All of this took place in Cape Town, with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Sport who received presentations today from the Local Organising Committee of FIFA at 10H00, and then SA Rugby’s motley crew at 15H00. I was an observer to both.
Danny Jordaan arrived on time at 09H30, flanked by Tim Modise, three elegant ladies dressed in black, his head of security, also in black with FIFA logo on the breast pocket and an assistant, who quickly set up projector and laptops, and proceeded with a snapshot overview of the status of the building of the five stadiums in SA in preparation for the Confederation Cup, starting in March next year, as a prelude to and global promotion of, South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup.
Each of his team did a slick coherent Powerpoint presentation with slides and facts and figures, addressing construction, timing and budget issues. Some ahead and some behind, but it instilled confidence.
Jordaan was polite, responsive and most agreeable to challenges and questions from the Members of Parliament, promising to respond with data and information and get back to them in the next few days with this. He wrapped his presentation up with a screening of a humorous TV ad, poking fun at a South African complaining about crime while in a queue at Cape Town airport, who is put in his place by an Aussie.
Next up at 15H00 was SA Rugby to update the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Sport on progress of transformation, the Eastern Cape Super 14 rugby franchise, and the SuperSport television deal. They arrived promptly at 14H30, with Hoskins accompanied by SA Rugby Chairman Mpumelelo Tshume, nattily dressed for the links in an open neck shirt, Rautie Rautenbach, VP of SA Rugby, consultant Mveleli Ncula, consultant Prof Willie Basson, transformation charter author of note and Andy Colquhoun, new SA Rugby Strategic Communications Specialist.
Hoskins’ presentation commenced with a defensive tirade on the Spears that became incoherent and incomprehensible, so much so he was asked to stop making personal attacks and get on to the issue of the agenda. So then he was diverted to declaring that their project manager in the Eastern Cape costs them a R1m per annum and that they just spent R500K in the last two weeks to field a scratch pick up Eastern Cape side to play WP in East London and the Lions in PE, neither of which was attended by any of the delegates or for that matter, anyone at SA Rugby.
This is in spite of Hoskins declaring that he spends 80% of his time in the Eastern Cape. It probably was just that pesky other 20% that precluded him from attending this most expensive window dressing at R2.5m for two games, and some poor chap to drive up and down the Eastern Cape corridor.
Two of the Members of Parliament were having none of this bait and switch tactic and berated Hoskins and Tshume, in some colourful language, for always moving the goal posts and forever saying “another two years and then you will be ready”, and for tainting the appointment of Peter de Villiers, with his disparaging statement.
These two MP’s climbed into Hoskins and Tshume, saying that Hoskins and Tshume will not even be around in two years, and that they are devastating rugby in the Eastern Cape area. You almost have to agree with them, as the chaos and mayhem in the Eastern Cape is being perpetuated by Hoskins and his MD, as directors of the three unions, on account of SA Rugby now holding 50% shareholding of EP rugby, Border and SWD, and they have failed in their fiduciary duties as well as dismally failed to come up with any initiative to resurrect rugby financially in the Eastern Cape.
There is only one way, and that is by including a Super 14 franchise into the area, the way it was always intended. It is an appalling indictment on the incompetence of SA Rugby under Hoskins, for failing to include the Eastern Cape in the Super 14 competition, three years after having signed agreements to do so. Hoskins, as past Sharks President, was privvy to all these agreements and discussions at Presidents Council level, so this is not a surprise.
These Super 14 franchises are the wells from which the unions derive their revenue through sponsorship. The Eastern Cape has been without a Super 14 rugby franchise for years and is suffering financially because of SA Rugby’s exclusionary acts and abuse of dominance.
But I digress. No laptop presentations, no preparation of Powerpoint presentations with images of each of the rugby areas they were discussing. Nada.
So they then asked Prof Willie Basson to talk through the status of transformation and the short facts are that 53% of rugby players in South Africa at junior school are black, 44% of rugby players at senior school are black, yet at Super 14 level there is less than 10% participation of blacks. Without boggling the mind too much with stats and doing racial profiling, the point is that the Eastern Cape area, where the bulk of black rugby is played, has no representation in Super 14 rugby and as a consequence these players from school drop out of the system.
I have stood on the sidelines in PE watching barefoot young boys hurtling down the touchline, slamming into tackles that would bring a tear to the eye of many a diehard boep-pens Blue Bull supporter.
People, we are talking about rugby here and we should be able to let those that want to play, play. Somehow or other Hoskins gets sidetracked in this presentation, careens off to some bizarre thought process, otherwise known as a wild conspiracy theory, accusing Mike Stofile for courting the Third Force by offering Johan Rupert the Chairmanship of SA Rugby and Schalk Burger Snr a seat on the Presidents Council if they backed Stofile.
Then came counter accusations that Hoskins was either on some strong medication that he was hallucinating with all these conspiracy theories, or he was just plain psycho paranoid and due for admission in Valkenberg for observation.
One thing led to another with some brisk exchanges and then when Hoskins realised he had spat his dummy out, he begged for forgiveness, saying that he “was speaking from the heart” and rambled on about his “bona fides” et al, leading all to think, “What the…………? Has the man lost his mind?” At one stage he referred to himself as President of South Africa, so deep does the delusion of grandeur run.
A raw nerve has been touched and all is not well at SA Rugby. In fact, I would be nervous to be driven to the corner store by Hoskins, let alone let him lead SA Rugby out of the quagmire, to greatness.
Regardless, it is my mission to let those that want to play, play.
And this might well be the start of an introspective series looking into the mental instability of those charged with being the custodians of SA Rugby and our game that we love so much.
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70 Responses to “SA Rugby President spits dummy out in Parliament”
Tony, I really think your bias is clouding your judgment.
The Spears saga was badly handled and managed. It was not clearly thought through and Brian van Rooyen committed SA Rugby to something it couldn’t deliver on. The monkey was passed to Hoskin’s back and unfortunately it was stillborn from day one.
You share such a concern for the “barefoot young boys” of the Eastern Cape but what about Limpopo and Mpumalanga? Do you know how many talented black rugby players are available there! No, it’s just because the Eastern Cape has political sway with the powers that be.
And before it is assumed that I am just another armchair critic here is a suitable and justifiable solution:
1.The Eastern Cape form a team sponsored by SA Rugby.
2.This team competes in the Currie Cup as one team.
3. The teams who finish in the top 5 of the Currie Cup can compete in the Super14.
4.The relegated team’s sponsorship passes to the promoted team in respect of Super 14 sponsorship. (ie: Vodacom Spears or Auto & General Spears)
Alternatively:
The Spears challenge the bottom placed South African Super14 team to a 3 or 5 match relegation tournament?
A man after my own heart. Right there you have engaged the thought process on what to do and how to do it.
First off the Spears was not Brian van Rooyens creation but the making of the entire SA Rugby Presidents Council. This was not done in a flash either but over a period of 8 months plus a comprehensive White Paper was penned.
Secondly, all the points you raise from 1-4 are contained in a definitive SA Rugby Super 14 Franchise Participation Agreement - I will post it here for you to read as it addresses the fairness of admission and equitable distribution of Springboks amongst all 6 franchises. Quite a good agreement and it is fair and rewards performance, not mediocrity.
As far as the Limpopo and Mpumalanga boys tearing down the touchline, I have not seen them run, but I have seen those aspirant rugby players run in Daveyton, Ga Rankuwa, Attridgeville, Soweto, Umlazi and Kwa Mashu and am inspired by their innocent passion for rugby and their desire to play for their province and country.
Give the Eastern Province a Super 14 franchise ? Crazy. They will be the laughing stock of the rugby world and a disgace to people in South Africa who love the game.
Border and the Mighty Elephants (facinating name) finished bottom of the Vodacom Cup log against the usual top teams, even with most of their high quality players playing in the Super 14.
The Eastern Cape can not produce a side that will justify the relegation of any one of the Super 14 sides.
The Southern Spears is in fact a bad idea given birth to by political pressures.
GS
That is all speculation from your part and will lead to another round of drinks at the bar.
Is it not best to settle the matter on the field between the lines and let the last placed team play the challenger?
If we are talking disgrace and laughing stock of performances - look to the left and right of you at the Bulls and Lions. Both have experience at the bottom of the log.
We would not be debating this if we could compare match stats - so throw the competition open so the best teams represent South Africa in the Super 14.
Great idea, if you honestly think that the Eastern Province can beat the five top teams (WP, Bulls, Sharks, Free State or the Lions) lets have some kind of qualification criteria.
A promotion/relegation game between the team left out and the two worst performing South African sides in the Super 14 seems fair to me.
It still however eludes me how a regional side picked from sides that ends up at the bottom of the Vodacom Cup (2 steps down from Super 14) will be competitive.
GS
Competitive - make the qualification competitive and settled on the field in a Home, Away & Neutral territory series.
Then watch the people turn out in their droves.
The players are there - you just do not see them - yet.
You are now watching the Spears coach at work with the Springboks - he will vouch for the talent that exists there.
The problem quite frankly is fans equate TV time - read SuperSport - of players to their “performance value” and that is not the case.
The FNB Varsity series proves that, as there is an abundance of talent that we would never have got to see play.
I do not know GS van Zyl from Adam, but he made some valid points. You chose to belittle him, through reference to his post as speculation, and only good for another round at the pub.
Let us take up the matter of “speculation”.
Surely the performances of the South and Eastern Cape sides in the Vodacom Cup are not speculation, but fact? And that is something hat transpired between the white lines? What is the match stats in the Vodacom Cup of the so called Spears sides and the current Super 14 sides, considering that the top five unions played without their Super 14 players?
I presume that you are bargaining on players originally from the Spears region, now playing in other franchises. So we should also enforce that same principle to other regions, because if you reason that with financial assistence, the Spears should get their players back, you should also apply that very same principle to say the Cheetahs, then you should have a rule within the whole SA rugby context that no player may leave the franchise where he went to school in.
So, you rue the economics of your situation, and want to force SA RugbyUnion to alleviate that. Like Middles said before, what about the economics of other regions? Or is the Spears the only region with importance?
For that matter, why not apply the same problem to also include industry, then you can take your Quixotic campaign to Government, and force them to invest in industry in your region.
Any true South African fan just wants to have the best possible teams possible in the Super 14 representing our country. (In my humble opinion history tells us the Eastern Cape does not challenge the current Super 14 sides.)
I agree with you that we need to replace the current management of South African Rugby with something more professional.
Best of luck to the Eastern Cape - I hope they will improve and challenge the current Super 14 sides.
“… It is an appalling indictment on the incompetence of SA Rugby under Hoskins, for failing to include the Eastern Cape in the Super 14 competition, three years after having signed agreements to do so.”
That is a pretty strong statement. Would you care to elaborate on the financial management of the Elephants and Bulldogs franchises (part of the Spears) these past three years, then define what you mean by incompetence?
Would it not be more rational to create the management structures within this regions, before you rant about inclusion in a top international competition?
I return to the post made by middles, above. If my understanding of his post is correct, he suggests that the Eastern Cape first PERFORM in the Currie Cup competition. You immediately related that to Super 14 participation.
All rugby supporters would support the idea of merit. If the Eastern Cape can compete on merit, please let them participate on all levels. But the one thing missing in your campaign of innuendo is just that - merit.
And fortunately, SA Rugby corrected bad decisions made earlier.
You are overly sensitive and quite frankly put forward a very complex and emotionally laden argument that makes no sense.
Let’s start with the fact that not all of South Africa is represented in Super 14 rugby and excludes the Southern & Eastern Cape. You have to agree that this is neither fair nor right.
So remedy that by including the Southern & Eastern Cape franchise on the basis, as with all 6 franchises, that the best 5 teams of the 6 South African franchises are selected to compete in the Super 14.
I am not bargaining on any players. But pause for a moment and consider South Africa has some 400 elite players playing rugby overseas. I am not saying all will return to play Super 14 rugby for the Eastern Cape - but I am saying that there is a deep desire by players like Brent Russell, Shaun Sowerby, Pieter de Villiers, Philip Burger, Neil de Kock and another 30 or so that could quite quickly jump start a Spears side that would be funded not by SA Rugby, but by local and national businesses.
I assure you that a side made up of these seasoned players mentoring talent, to form a Spears side taking on any one of the other franchsises will be a spectacle that you and I along with thousands of fans will not want to miss.
Finally GS I sense that you want fair play and all to play by the same rules, so let all participate and see which teams come out on top.
Firstly I must commend you on your persistence with this matter and,whether anyone agrees with your views or not, you have certainly given your cause the best effort you can.
I must admit I havent been impressed with the structures that have been put in place by our SARFU/SARU and essentially the whole debate comes down to who is making money and where the money is at. That is the way of the world and unfortunately money talks. I believe the traditionally big unions have has a massive head start on the Eastern Cape and their financial situation compared to the Eastern Cape makes it almost impossible for the Eastern Cape to compete in the short term(My opinion - anything less than 5 years is short term).
In terms of a business decisions you will always struggle to garner support when you are going to make substantial losses in revenue compared to the status quo.
I dont have much faith in the leadership of rugby in our country, and my opinion of our politians is essentially the same. So i would prefer to see a solution that doesnt rely on them.
I would prefer to see you fighting for a system that is capatalist in nature and rewards excellence. We have been crying out for a strong club rugby system and I truelly believe that is where and what the fight should be about.
Overseas they have a very strong club rugby culture where private individuals can own clubs and, as an investment, take the club through their own investment(time and money) installation of proper structures to a higher level making the club more valuable.
We are falling behind on the world stage in this regard and it is starting to show. UK and the continent are able to offer much bigger salaries as the owners of clubs try to maximise their investments. If they gain promotion to a higher league; win a league; win a competition; they are in for prize money, advertisements/endorsements, grants, etc. Their club is worth more, their shareholding is worth more. We cant compete with that with our current system which, lets face it, is not efficient in any way.
I know we have different structures in RSA but i think the regional/provincial concept is slowly becoming outdated and the gap is growing bigger daily. I believe Hoskins has admitted as much and it is going to become increasingly difficult/impossible to secure our top player going forward.
It is not impossible for us to change to a club system and lose our proud heritage. All we need to do is change our provicial branding (Which is false in any event - sharks is Durban not Natal, Province is Cape Town not Western Province) and make those “provinces” clubs. Everything stays the same - Province can still stay as province, sharks the sharks, bull the bulls. Nothign changes - just the structures.
You can then have them in the premier league and give them 2/3 years without relegation. All the current provincial teams in the premier league to start - i think 14 at moment. The 1st division(1 league down) is made up of our top club teams who fight for promotion to the premier. The right of who is in the 1st division would be played for over those 2/3 years.
Once in place top 2 teams are promoted and bottom 2 demoted.
Within 5-10 years you will have a fully fledged club system with the likes of Maties playing in the currie cup final against the bulls, etc.
You may think I have moved away from the suject at hand but you will now see why. If the above is implemented you can get meaningful private investment in Easetern cape rugby with business people looking to invest and make a return whilst helping rugby in the region. They will have hands on control of their club without worrying about what SARFU is doing.
In addition all the talented player in the clubs regions will benefit.
Those clubs with poor management, poor coaches, poor players, poor finances will be relegated giving opportunity to those who have their houses in order.
That is, in my opinion, where we should be looking at heading towards and what people in the marginalised areas(such as the Eastern Cape) should be working towards.
Eastern Cape — and let’s be honest here — the very best that black SA rugby could possibly put out — would be utterly humiliated by the overwhelming size and scale of defeats they’d surely collect Down Under.
Black South Africa can’t play winning rugby against the Big Boys, just as they can’t play winning soccer against the Big Boys.
Russel, Brent - Saracens
De Kock, Neil - Saracens
Viagie, Cobus – Saracens
Van der Merwe, DTH - Saracens
Abendanon, Nick – Bath and England
Stevens, Matt – Bath and England
James, Butch – Bath
Claassens, Michael – Bath
Ward, Lorne - Bath,
Dixon, Peter - Bath
Coetzee, Eduard – Bairritz
Cronje, Jacques - Bairritz
Willemse, Ashwin - Biarritz
Thomas, Rhys – Dragons and Wales
Del Fava, Carlo – Ulster and Italy
De Villiers, Pieter – Stade Francais and France
Du Plooy, Boela – Stade Francais
Leibenberg, Brian – Stade Francais and France
Milton, Clyff – Stade Francais
van Rensburg, Clinton - Tarbes (Div 2)
Loftus, Werner – Tarbes (Div 2)
Botha, Jean - Oyonnax (div 2)
Rheeders, Henry - Coventry (NL UK Div 2)
Sanders, Donovan - Coventry
Venter, Henno – Coventry
Brits Rudi – Coventry
Senekal, Heino (Namibia) – Cornish Pirates (NL UK Div 2)
Evans, Matt - Cornish Pirates (NL UK Div 2)
Cumming, Bruce (Boela) - Cornish Pirates (NL UK Div 2)
Botha, Mouritz - Bedford Blues (NL UK Div 2)
Pienaar, Ben - Bedford Blues (NL UK Div 2) and England age group
Strauss, Nic - Bedford Blues (NL UK Div 2)
Claassens, Errie - Rotherham (NL UK Div 2)
Jacobsz, Barry - Rotherham (NL UK Div 2)
Bornman, Jannie - Plymouth Albion (NL UK Div 2)
Loubser, Chaska - Newbury RFC (NL UK Div2)
Du Plessies, Tinus - Cornish All Blacks (NL UK Div2)
Willis, Gary (Zimbabwe) - Exeter Chiefs (NL UK Div 2)
Du Plessis, Petrus – Sedgely (NL UK Div 2)
Fourie, Tim - Sedgely (NL UK Div 2)
Van DeVenter, Jan - Sedgely (NL UK Div 2)
Crous, Juan – Sedgely (NL UK Div 2)
De Jager, Arno - Sedgely (NL UK Div 2)
The most important words when discussing this topic should always be “what is in the best interest of SA Rugby” and “to grow rugby in SA making it a major force in world rugby”.
If this is not where you come from, or the angle you approach this issue with, you will never see what some people are trying to say.
It has become clear to me over the years that SA Rugby is run and administered by self-serving individuals, whose only aim in life is to line their pockets. This is even more evident when one considers that since professionalism, meaning certain guys actually had to conduct themselves professionally, the majority of our unions have gone bankrupt, or are on the verge of bankruptcy – yet South African rugby, thanks to its strengths which is RUGBY, is currently enjoying riches nations like New Zealand have not seen since 1987!
I always find this argument about who deserves a franchise and who does not fascinating. There is no doubt that the 3 unions in the Eastern Cape is in major trouble, and one would be a fool to believe that they are going to get out of it themselves. But it is also quite clear that all three unions, have always been ‘small’ unions and are not like the ‘traditional big 5’. But then ask yourself why is this?
Why can unions in the Eastern Cape not build themselves up to compete with the likes of the Bulls, Lions, Stormers and the likes? Because they don’t have the talent to nurture? Or perhaps because they are not given, or afforded the opportunity to do so?
I find it even more amazing how people can say that they should ‘prove’ themselves worthy of competing in the Super competition.
Tell me, what is the point of the Super 14 franchise system? Was it not originally developed to be a regional based system covering the whole of South Africa? Now ask yourself what did it become since its inception?
The Bulls, Stormers, Lions etc. is nothing more than extended, glorified extensions of the Blue Bulls, WP rugby and Golden Lions rugby. The only difference is, they get a hell of a lot of cash for it!
What has the Bulls franchise done to develop rugby in Mpumalanga? What has the Stormers franchise done for Boland? Did Stormers rugby make Boland rugby strong? Or did Stormers rugby make Stormers rugby (read WP) strong (read rich) simply allowing the REAL fat cats, cheats and frauds of rugby to continue lining their pockets?
So why does the Eastern Cape franchise need to be build on a strong base, meaning waiting for Border, WP and SWD to be strong first?
Was the Bulls, Stormers, Cheetahs, etc. based on the same principles or were they simply given the opportunity, which they of course see as a right?
And now of course there will be those who say but at least the other franchises had ‘strong’ unions to use as a base, the Eastern Cape does not. This is true, but why do you need one strong provincial team to build a successful franchise around in professional rugby?
Simply have a look at what the Force has done, and in 2 or 3 years, look where they are – yes, above the majority of SA teams who like always, prop up the bottom of the log!
What is the real purpose of a franchise? Is it not to develop rugby in the region it represents? To pump money into the channels into which rugby is developed? To perhaps represent South Africa as a whole, and stop the rugby drain to Europe by offering our players opportunities, not to mention, stopping real talent slipping through the net?
Here are the facts as stated in this article. With over 50 and 40% of players of colour representing our age-groups why are we only seeing less than 10% at Super 14 level? Taking into account of course that our age group boys have been champions and finalists for a couple of years now! Yes against the best New Zealand, Aus and Europe has to offer folks – so what happens to this brilliant talent of ours? Lack of opportunity perhaps?
So here is my question;
Would a franchise in the Eastern Cape help with what is in the best interest of the game in South Africa?
And would a franchise in the Eastern Cape help grow the game of rugby exponentially in South Africa?
And don’t give me the old it would not be in the best interest of rugby in SA because that would mean that the Lions will lose out! They are already operating at a loss and are in dire straights as are most unions in SA including WP rugby! In fact, WP was relegated in the old Super rugby comp – it did not kill them, they came back stronger and got a home semi in fact!
So ask those two questions and then ask yourself if the Eastern Cape needs a franchise, or in the least need a proper plan in place to help them, help us (South Africa) to become even stronger.
As an aside, we talk about the distribution of rugby talent in South Africa and how it would serve the game…
Tell me, what good does it do the players and SA Rugby as a whole that a Jannie du Plessis is not even making the Sharks side because they have enough props? Same with Bismarck last year? Same with a young Delport, young Hougaard and so many extremely talented youngsters.
Supporters in this country believe the province they support have an inherent right to just have something, in this case a franchise – but I can guarantee you, if you offer a Jaque Fourie the same money he would have earned in JHB, playing Super rugby in the Eastern Cape, living in George or PE – he’d pack his bags before you can get the contract faxed through to him. Same goes for most guys in most provinces – rugby is a professional sport, and in professional sport nothing is an inherent right, you have to deserve it, earn it.
No-one has ever asked for freebies, what was asked was for an EQUAL opportunity – but that was not even given.
What you are suggesting is just to privatise the provincial franchises. My question: who is going to handle the amature rugby in the franchises?
Government? Then you are just perpetuating bad management and incompetence.
Let us also take Jon’s comparison to soccer. Soccer consist of privatised clubs, very much according to your suggestions. Why is SA’s soccer so incompetetive?
Do you propose to “lift” SA Rugby to the same levels of excellence as SA soccer?
I agree with developing pathways and rewarding excellence and what triple D said with the relegation promotion structure of top 2 and lower 2 duking it out is the way to go.
However, this exact structure was put in place to have the Spears in the Currie Cup in 2006 and this would have put paid to all this debate as it would have been the development period pre 2007 Super 14, only Hoskins nixed this in March 2006, at the urging of the other franchises, which was a dumb decision and will come back to haunt them as it is still unresolved.
So now you cannot have another new team in the Currie Cup as was originally intended and the best solution would be:
Have the Lions (now last placed for the last 3 years) and the Spears play a Home, Away and Neutral series in October/November this year as to who would be in the 2009 Super 14.
A sponsor will be found for this Tri-Game Series and the stadiums will be full if only for the curiosity factor, but the two teams accept that this is do or die for their region.
Then we will witness a rejuvenation of rugby around the country and that which we are debating here will catch fire in other regions.
Either do regions- then the Bulls and Lions should be the Gauteng Giants and there is space for the Spears- do do with the oPPortunity as best they could or do it top 5 teams in CC plays S14.
End of story!
Quite simple, isnt it?
But then simplicity gets screwed around by politics- RUGBY politics and RUGBY economics!
and the real politicos are interested in the honey pots of RUGBY economics- therefore they need to play RUGBY politics!
Willem Greifenstein on June 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Tony
Morne touched on a very valid point - equal opportunity. Can South Africa afford (financially) equal oportunity?
Can we afford to pay your long list of players in Europe in Euro or Pound?
This is what is called REALITY. You can go on about the Spears for another 350 years, the REALITY is that unless the rehabilitation of structures is from the bottom up, you are not going anywhere. Any help from the top down, will just be squandered by the fat cats, or people coveting the seats of the fat cats. Know anybody like that?
Why not just incorporate the Cheetahs and the Sharks, as the Cheetahs is just the feeder of Sharks team!
Seriously, do you for one moment believe that the Spears will have an administration that is any other than mediocre? And that they would be more competitive than the Lions?
Yes South Africa can afford equal opportunity and it must be promoted and the cartels and monopolies must be done away with so excellence is rewarded not mediocrity.
I also have not advocated engaging this long list of players - which is a bit of a stretch, as I said one could pull a core group of forwards and backs from this lot and mix it in with the talent in the EC, but it is an eye opener to see the overseas based South African talent that you and I and rugby fans in this country, are missing out on, which would be partially retained by having a 6 Franchise system.
As far as fixing the system is concerned, it requires an overhaul and has to be done by all - all in one go, to make the top side the Springboks your Numero Uno side.
Cosa what exactly is your fear here?
feeder team or not- the conveyor belt is at least functional- so be thankful!!!!!!!
Its about the opportunity to play- to better lives.
If the EC/Border/SWD cannot fix their problems- well you will have been proven right- an how much lower than last place can the Spears go?
SA Rugby has decided on a regional structure- the only “regional team is the Vodacom Cheetahs
When you do start fixing things - start at the right place - as in acknowledging that the original deal - was also done “under duress” of political influence.
Willem Greifenstein on June 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Cosa,
Unfortunately I do not have much time today but might revisit all of this tomorrow.
Just one question or thought.
What has the administration, or unions/franchises proved in the last 10 years or so in Super rugby other than one shining light in the Bulls the only team winning the competition but also only when the New Zealanders pulled out their top guys for half the competition?
Have they proved to be competent?
Have they proved to be successful?
Responsible?
Leaders?
Or have they proven to be totally incompetent, with over 50% of our unions (which forms part of the current franchises) bankrupt, including big unions like the Lions and WP, and the fact that we prop up the bottom of the log just about every year…
The Spears have not proved anything yet - they were never given a chance, the other franchises however, has proved quite a bit. So looking at it that way, who deserves what exactly?
Professional rugby is here to stay, the amateur administration currently running it not - but for as long as they are given freedom to carry on the way they are, the damages inflicted by them might be too far reaching to fix.
Which will eventually mean, all this traditions, memories and pride that took over 100 years to build, will be destroyed in anycase - with or without the Spears.
There is more than enough talent between the Border, EP and SWD to compete in the Super 14. The EC PICK UP side (Consisting of 90% EP Players) Ran the Golden Lions Currie Cup side very closely last week.
- The Spears should form together at the completition of the 2008 Currie Cup Competition (this is also when most players will be coming off contract with their unions)
- The side then competes in the 2009 Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup Campaigns and embarks on a international end of year team to face tougher opposition in preparation for the 2010 Super 14 Campaign.
While this is happening, the Spears need to ensure their U18, U19 and U21 talent stays in the region. the only way this will happen is for a Super 14 franchise to become a reality, educational oppurtunities for players (Scholarships) and an EC Rugby Academy to be developed.
As usual you have a very logical reasoning, for which I thank you.
I of course agree with you. But that is the system currently in place. Do we tweak that system to allow for the gratifcation of some subjective interest groups? I refer now to Tony and the political grouping with which he aligns himself.
How do we fix the problem? Not through SA Rugby, but through the current club system, and that is going to take time.
Yes the whole system or structure needs an overhaul and it might be a pipedream given the political environment we, and sport, find itself in.
Or it might just need a dynamic leader, one of which we have not seen for many years, if ever.
I think we all agree that business people should take care of business matters in pro rugby, and rugby people take care of rugby matters.
The real sad thing for me is I actually believe, if rugby is administered properly, we would not even have a need for political meddling - all of that would be taken care of by administering and protecting the game of rugby we all love properly.
But let us review the article which is the reason for our posts here.
Does it look like an objective piece of journalism or does it smack like a personal attack on Hoskens?
And also remember, the opponent of Hoskens as president of SA Rugby was Mike Stofile. I perceive this whole thread as reaction to the rejection of SA Rugby of Stofile (read ANC) as president.
Now we all know that Tony, the saviour of rugby in the Eastern Cape, has aligned himself with the Watsons, Stofiles and Khompela, to fight “oppression” of the masses in rugby. The rumours were rife that Tony was promised a seat on the SA Rugby board by Stofile.
This whole thread is just a thinly disguised attack on SA Rugby in general, and Hoskens in person. What credence do we give to this, then? The positive is just that it highlights the neccesity of change, but not change the political way.
But back to rugby matters. I agree that control of SA Rugby should be removed from the amatures. But that should not mean it shoud be handed to the politicians (God forbid). What other interest groups remain, from which to source the strong leader to overhaul the sport as a whole?
Just one. Money. Business. And who is going to control him, or is it going to be a lifelong position?
Answer the question of ultimate control, and I would change my attitude towards the possibility of a positive outcome.
In any business, a monopoly is a recipe for disaster, and in the case of rugby, I definately believe there is a monopoly and even a mafia like cartel controlling the game.
It was asked why soccer is in such a mess, well not that I know much about the round-ball game or even care, but reports suggested that it is also operated by a cartel of sorts.
So the answer might be in there.
The reason Telkom and Eskom is looked at being such a mess, is specifically for these very reasons. Individuals, or rather, self-serving individuals who are not qualified to run something professionally being put in charge.
I did a piece once you might have read about the actual jobs and background of the guys in the President’s Council - it was shocking.
So this article to me has relevance in highlighting the incompetence yet again of SARU and Hoskins, who in over two years now has yet to do something in my books to show me they are indeed a progressive, dynamic and responsible managing entity.
In fact, in over two years, they proved the exact opposite.
Ultimate control as you mentioned is what is currently the case, certain individuals, and certain unions for that matter controls everything in SA Rugby and feed the rest the scraps once they are finished eating the flesh of the bone.
They keep them submissive, even content or happy by chucking a piece of steak to them every now and then and make them feel important.
Point is, absolute control which is currently exercised within SA Rugby, has the cliche’d outcome of corrupting our game absolutely.
Money does control everything in a professional environment, whether it be sport or normal business. The thing about that however is that you are held accountable for your actions, and that you have to exercise responsibility, both socially and economically to your investors, both inherently (supporters in rugby) and directly (investors and sponsors).
In a pro setup there is little room for ultimate control, control is earned through running your shop or business properly, once you start stuffing up, the system works you out automatically.
Ultimate control will be kept in check, if not eliminated completely if by those who invest in the game, both emotionally and financially. Any industry, and market, is dependent on those factors.
In South Africa we are either happy with mediocrity, or scared to disturb the apple cart. And that is the reason we are still in a situation where mediocrity is awarded, and excellence ignored.
then maybe the answer is to convert SA Rugby to a listed company, and prohibit in its memorandum any individual or institution to hold more than a certain percentage of shares.
Or better still, do that with the franchises, and keep SA Rugby as just a joint venture of the franchises.
But who is going to oversee amature rugby and development?
SA Rugby Union are in the process of collapsing SA Rugby Pty Ltd into one structure/entity - SA Rugby Union, so that there are no more duplicate functions.
The reason why SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd was formed initially, was to divorce the profitable ventures from the amature side, and was singularly to comply with the Income Tax Act.
Very technical to explain now why it could be disbanded now, but that was the original rationale.
Who is currently running amateur rugby (clubs & schools)?
Or more to the point, what are they doing in amateur rugby?
Of course we know who is supposed to run the amateur side of the game, my question is just have they been doing anything?
To my mind, clubs are self-sufficient more or less already, because unions cannot afford to support them financially anymore. This is done through private investments and self-procured sponsorship.
In schools, those who still have rugby, the parents basically ensures that the game is still strong.
I am afraid you cant compare our soccer with our rugby - except for the fact that they are both very poorly managed.
Firstly I am not for 1 second saying what I put down is the solution but i think it is certainly a step in the right direction.
I am not sure you understood exactly what i was saying. The privatisation of the provincial teams would have no bearing on the amateur rugby is any way. They would be fully fledged professional operations only worrying about their club.
I would imagine there would be enough teams for 2/3 professional leagues (Premier, 1st and 2nd) and there after it become semi professional and again amatuer thereafter.
I would think 1st and 2nd divisions would travel nationally and thereafter it would become a regional league again.
Again - None of the premier clubs would have anythign to do with the chaps in 1st and 2nd league.
Essentially the only role SARFU would have is the management of the league and specifically the amateur leagues which is obviously not where the money is. Which is why i believe it would never happen as they would lose the control they have at the moment.
Open up a lot of opportunities for new tournaments - ala a FA CUP type event allowing all 3 divisions to compete.
Or scope for 1st division top 4 to play in a regional tournament -improving regional rugby which must be a goal of all rugby supporters. We need to grow the game of rugby.
Perhaps moving away from Super 14 which logistically doesnt make sense - and having 4 top teams from Premiership takign part in Heineken Cup which is on the same time zone.
Anyway - Purpose was to stimulate conversation about the way forward so lets try to add some positive feedback as it is our game…
Is the self-sufficiency not also a problem in itself?
The clubs develop just as far as the finances go. That is why so many players fall through the net from schools level to senior level.
There should be a holistic approach to the development of rugby on a national and franchise level. Excactly how, I am not sure, but the development issue should be nationally coordinated.
There woudl definately be problems along the way but I think we could learn a lot from how they have modelled things in the UK. Not everything would suits us but certain aspects would be great.
With regard to the development they seem to have got it right overseas. I read an article that Manchester United have something like over 100 000 kids going through their academy.
Just remember it is in the clubs interest to have a strong academy and to train up their own youngsters. They then dont have to pay massive transfer fees to secure good players. They will therefore look after their feeder schools.
You mention all the players oversees. That is all well and good there are only two problems with that.
1) In you article you criticise SA Rugby for not conforming with “transformation” read (I am so black so I must play). The players you mention are ALL white. So there go that idea. Nice try though.
2) The oversees players get paid massive salaries. How will you attract them with the small packages your franchise can offer?
The main difference between us and England is that, apart from their numbers, it is concentrated in a smaller geographical area, and the average rugby spectator has more spendable money, making sourcing of funds much easier.
This whole Spears debacle is just an exercise in theoretisizing. We hear of local (Eastern Cape) sponsorships etc. But the brief run of the Spears came to a crashing halt because SA Rugby turned off the money taps.
There is no realism check in the proponents of the Spears, but a lot of political objectives.
But, fortunately, their time has come to pass, well, at least in 2009. Then we’ll probably see the Zulus filling the cabinet posts, and there would be calls for Super 14 partisipation of Northern Natal.
All very tedious. Or one hell of a joke, depends on where you are viewing it from.
I see your point and I know the deal is dead on this one.
I only have one grievance with this whole sorry affair:
Why did Tony keep on pushing the this? And keeps on scratching…
Anyone with a brain cell can tell you when he took SA Rugby to court that he would not win. All he succeeded in was making some solicitor somewhere more rich. That money could have been used to better effect.
Hoskins was caught lying on tape, not with just one pork pie but several porkies that would make a Blue Bull Boep Pens look small and will be impeached before end July.
You seem to conveniently forget that the Spears won 3 High Court applications - but I understand that it is convenient for you to have selective memory.
For starters the two of you khaki clad chaps need to check into Hotel Reality.
Rugby is dying in this country because the likes of the two of you have your heads stuck so deep into the deadball area of Loftus Versfeld that you cannot see that your game and my game of rugby is dying and you are standing by like rubber neckers.
So here goes:
- 10% of schools in South Africa play rugby
- Vodacom Cup & ABSA CC attract less than 50% gate attendances of the stadia they play in
- the lowest attendance in ABSA CC last year was 15 paying people between the Falcons and Lions
- the lowest attendance for a Super 14 game was 1,500 atthe Lions Western Force match earlier this year.
- the Lions declared a R15m loss 3 weeks ago and this will double in 12 months
- SA Rugby were about to declare a R10m loss for 2007 and were saved with some fine financial musical chairs. Atually not so fine, but it helped temporarily.
- WP/Stormers declared a R8m loss in Feb
- Cheetahs owe SA Rugby over R5m
- SA Rugby buys R13.5m of shares in SWD/EP & Border ex SAIL and inherits a R6m cash loss on top of this in a breakthrough deal
- Hoskins drops in a Sharks boy to be the new marketing manager of SA Rugby and this is not nepotism, just to keep this close to the chests of Harold Verster, Jannie Ferreira, Brian van Zyl and Barend van Graan - if any of you readers do not know this alumni allow me to introduce them to you.
I am now getting depressed but you get the point. With attitudes like yours, buried in the past, of being elitist and exclusive, our game of rugby will die sooner than you can say “Eugene Terreblanche fell off his horse”.
What part of this do you not understand?
Be inclusive - embrace all rugby players - grow the game at schools and all the way through to Super rugby to give the country the finest 22 in the world.
Tony
I want to react on your post, and cease my correspondence with you, as you are not honest in your facts and you use gross unfounded generalizations as “facts”.
1. “Hoskins was caught lying on tape, not with just one pork pie but several porkies that would make a Blue Bull Boep Pens look small and will be impeached before end July.”
Generalisation and distortion. Maybe Hoskens lied, but so do you. Your snide reference to the Blue Bulls as a way to get to me shows your lack of style.
2. You seem to conveniently forget that the Spears won 3 High Court applications - but I understand that it is convenient for you to have selective memory.
And how many did you loose again on appeal? Selective memory or dishonesty?
3. For starters the two of you khaki clad chaps need to check into Hotel Reality.
Rugby is dying in this country because the likes of the two of you have your heads stuck so deep into the deadball area of Loftus Versfeld that you cannot see that your game and my game of rugby is dying and you are standing by like rubber neckers.
Your reference to “khaki clad” and “Loftus Versveld” is surely your attempts at cheap shots. It is unbecoming for a man of the stature that you yearn to have.
4. You recall a few statistics. Do you also recall the R11 500 000 loss for the Spears WHILE YOU WERE THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON? Whose fault was that? Oh, SA Rugby again? Who continued spending after SA Rugby called halt? And who paid for that in the end? I quote you – “- SA Rugby buys R13.5m of shares in SWD/EP & Border ex SAIL and inherits a R6m cash loss on top of this in a breakthrough deal”.
5. Hoskins drops in a Sharks boy to be the new marketing manager of SA Rugby and this is not nepotism, just to keep this close to the chests of Harold Verster, Jannie Ferreira, Brian van Zyl and Barend van Graan - if any of you readers do not know this alumni allow me to introduce them to you.
For the record, I copy part of the press release:
SA Rugby has appointed Allen Kruger of the Sharks to the position of marketing manager. He will take up the role on July 7.
Kruger (45) brings with him almost 20 years experience in rugby marketing and administration, the last eight of them as marketing manager of the highly successful Sharks brand. He is also active in grassroots rugby, coaching Durban club side Crusaders.
Kruger also had six years experience in stadium management at the Sharks and cut his rugby teeth working for what was then called Transvaal (The Golden Lions) in the early 1990s.
“Allen has worked hard at building the Sharks brand into one of the most successful sports brands in the country - and not just in rugby,” said Jonathan Stones, managing director of SA Rugby.
“We’re very happy that he has agreed to join us and look forward to his transferring his expertise to our national brands.”
This hardly seems to be nepotism at work, but rather the appointment of somebody with a proven track record.
I also understood that Verster quit from SA Rugby just recently. I do know Barend van Graan used to be an official from SAIL. As far as I know, Jannie Ferreira is unaligned with anybody else mentioned, as he was a supporter of Stofile in the SA Rugby President’s elections.
6. I am now getting depressed but you get the point. With attitudes like yours, buried in the past, of being elitist and exclusive, our game of rugby will die sooner than you can say “Eugene Terreblanche fell off his horse”.
Typical remark! You generalize, without making any rational point.
7. Be inclusive - embrace all rugby players - grow the game at schools and all the way through to Super rugby to give the country the finest 22 in the world.
Now this is where you actually admit that you’ve lost the plot completely. Taking above words in their exact context, you promote the principle of merit. And you promote the principle of growing the game from schools to higher hierarchies. Taking that as a yardstick, it follows that rugby in the Eastern Cape must be grown, not thrown in at the deep end at Super 14 level.
That revealed a fairly incoherent response and this from you having “given me one”. You quite simply do not have the facts and I understand that you are driven emotionally and your response is thick with emotion and that is OK - as rugby is made great with emotion and passion.
But Cosa do not think for one nanosecond, that you can dish it out without expecting a hit back.
I salute you for your quest for knowledge and pursuit to understand SA Rugby, but you are an outsider and not privvy to information and data that I have and have access to and so I quite understand you regurgitating press releases and statements, because these have been distilled to accomplish exactly that. In many cases they disguise and hide that which you would find “unsportsmanlike, unethical and immoral”.
These words Cosa are not mine but that of Judge Dennis Davis describing SA Rugby when he ruled in favour of the Spears 2 years ago in the Cape High Court ruling and this after studying over a 1,000 pages of court documents.
So indulge me a little and take his opinion over mine in this matter.
I do not doubt your bona fides for one minute in that you desire that South Africa become a great rugby nation for many years to come and I take your comments above in the quest that it be so.
If you throw a punch you are going to get red carded.
Your quite presumptuous. I must say. I just want to also add taking ill informed pops at me does not do much for you arguments. I think you’ll find people are more open to your views if you focus your energy on changing their minds. I really want to tuck into you but I’ll keep it clean.
I am very aware of the financial state of rugby in SA and I must add the same can be said for rugby in France, England, NZ and Aus if you look at attendance.
In SA’s case the situation is more complicated then the rest of the world. Everyone knows there is serious miss conduct in SA Rugby. This is a symptom of all sectors in SA society. It is something the ANC introduced. But I digress.
You mention in a earlier post attendance figures. What makes you think you can get great big crowds to pitch up and watch the Spears? You must remember one thing Tony for most people in SA the cost of a ticket is well out of reach.
All you will archive with the Spears empty stands and a wooden spoon.
The Eastern Cape Spears should set up their own tri-nations with a team from Madagascar and another one from Mauritius. Then the winner can take on a team from Tasmania where they will get a 50 point handicap affirmative-action head-start.
But the Spears would be to the S14 what Zimbabwe is to test cricket — a joke.
Thanks for the post - but from what you see here the stands are full of Spears supporters in Port Elizabeth and East London and contrary to your belief that “what big crowds will pitch up?” - they did and will continue to do so for their franchise.
Hopefully these images tell the tale.
Thanks for the post - but from what you see here the stands are full of Spears supporters in Port Elizabeth and East London and contrary to your belief that “what big crowds will pitch up?” - they did and will continue to do so for their franchise.
Hopefully these images tell the tale and show you otherwise.
I can’t make out whether you have a sense of humour or sense of humour failure, but I see you like the sunny climes.
From what you propose that is for the African Leopards.
The photos does tell a story. That makes a pretty compelling argument. When I come home I will go to a few games. I wish you luck Tony. I think you will need it.
You are not only taking on SA Rugby, you will have to mix with our “friends” in government to pull this one off.
The optimist in me think that if you can make EP strong. Not at the expense of SA rugby or any of the other franchises then South Africa will benefit from it.
P.S. Leave the Loins out of this. We have enough trouble as it is.
Since you accused me of mere speculation previously I decided to get a bit more informed about the Spears. After some investigation it is clear to me that no one individual lost more than you by the Spears not being allowed to play Super 12.
You are a man very convinced of his case, and a few responses on a blog will clearly not change your mind on issues you were prepared to go to court for. You are clearly not a neutral commentator in regards to the Spears saga.
South African Rugby is quite corrupt, and I agree with you that Hoskins is not the picture of professionalism, but at least he does not have a blog complaining about the rough treatment he got from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Sport.
If you want to be in rugby administrator, it would probably be better not to state your positions in a forum like this – it might be used against you in the future.
I appreciate your acknowledgement that this is not some wild wacky one man band beating a drum, but actually an enormous ground swell of support for the Spears throughout the Eastern Cape - which has been my point all along. We had similar sell out crowds in Wellington in the WC - so there is a hunger that needs to be satiated.
The SA Rugby government tightrope is a whole new dimension that needs to be walked - but we are halfway there.
PS. How can we help the Lions?
Welcome back and thanks for your take.
I am not some crazy off the wall zealot, but when you see the crowds that attended the Spears games, their team and their players, there is a misconception out there that the Spears are the figment of some wild eyed nutter’s imagination. They are not.
The people that have lost the most here GS are the rugby players in the Eastern Cape. These players call me every week, actually I have to call them back from the missed call syndrome, and ask, “when will we get our Super 14 Spears team that was promised to the Eastern Cape?”.
On the Hoskins Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Sport meeting 2 days ago - I am not surprised Hoskins is not complaining - he has been caught on tape and this will have significant consequences and repercussions.
Now there is a fellow that is wild eyed and a nutter. You should have seen and heard the performance.
If this site can handle it I will post a sound file that will make you freak out.
Good to engage you again Cosa!
You make me misty eyed.
Thanks for the FANTASTIC offer - it would need to be linked to the 3 Unions, as they have diddly squat, EP Herald, Daily Despatch, Umhlobo Wenene and Algoa FM. Sections for schools, clubs and fans to register and get an e-newsletter.
Perhaps you could use the www.southernspears.co.za to use as well?
Send your details to: tony@thespears.co.za
Thanks!
If anyone imagines a rag-tag team from the Eastern Cape — for all their big numbers — can ever hack it against a SERIOUS Australasian franchise with even only one-fiftieth of the raw numbers is deluded.
Eastern Cape rugby has always been utterly weak rubbish. No point in pretending otherwise. Or wishfully thinking that mere sheer numbers of terribly poor rag-tag players can somehow turn millions of pigs’ ears into silk purses.
Hi Tony
I have followed the Spears saga with interest over the past few years. I have also followed your handling of the affair. I look at some of the posts above and the emotional outbursts by you, calling people khaki-clad Bulls supporters suffering from ostrich-syndrome. There are some very clear posts made, yet you attack the writers in a form of xenophibia by assuming they are stupid bulls supporters.
The fact remains, when the SEC rugby sides sort out their financial affairs, cut out the political in-fighting and start doing something on the field, people will start to take notice.
Rugby is a contact sport as you well know and in this cut and thrust world of blog sites and this kind of forum - many people, unlike the three of us right now - hide behind the facade of a handle or nom de plume and vent via their electronic graffitti with personal attacks, more often than not shooting from the hip.
So when a few uppity bloggers want to weigh in and have a go at me, they do launch personal attacks. I would be a powder puff and wimp of note if I did not at least respond with a retort of my own.
More often than not Mike & Jon it is done in jest than some all out vitriolic attack.
There are many times I crack a smile while penning a response and I hope that you do the same.
New Zealand Maori preserved their unbeaten record in the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament in Hamilton today, ruggedly subduing a frustrated Manu Samoa 17-6 at Waikato Stadium.
The Maori shaded the forward arm wrestle in a muscular opening half and when they occasionally gave the ball some air they were rewarded despite some resolute and borderline defence from the Samoans, who remained winless after three rounds.
Tries to Callum Bruce and Piri Weepu gave the Maori a 17-0 halftime buffer, an advantage Samoa never threatened to overhaul - and Maori rarely looked like adding to.
At odds with Australian referee Ian Smith from the outset, Samoa’s hard-hitting reputation seemed to precede them as the visitors were frequently pinged for innocuous infringements during a stop-start opening spell.
New Zealand Maori host Japan in Napier next Saturday while Samoa face Tonga in Nuku’alofa.
You published a long list of SA born players playing in the UK and Europe as evidence that there were sufficient players to make an Eastern Cape S14 team competitive.
The irony is that so many of those players are overseas specifically because of the manipulation and bastardization of the game lead by clowns like yourself and your idiot mates on the parliamentary committee.
All they want to do is play rugby without running the risk of having their careers dictated to by the lunacy that you keep on promoting.
Rugby is a game of merit. When the EC teams start performing, their claims for higher honours will have legitimacy.
Until then, you and your Spears will remain an embarrassing sideshow in the SARU circus.
Spend your time and energy improving rugby in the EC and stop bothering the rest of us.
Andy in England
Spoken like a true bigot. With that kind of attitude and closed thinking, it is no wonder that you sprout vitriol and bile.
Interesting that you should suddenly declare new found friendships for me that do not exist, but I guess below the surface there is a fierce rage that burns deep with in you.
If you are so bothered I suggest you go to http://www.awb.co.za/gasteboek_e.php and subscribe to their newsletter.
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Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa.
Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen in swimming, diving, waterpolo, lifesaving and white water rafting.
Rugby was played at Bishops, NW Cape, Maties, van der Stel, UCT, Hamiltons and False Bay.
Tony singularly authored the blueprint for the establishment of Soccer City Stadium for the PSL which in 2010 hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup and the Finals of the soccer showpiece.
He was past CEO of the Southern & Eastern Cape Super 14 Rugby franchise, the Southern Spears and now CEO of the Super 20 Rugby World Series.
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Be nice to give something back. 
Tony, I really think your bias is clouding your judgment.
The Spears saga was badly handled and managed. It was not clearly thought through and Brian van Rooyen committed SA Rugby to something it couldn’t deliver on. The monkey was passed to Hoskin’s back and unfortunately it was stillborn from day one.
You share such a concern for the “barefoot young boys” of the Eastern Cape but what about Limpopo and Mpumalanga? Do you know how many talented black rugby players are available there! No, it’s just because the Eastern Cape has political sway with the powers that be.
And before it is assumed that I am just another armchair critic here is a suitable and justifiable solution:
1.The Eastern Cape form a team sponsored by SA Rugby.
2.This team competes in the Currie Cup as one team.
3. The teams who finish in the top 5 of the Currie Cup can compete in the Super14.
4.The relegated team’s sponsorship passes to the promoted team in respect of Super 14 sponsorship. (ie: Vodacom Spears or Auto & General Spears)
Alternatively:
The Spears challenge the bottom placed South African Super14 team to a 3 or 5 match relegation tournament?
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