The recent actions by SA Rugby boss, Oregan Hoskins, in his ‘strongly worded letter’ to the big (5) unions on their apparent lack of commitment to transformation is particularly disturbing.
Last week wide spread media reports confirmed that Hoskins, apparently under pressure from one of their main sponsors, ABSA, sent a letter to all the big unions in which he raised concerns by SA Rugby on the apparent lack of transformation that is taking place within the big 5 unions (WP, Blue Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs & Lions).
ABSA, under pressure from the political group AfriForum, has subsequently come out and said they do not support quotas in rugby but that their stance is to ‘keep the momentum in transformation’ and ensure players with potential are given the opportunities to showcase their talent.
Players (of colour) themselves are also well known to despise the quota system as they have made clear through their representative union, SARPA.
At High School and Craven Week level coaches (who have been coaching schools since the early 80’s) have also come out and suggested that the imposed quota system at that level should be reviewed because it is currently to the detriment of the very players it is supposed to give a platform to. It has now reached a level where players of colour at this level show no need to compete for a jersey against a white player in the same position but rather go all out against other players of colour because they know that ultimately the position is reserved for a forced quota player.
In fact, apart from politicians, you will find it pretty hard to find any person involved in rugby in any way or form from supporter to player, coach and administrator, that supports this system.
It is this very fact that makes Hoskins’ actions even more perplexing. If there is any person or any organisation within rugby in South Africa that actually has the power to change transformation policies or issues, it is them!
It shows a very clear lack of leadership from within SA Rugby that when the pressure is on, and answers and actions demanded from whichever quarter, the blame is simply shifted from the leadership within SA Rugby to the outside.
The letter from Hoskins, compared to media statements from role players within the various supporting structures within South African rugby stretching from schoolboy coaches and players, player representative unions (SARPA) and sponsors like ABSA suggests there is little to no communication done to each of these groups or individuals to assess, plan and implement structures to improve and ‘keep the momentum of transformation’ going.
Hoskins it seems, wanted to make a public statement to citizens of this country and rugby supporters that SA Rugby is performing an active role in transformation where the only thing that the letter managed to do, was to confirm that there is no leadership, planning or skills within the SA Rugby hierarchy to address a very real, and very necessary issue that affects all who loves the game.
SA Rugby and Hoskins’ office would actually be well served to communicate with people actively involved at school and age-group level to assess the challenges they have to review the current quota policy at these levels and revise them to get better results.
From there it does not take a genius to focus on the gap between age-group and senior level and identify for whatever reason we lose so many promising players of colour and pro-actively address those issues.
SA Rugby should then also sit down and take a long hard look in the mirror, and ask themselves why and how they let their intellectual capital in the form of successful Stormers and Springbok Assistant Coach, Gert Smal go.
A man who after the success of World Cup 2007 identified the need of developing future black rugby players in one of our most important breeding grounds of players of colour (Eastern Cape) where he proposed setting up, and running programs to this effect, and to this day is still waiting for any acknowledgement from SA Rugby that they even received his proposal…
Of course he has moved on to Ireland where he already plotted one Springbok defeat against his new team and looks set to do the same later this year.
All this while SA Rugby seemingly happy just to shift the blame.
Sad story this, at school level they all look promising, but disappears so easily. Is it because they lose interest because in the real world they struggle to find a meal for them self. Or are the losing interest the moment they find the slightest barrier. Do they learn to fight their way up or do they lose interest the moment someone is not guiding, dragging them in.
Old tales of Springboks ridding a bicycle for kilometers to go to a practice are legendary. Do they have a club system that gives them a chance to take it step by step upwards?
The problem is we all know this, the political infighting, corporate politics only perpetuate self preservation in the Halls of HQ. These guys are so busy fighting for their little place in the hierarchy of SA rugby that it brings about poor leadership and ineffectual management, not even thinking about leading SA rugby where it is supposed to go.
The problem is there is nothing we can do about it, as the only time they will actually stand together as an administration is when the sanctity of their entity is under threat.
The only way to fix this is to get rid of the whole bunch and start again, but sadly that is just a pipe dream.
At intro level and school level there is a lot of participation. Forget the color , how many school players do reach higher honors?
Morne you might know , how many players does every Union play in their respective competitions? 100/200/300? What is there for a player to break into that selected group?
@ superBul:
Fully agree with that assesment. If you don’t work hard enough for something, it is not worth bothering.
@ superBul:
Last I checked the Bulls contract the most player (dont think that changed) and their last count was close to or just into the 90’s of players they have on contract (at all levels I would assume).
Morné wrote:
That leaves 20 000 souls out there in Bulls country alone, fighting to get in there. So i say we need more games, competitions to give more players exposure. I used to love the “voorwedstryde” at Loftus, yes even the blind school(meant Deaf) played at Loftus, there was always schools, the B teams, and sometimes even club games. Right there in front of the selectors.
@ superBul:
The comsummate professional that Ian Schwartz from the Bulls is, he just confirmed this year they have 42 senior players on contract.
As for the lost souls, yes SA Rugby should start by looking at competition structures to bridge the gap from age-group to senior level.
I’ve closed my account at ABSA and wont re-open it, they must learn to stop making political appointments on their board and insist on the same for SARU.
@ 4man:
SA Needs more consumers like you. Vote with your feet.
If everyone did that the legalised robbers at places like ABSA may actually start taking notice of it’s clients thoughts.
I haven’t for some years, and will never again bank with ABSA.
@ Scrumdown:
Unfortunately the small depositor is not a big thing in their lives, they are more a front for hedge funds and investment managers these days….a few of those biggies closing their accounts might wake them up. Most multi nationals with SA roots in any case bank in Jersey, Isle of Mann and Caymans these days. eg Anglo American has most of its Capital offshore, they just manage their loans through SA banks. Check where Ruperts and Oppenheimers wealth is too, the bulk is offshore…the Capital flight has already happened some time ago and those that havent have to be “politically correct”, so if all the little guys close their accounts it might have an effect.
@ 4man:
But you and I both know it won’t happen.
The average SA consumer accepts poor quality, poor service and high costs.
In short we accept mediocrity.
People in the UK think nothing of changing their bank for lower charges, but in SA we think it normal to be charged a fee for DEPOSITING CASH into our accounts, and being charged a fortune for using another bank’s ATM.
Then, as you say, they want to tell us the make up of the Rugby teams we support.
Today, Tomorrow, Together!!!!! Not likely.
@ 4man:
Dankie vir jou CAZ mail, saak is reg so.
Kom pas terug vanaf Hermanus, moes my ABSA daar gaan sluit, weer terug by my ou bank, Nedbank, gelukkig het ek darem my rekening nog daar instand gehou vir debietorders, maar nou is alles terug by hulle en weg by ABSA, hulle se moere my bru….
Watch this Video
The All Blacks are good but – like Roger Federer – can they possibly be this good?
After the tennis ace’s extraordinary “William Tell” video clip did the rounds – in which Federer serves in a studio and knocks a can off an assistant’s head twice – the Kiwi rugby stars have come up with a miraculous training sequence in a new television promotion.
The video, appearing on Sky New Zealand’s Rugby Channel, shows All Blacks players Piri Weepu, Cory Jane and Rene Ranger pulling off a series of unlikely precision passes, kicks and catches at training.
But the All Blacks – much like the Wallabies – still have a bit of work to do.
Their video had attracted about 300 views on YouTube by midday today, a mere fraction of the near-seven million hits on Roger Federer’s showcase.
@ superBul:
SuperB
Ask Carlos Spencer (he is in your neck of the woods) about blind passes – Kiwis have been doing it for years 😉
The best part (for me) of the PromoClip is the sound track, you hear them clearly having a wicked amount of fun & you cannot beat that for generating positive interest 😀
@ superBul:
Ha ha…good one…must have taken ages to get all those right
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