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Plans in place to disrupt Springbok rugby matches: report

Staff Writer

 ·4 Jun 2016

IOL reports that the ANC Youth League plans to disrupt the Springbok’s June rugby Test series against Ireland because of a lack of transformation.

Secretary-general of the youth league, Njabulo Nzuza, said the three-Test series would be disrupted by protests, but he did not reveal which games would be targeted.

The two nations will play three Test matches at the following venues:

•    11 June: South Africa v Ireland (1st Test), DHL Newlands, Cape Town
•    18 June: South Africa v Ireland (2nd Test), Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
•    25 June: South Africa v Ireland (3rd Test), Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

In April, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula suspended the privileges of SA Rugby from bidding for international tournaments due to lack of transformation.

“I have resolved to revoke the privilege of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South Africa (NSA) and South African Rugby (SARU) to host and bid for major and mega international tournaments in the Republic of South Africa as a consequence of the aforementioned federations, not meeting their own set transformation targets with immediate effect,” Mbalula said.

“I will review this decision when considering the results of the 2016/2017 Transformation Barometer.”

Last month, in May, Bok coach, Allister Coetzee, selected 12 players of colour out of a squad of 31 – the most ever.

Nzuza however, said that the new squad had done little for transformation.

“We believe more must be done. It’s not enough to have black players included, only for them to sit on the bench – we want to see them on the field.”

The youth league said the SA Rugby Union had not taken its demands for transformation “seriously”.

“We will forge ahead with disrupting rugby games,” said Nzuza.

Saru’s general manager for corporate affairs, Andy Colquhoun, said: “We have met the ANCYL to discuss it and continue to engage with them.”

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