Why can we rather not use the game to unite?
I ask this because we are all guilty of it in some way or form, but it still does not make it right.
I recently read two very contrasting rugby related articles, one was relating to a military base in the USA where rugby is used as a tool to prepare soldiers for armed conflict, and where rugby is used to not only prepare soldiers to make decisions in split seconds in a dynamic environment, but where the very ethos of the game is used to form camaraderie or as they call it, a ‘Band of Brothers’.
The other article was about Luke Watson and his time in South African rugby and all the controversies that surrounded the guy – from the player that everyone wanted in the Springbok team in 2006, to the player that would have been sponsored by rugby fans in South Africa to leave and live like Richard Branson if he did not have enough money to do so himself.
The one article gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling where nothing else but the game of rugby matters and how its power, or ability to unite, is used even for individuals who might stare death in the face in a couple of weeks or months when they go out on military tours in a war-zone, the other… Well to be honest, has very little to do with the game of rugby.
Of course we will never get away from the emotional extremes rugby brings. We endear ourselves to players and teams which can at times can be described as fanatical, but necessary.
These emotions were perfectly summed up for me in these two articles, at two very different ends of the spectrum. Rugby has the power to both unite, and completely divide, the only difference being that I do not believe it happens often that one individual has the power to unite using rugby as a medium, but more often than not, it takes just one person to divide.
I think it is pretty sad though.
Why is it not possible for us to only look at rugby as a game with the power to unite, and forget about side-shows or individuals that look to divide the game, or people who play, and support this game – the family?
Individuals come and go, like the rugby players and friends the guys from the military camps had to bury in the past, or like Luke Watson who has seemingly found a new perspective in life and what he could have done better.
Rugby has the power to have individuals in the front line request to be transferred to this specific camp where rugby is such a big influence simply because the friends he made in the military were rugby men, and he can only relate to them.
Rugby also has the power, to make an individual like Watson realise how he can better use the game to unite people in South Africa, and not to divide them as he did in the past.
So why would we want to deny the game of rugby, or the individuals so often vilified in the game that opportunity?
It is true, the ‘Band of Brothers’ is an exclusive club, but not one that should deny memebership to anyone who wants to contribute to it.
**Articles referred to in this column can be found in the October issue of SA Rugby Magazine
Rugby is a game of passion, whether you are playing, have played or are just a spectator.
I have yet to see another sport that provides as many emotions as rugby. In the army you have a thing called a “nagvuurplan” where a mechanised infantry company will pull a square laager and in a choreographed effort fire all weapons in a collective effort to show might. We call this the “nugget gevoel” It can’t be explained to someone else unless they have experienced it. I compare this to seeing some superb tackles, where the opponent is driven back meters and that absolute moment of domination.
another feeling hard to explain to anyone is when your first child is born, that immediate realisation of this is what is meant by unconditional love, that is how rugby people feel about the sport. Many women do not understand it, but that is the way I try to explain it to them.
There is that first award your five year old gets at preschool, the tears welling up in your eyes, and as a man you don’t like showing your emotions, but you are as proud as anything. This is comparable to when we won the RWC in 1995.
Rugby is the one sport for me where no other can compete with the emotions of frustration, elation, pride, etc that this sport brings to us.
Becuase of this we expect our rugby players and coaches to make us proud, not to disappoint us, and be ambassadors for our sport..
when Puke Watson wants to vomit on the Springboks jersey, whatever his motivation or history, it is unacceptable for me, as the disrespect he shows to the ultimate recognition and achievement in South African rugby is sacred.
When some politician wants to remove the springbok emblem, it is unacceptable to me. The history and story of how we became the Springboks is something written in history, and should never be taken away. I understand why some politicians want to remove it, but yet the springbok has been around far longer than the reasons they want it removed.
For me rugby is the ultimate reality show.
Forgiving is not something South Africans do easily. We even have guys leaving Rugby blogs because of small incidents. We rather cut our noses. …. But this Thread will be interesting to read when i come back.
Chat later now going to the bush , until later.
@ superBul:
Forgiveness is what makes the world a better place.
Everybody makes mistakes and everyone has the right to be forgiven.
At least, thats how it should be…
Firstly my experience is that rugby created a team enviroment in which I was lucky enough to take part to the extent that my band of brothers lives on many years later and still supports each other especially when one of the brothers is in need.
We went to war together and played for each other in order to win and protect each other.
This ethos that was built many years ago and still exists today is based on being completely selfless and thinking of the other person and the good of the team before ones own selfish desires.
Rugby has taught us these values and given us these life lessons.
Secondly it it therefore very easy for me to understand why certain individuals such as the one mentioned in this article are not accepted into the enviroment I have described above.
So it is not about rugby accepting people, it is about individuals giving before they take and learning about team work as opposed to being selfish.
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