ANDY COLQUHOUN, Cape Town | Tuesday 4.45pm.
THE South African Rugby Football Union is set to take a historic step and impose quotas for black players at the top level in South African sport for the first time next month.
Chief executive Rian Oberholzer told the Daily Mail & Guardian the union will take the step at next month’s executive committee meeting.
From August 13 the nine ‘northern’ provinces will be required to field one black player at all times in the Currie Cup with the five ‘southern’ provinces directed to find places for two black players.
Sarfu is taking the step in frustration after several of the major unions continue to ignore union guidelines introduced in June for black representation.
The plan will be rubber-stamped at the union’s executive committee meeting on August 6. It will mean a minimum of 19 black players compulsorily included for round 11 of the competition which starts on August 13.
“They are forcing us to bring in quotas,” said Oberholzer.
“It seems to us that certain provinces are playing the game but others have taken the position ‘let’s wait until Sarfu forces us’.
“There are three games left after out August 6 meeting and we will impose quotas immediately.” — MWP