Ntuthuko Maphumulo rugby
More than a third of the South African under-21 players competing in the Southern Hemisphere Champion-ships in Australia this week are black showing the South African Rugby Football Union’s (Sarfu) development programme is beginning to bear fruit.
Sarfu is dedicated to the development of new players, who will be representative of the demographics of the country on merit.
The development of the game is not the sole focus, says Sarfu communications general manager Anthony Mackaiser, but there is also an effort to make rugby the people’s game by the 2003 World Cup.
In the next three years Sarfu will focus on educating people about the game, taking the game to the people and taking people to the game.
Since 1993, more than 16 Springbok players have come from the development programme, including Deon Kayser, Breyton Paulse, Adrian Jacobs and Conrad Jantjes.
There is no quota system for the Springboks all the players who wear the green and gold jersey are chosen on merit.
Development has been ensured in the Vodacom Cup, President’s Shield and Bankfin under-21 competitions, where teams have to have at least two players from under-privileged areas.
Sarfu defines an under-privileged player as “a player from an under-privileged area who is not necessarily a non-white player but, in the overwhelming majority of cases, this will be so”.
If a province feels a particular white player ought to be classified as emerging from an under-privileged area it should motivate this view in writing to Sarfu. Unless there is a formal application the term “from an under-privileged area” is taken to mean a player is a non-white South African.
The development of rugby has not only been secured in the provinces by having a quota system but also in the representation of the young players in national teams. The under-13, 17, 19, 21 and 23 teams have a quota system to see development players through to Springbok level.
Eight of the 22-member under-21 squad in Australia are black. In their first match the “baby Boks” beat Samoa 41-14 but they lost to Australia 30-46. The tournament ends on Saturday with one more game for South Africa against France.
Coach Swys de Bruin said: “It is tough playing three games in eight days but it is a great opportunity to use the squad and give all players an opportunity to play.”
Sarfu has made R4-million available to the provinces to ensure that development happens. The union also provides jerseys, balls, boots and other equipment to clubs and schools throughout the disadvantaged areas of the country.
It has also become tradition to invite two players to a Springbok training camp for a two-week intensive training session. This year’s development players were Lawrence Sephaka and Wayne Julies who are part of the national under-23 team and starred in the South African Barbarians side that beat Italy 42-11 this week.