The Springboks will not boycott the rugby Tests against Ireland, captain John Smit revealed on Monday.
Smit put to rest the persistent media rumours that the team would go on strike ahead of the Tests against Ireland ”because of a declared dispute between the South African Rugby Football Union [Sarfu] and the South African Rugby Players Association [Sarpa]”.
”As far as the team is concerned there is no threat of a strike or boycott,” said Smit, reading from a statement that was signed by manager Arthob Petersen, coach Jake White and the skipper.
”We intend to represent South Africa on Saturday with pride and dignity in the first Test match against Ireland at Vodacom Park,” he said. ”We want to reconfirm our ongoing support for the leadership of Sarfu and acknowledge Sarfu as the only custodians of rugby in our country.”
Smit said that the issue has not been disruptive to the preparation for the Tests.
”Sarpa has a mandate from the players and we are happy how they are dealing with it.
”One must remember that Sarpa represents all the professional rugby players in this country and not just the 22 that are playing on Saturday.
”We wish to call on all rugby supporters across the country to support the Springboks in each and every match that we will play this year.”
The dispute has seen a war of words between Sarpa chairperson Hennie le Roux and Sarfu president Brian van Rooyen. Le Roux has been quoted as calling Van Rooyen ”a liar”.
Sarpa CEO Piet Heymans said on Monday that the players’ association is fighting Sarfu on three matters.
”Firstly the players’ contract issue has not been fully resolved and we are still awaiting response on the issue of player representivity on the board of South African Rugby as well as the executive committee of Sarfu,” he said.
A third and less urgent matter is that Sarpa wants clarity on SA Rugby funding the players’ association.
”Other countries receive assistance from their national bodies, but we are mostly funded by the players at the moment. We want to know why. The burning issues, however, are the players’ contracts and getting representivity,” explained Heymans. — Sapa