Player \u2018selection\u2019 is really only about which franchise has the deepest pockets and the most money to attract employees (we used to call them \u2018players\u2019 in the old days).<\/p>\n
There is an accepted finite pool of recognised high level potential Super Rugby employees. These potential employees all recognise that their careers are finite and carefully make the choice of which team to work for based on the greatest reward offered. Not one of these high level employees will work for a team based on sentiment or loyalty. A rugby player has a finite working life and needs to be as visible as possible whilst making as much money as possible in the shortest time.<\/p>\n
If you were a rugby player would you sign to play\/work for a franchise such as the Southern Kings<\/a> that has only been granted one definite year of existence?<\/p>\n The potential Super Rugby employee also has to factor in the fact that the Southern Kings franchise is openly hated and criticised by a high proportion of the rest of South Africa which could have major negative effect on employability and exposure going forward.<\/p>\n To sum it up the Southern Kings already have a stacked deck to play against.<\/p>\n The fact of the matter is that haters will always find a reason to hate. Many of those that are criticising the Southern Kings for not fielding a \u2018development\u2019 team are the very same ones that cast condescending comments on existing players of colour.<\/p>\n I interpret what the haters mean when they say \u2018development\u2019 as follows: \u201cBlack at all costs and preferably with incompetent black players to prove that blacks can\u2019t play rugby and belong in a soccer team so that we can get back to playing a lily white game!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The pool of Super Rugby players\/employees of colour is even smaller than the pool of lily white players.<\/p>\n Two recent major young Super Rugby level talents have sprung from marginalised and persecuted Port Elizabeth<\/a> in the Eastern Cape though; Siya Kolisi and Seargal Petersen. Granted EP Rugby cocked up on failing to sign Kolisi but atoned for their sins by snapping Petersen up.<\/p>\n My challenge is simple:<\/strong> Show me another marginalised and persecuted region that has produced two such players of colour in recent history? Even better: Show me any established Super Rugby franchise that has managed to produce two such players of colour in recent history?<\/p>\n Rugby Development:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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