OPINION – An obscure labyrinth of internal politics clouded in a haze of bitter racial tension, steeped in a backdrop of utter resentment. Does that go some-way to describe the South Africa’s rugby governing body? While it’s been discussed at length before, no-one seems to want to have a good look at South Africa’s new racial selection policy for fear of opening old wounds, called a pot-stirrer, a closet racist and so on and so fourth.
Just before I continue, I am none of the above. I am, however, a huge rugby fan and believe that what someone does on the field warrants their inclusion in the squad, not someone’s colour.
Don’t be misled, this article does not attempt to solve or even wholly recognise the complex issue brooding within South Africa’s Rugby Union or the country’s social structure nor can it seek to throw up any ideas to undo any social wrongdoings of the past – the tear in South Africa’s social fabric runs much deeper than it’s Rugby Union. However it attempts to recognise problems from an external viewpoint of South Africa’s national selection.
Now let’s have a close look at the new ‘racial quota’ that South Africa brought into their national rugby union before the fast approaching Rugby World Cup in September.
According to the SARU, seven non-white players are to be included in the 23-man match squads for all Rugby World Cup games with at least two of these seven selections to be black Africans. The SARU said when they announced this policy back in February that this selection policy was part of a plan to raise black representation.
Suggested as a selection policy for the betterment of all cultures, creeds and colours involved, this policy is actually nothing short of disgraceful and let me tell you why;
The Premise of the Policy itself
South Africa has an incredibly sad past mostly revolving around the displacement of black South Africans. However by demanding inclusion, this policy shows that South Africa hasn’t made any positive movements moving forward but in fact, done the opposite for deserved black South African players hoping to mould their rugby future around the green jersey.
Implemented with supposedly good intentions, the policy immediately creates a race divide between team members (intentional or not) based on different skin colour. In an environment when the least important aspect of one’s self should be their skin colour, creed or race, their skin colour is suddenly a very important factor in their selection.
The wording of the criteria
The unfortunate aspect of this whole topic is that the wording of the criteria doesn’t do any favours for any parties involved, whether they’re white South Africans or black South Africans. It is a disingenuous attempt, and a feeble one at that, to “raise black representation”.
The deficiencies within South African rugby run much deeper than its national squad. From grassroots rugby right through the development and provincial leagues, the Union’s support for young black South African rugby players is poor and by the time the selectors get a look at the blood of players coming through, they have no influence. By implementing a selection policy for its national squad, the governing body has glossed over the state of the game at lower tiers and ignored the real problems at hand like facilities and the funding received at grassroots level.
One of the main issues is that many young and talented black players leave the game in their development years in search for an income to support their families. And if the South African Rugby Union seriously wanted to address racial issues in its Union body, they wouldn’t have singled out black South Africans to be included in the national squad (an environment that, even to get in the ballpark of being selected very few people get to experience, black or white) but instead worked with local unions to iron out problems at the bottom. Like a wise man once said – you can’t change the bottom of the pyramid by sprinkling some decoration on the top.
It breeds contempt
The word disingenuous was used earlier and that’s exactly what the selection policy is. The board that have implemented this have not only made a mockery of its provincial game but of its national team and its players by essentially pitting them up against each other based on skin colour. It is a blatant slap in the face for players plying their trade for hope of being selected in the national rugby union team as the bottom line is that the team isn’t being selected on merit which is a huge issue for any sporting body, whether it’s under 9s or the national team.
It creates a divide between team members and does little for player confidence – imagine being a black South African player and feeling as if your team members resent you because they don’t feel you are good enough to be a part of the team or a white team member who they perceived to be better than you, missed out on a spot because they were white. These are the types of environments these racial-based selection policies breed and the kind of doubt it creates.
Law to change perception
The policy has been brought in to “improve black representation” however the very notion of the enforced criteria is a paradox in itself. The Union bringing in a criteria to ensure that it picks at least seven black players is an admission that the governing body can’t be trusted to select a rugby team based on merit. The Union have attempted to solve a social and economic deficiency through the use of token black African players which means as little in reality as it sounds on paper.
In reality, the SARU have attempted to solve a social deficiency through the use of a naive selection policy which will only contribute to a growing pessimism within the South African game in turn adding to the significant culture and race divide that spawned this god awful selection policy in the first place.