Rugby Selection and Development in South Africa

Mission statement of Petition:


The purpose of this petition is to convince the South African Rugby Board, the Parliamentary Committee on Sport and all the stakeholders that rugby selection in South Africa should be based on MERIT and MERIT ONLY and that a quota system will be the death knell of the more than century-old South African rugby pride and tradition. BUT that said we more than realise that there is a dearth of talent waiting to be exploited amongst previously disadvantaged races in South Africa. The enormous profits made by rugby in South Africa should be used to DEVELOP and TRAIN these players to enable them to be chosen on MERIT and to become stars like Bryan Habana. A Rugby Academy is a starting point where players at all levels that are currently playing rugby e.g. in high school and university as well as players who are not yet playing rugby but are showing potential and interest in rugby, from primary school level upwards, can be developed to become stars.

Please also note, for interest sake only, the article by BONGANI MTHETHWA and SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER in the SUNDAY TIMES of November 4, 2007 where they say that Black Men Cant Scrum and

TGIs rugby talent pool database revealed that about 23 000 whites fit the definition of young males who are both 1.83m tall and weigh more than 96kg, with an equal number of blacks and coloureds at 15 000 each.
Indians, who are rarely seen on the rugby field, number only 5000.
TGIs Tim Bester said given these facts and ignoring all other factors, such as school attended and personal sports preference a truly representative match-day squad should comprise 39\% whites, 26\% blacks, 26\% coloureds and 9\% Indians. This is a far cry from the population statistics in general, he said.

Link: http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=604164

If you agree with the main contention of this petition that the national rugby squad should be chosen on MERIT, but at the same time, black players should be aggressively developed, please sign this petition and help in a small way that South Africa might just be a force in the next World Cup.