Chester Williams
Former Springbok wing Chester Williams wants to get involved in transforming rugby in South Africa.
In an interview with the Cape Times, Williams said he supported the SA Rugby Union’s new Transformation Strategic Plan, which aims to bring all of South Africa’s representative rugby teams, along with domestic teams in line with national targets in five years.
SARU wants to make sure that by 2019 at least half the Springbok side consists of players of colour, with 60% of those required to be black African.
Sport24
Williams told the newspaper that for too long had there just been talk of transformation and not much action been taken.
The 1995 World Cup hero believes he is the right man to help SARU achieve its goals.
Williams said he wanted to partner with SARU to provide mentorship to players, help create goals and career plans for emerging black players, and acquire sponsorships to give more emerging black players opportunities to have training sessions.
Williams also said the lack if black coaches was a concern, questioning whether black players felt comfortable in an environment where the majority of coaches were white.
Williams, who played 27 Tests for South Africa between 1993 and 2000, previously coached the Springbok Sevens side, the Cats (Super Rugby), Pumas (Mpumalanga), Uganda, Tunisia and Romanian club Timisoara.
The 44-year-old said late last year that he would like a job in South African rugby.
@ Pietman:
Sien later Pietman
Do they screen school kids today if they play any contact sport?
I have my doubts, I know they did so in private schools on the Hiveld some 10-15 years ago
just asking
Eish putting this colour issue in sport, it’s gonna kill it. No matter how the majority think, this is going to kill sport in South Africa since there questions about transformation in the Bafana Bafana set up. I am a black African, I also worry about the number of black African in the sport but I don’t think trying to push for the players in the Boks, unions gonna help. We need the sport in rural area and townships, build rugby grounds in township because all these boys the Ndunganes, Ntubeni, Kolisi, Mvovo, Mnisi, Majola etc, they went to schools where rugby is a priority. Westville Boys, Dales, Vanribieck etc. Now what about rugby in Qambokwethu Primary, Zwelethu High even in University of Zululand? Let’s not start from the tail – at least if we wanna achieve something – otherwise it will be boring to be part of the sports if this colour thing is forced unto unions or associations. just my opinion.
@ Sazito:
The voice of reason speaking sense.
Pity you can’t sit on the SARU board.
Great post
33 @ Sazito:
Been saying the same for years.
Having been involved in grass roots Rugby in JHB East Rand townships I can report that neither the Provincial Union OR SARU give a fukc about initiatives that you (and I) suggest.
That said, the more we shout, the more of an irritation we’ll become, and eventually those that run Rugby in SA will eventually have to take notice.
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