Transformation policy for South African rugby : comparative perceptions

Abstract

In 1992 the game of rugby became a unified entity for the first time in the history of the game in South Africa. Prior to that, like every other sport within South Africa, as well as other societal facets, sport had been played, administered, managed and funded along racially segregated lines. This reality was a direct product of South Africa's ruling party's official policy of Apartheid, which had officially been in existence since 1948 and, which meant that South Africa was divided and ruled in terms of its peoples' races and cultures. For all of rugby's stakeholders from both divides, namely blacks and whites, it would, therefore, require a change in mindset, attitude and practice in order to embrace this newfound unity, which would bring people together on the playing fields for the first time in more than 100 years. It has become evident, though, that in spite of the South African Government's call, via the South African Sports Ministry and its overseeing body, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), for more transparency in terms of the South African Rugby Union's (SARU's) intentions for transformation within South African rugby and in spite of the government's guidelines and objectives for a democratic approach to sport in South Africa, the transformation pace within South African rugby has been inconsistent and slowed. This slowed process has also been inconsistent with SARU's measures and attempts at developing players; particularly those who hail from historically disadvantaged backgrounds