!
Here’s hoping for a Cobras win!
9 Dec 2011, 09:37 am
@stormersboy-123: The article just above it on the RD homepage is about a charity fundraiser NH vs SH game, with some current, some unknown and some old names (e.g. Joe Roff). Watch the highlights of that – brilliant game.
9 Dec 2011, 09:55 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-119:
apparently acsie don’t know how to dance along that fine line as well as you think… seems they’re always on the wrong side of it… and losing players and/or signing palookas…
@stormersboy-124:
the cobras should do it…
this is our year…!!
9 Dec 2011, 10:02 am
@Upho-126: Maybe we’ll win a trophy this year after all.
Must say, with the proteas playing, the Cobras team looks like a hard one to beat!
9 Dec 2011, 10:14 am
@stormersboy-127:
for sure…
dale steyn looking good in a wp uniform…!!
let’s hope his rugby namesake does the same…!!
9 Dec 2011, 10:15 am
@>^..^< katman-125: I just downloaded that clip. Great highlights!
Who is that Ras chappie?
“A corporal in the SA Army..” ?
Do you know who he plays for?
Nice to see guys like AJ still up for a run around.
Sias Ebersohn should come to the Cape. Honestly, with Goosen looking to have the inside track on the Cheetahs 10 jersey he may be looking to move.
I personally think he could make our 10 jersey his own.
He’s got that something extra that none of our guys have shown IMO.
9 Dec 2011, 10:16 am
@Upho-128: Hahaha when you put it like that it almost seems like destiny….!
Dare we hope??
9 Dec 2011, 10:31 am
@stormersboy-130:
hehehe…
dare we hope…??
hope, it seems, is all we ever do…!!
9 Dec 2011, 10:36 am
@Upho-131: Dale Steyn is a class act.
Of all the Bowlers in history (not just SA) to have taken 200 test wickets or more, Dale has the highest strike rate per balls bowled,
In my book that’s something amazing.
If you break it down to the pure role of a bowler, which is to take wickets, that puts him up there with the greatest,
Yes he hasn’t played as many matches as others, but still.
9 Dec 2011, 10:43 am
This announcement is simply SARU flying a kite.
The funding is not confirmed yet and how convenient. Because when it is confirmed in the fits quarter of next year, hopefully – 4 Unions and SA Rugby will have to share in the establishment and set up which will take another 3-6 months and then lo and behold we are at this time of the year next year in 2012 talking about the admission or non admission of the EC to Super Rugby.
If SA Rugby have promised the EC Super Rugby in 2013 these issues need to be checked off like now in January 2012 – prior to the start of the 2012 Super 15 tournament in February 2012 – to determine what the criteria are for the South African team from the 5th Super Rugby franchise to sit out.
There is no time for that just more Yada Yada Yada and then that moment is gone.
The issue on the 27th January 2012 will be the Springbok Coach – not EC Super Rugby’s needs and plans.
So what this means then that this is a supposed wonderful SA Rugby effort of spin doctoring, to purport to correct the imbalances in rugby, when this is nothing more than shifting the focus to government to put money behind the EC as these wheels turn slowly.
SA Rugby on the other hand have not filled the vacuum and void of Super Rugby for the 3 EC unions and an Academy does not attract sponsors, just goodwill and sponsored product. Make no mistake this is grunt work and a dummy pass of note as a huge diversionary tactic away from Super Rugby.
The only discussion here should be is when and how does the EC and its 3 Unions get Super Rugby experience for admission in 2016, not 2013.
9 Dec 2011, 10:54 am
@stormersboy-132:
yeah SB… true…
he is really a great player… possibly legend in the making…
has been the number one ranked bowler for so long now too… and one of the few (if not only bowler) to score above 900 points in the rankings system…
great player…
great to have him in cape colours…!!
9 Dec 2011, 14:17 pm
IF this works, it would be awesome.
There are several academies already in place, but in theory this will at least develop 120 kids a year. Having the additional tertiary training is also a bonus, as maybe 5 or 6 kids a year will make it in professional rugby.
The issue is always going to be the transparency and management of these academies. The difference with a lot of the current ones, is that the boys’ families have to chuck in a fat wad of cash for the opportunity, and therefore watch it like a hawk. Who is going to keep an eye on this?
9 Dec 2011, 16:34 pm
I can see plenty of ‘redirecting funds’ are waiting to happened
9 Dec 2011, 21:58 pm
@Transformation-92: Thanks for making my point.
10 Dec 2011, 04:43 am
It’s ridiculous and it’s racist. This isn’t “levelling the playing field”– it’s tilting it 45 degrees against the newly-disadvantaged. And the quotas will still remain quotas, even though they’ll play downhill.
10 Dec 2011, 05:28 am
17 March 1992 was a long time ago. The kids in question were not even born when apartheid was ended and so should be treated equally. Basing the academies on poverty levels would make so much more sense.
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