The words on every politician and rugby administrator’s lips are; “How do we get more black players into Rugby?” The ‘problems’ seem to centre around retaining players after they leave school and nutritional issues. In a nutshell administrators are saying that top black rugby players don’t eat properly and in sufficient quantities from a young age – is this a euphemism for being poor?
Anyway – the announcement today of a planned R35 million of Lotto funds (See: Local Rugby Academy to be named after Solly Tybilika) to be injected into a series of rugby academies that will deal with this nutritional and support issues brought with it an unexpected bonus announcement – SARU are in an advanced stage of negotiation with the South African National Defence Force who will soon be welcoming new two year, rugby playing recruits to their ranks.
The programme will see recruits at various army bases around the country signing up for two years in the army – the first two months will be basic training and the next 18 months will see recruits embark on advanced training consisting mainly of rugby focussed activities.
As one who spent a little bit of time in brown I can really appreciate the elegant simplicity of the proposed plan. In one fell swoop the army will get recruits of a high mental and physical calibre, these recruits will essentially be paid to play rugby, benefit from good nutrition and medical care, the SANDF will once again be able to hold their heads high in sporting circles and South African Rugby will get to retain and develop a number of good players within the game of rugby.
This one I like and, quite frankly, I get the impression that SARU president Oregan Hoskins find this SARU / SANDF partnership quite intriguing and an extremely minimal drain on resources with the potential for a great upside for all involved. But, not if a war would have to break out!
SARU President Oregan Hoskins at the NMB Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
