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Sydney – Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, says it’s not his fault if there are not enough black rugby players in the Springbok rugby team.
De Villiers was livid after a national coalition of black rugby clubs slammed him for a lack of transformation at Springbok level.
Asad Bhorat, secretary of the Transformation and Anti-Racism Rugby Committee (TARC) called De Villiers the “ultimate traitor”.
The Bok coach responded by saying that he is not shying away from his responsibility of transforming the Springbok team. He however believes the problem should be addressed at Super14 level.
“Transformation is definitely one of my responsibilities, but TARC should rather look elsewhere for the reasons for the lack of transformation in SA Rugby,” De Villiers said while in transit at Sydney International Airport.
Bhorat said the coach will be summoned to appear before TARC and Parliament’s standing committee on sports and recreation on his return from Australasia for failing to transform the team after proclaiming he would never pick fewer than 10 black players in his starting line-up.
De Villiers response was: “I can only pick black players who have proved themselves consistently at Super 14 level. There are many talented black players who are unfortunately not being given enough opportunities by their franchises. It makes my job very difficult when there are not enough black players coming through the system. How can I pick them if the South African Super 14 coaches are not interested in selecting them?”
The Springboks only had four players of colour in the starting XV during the Tri-Nations – Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane on the wings, and Zimbabwean-born Beast Mtawarira at prop.
Bhorat said in a statement that De Villiers had let his “ego be inflated by his winning streak” and had silently become “submissive” to SA Rugby by fielding an almost all-white team.
“The TARC and the sports portfolio committee have not criticised him up to now because we were giving him time and space. But no more. He will not be protected anymore,” Bhorat added.
De Villiers has fielded just three black players in his starting line-up and has only eight black players in his Tri-Nations squad.
“Sacrificing one’s principles is tormenting enough but betraying the trust of a nation hoping for change is another thing altogether."
Sydney – Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, says it’s not his fault if there are not enough black rugby players in the Springbok rugby team.
De Villiers was livid after a national coalition of black rugby clubs slammed him for a lack of transformation at Springbok level.
Asad Bhorat, secretary of the Transformation and Anti-Racism Rugby Committee (TARC) called De Villiers the “ultimate traitor”.
The Bok coach responded by saying that he is not shying away from his responsibility of transforming the Springbok team. He however believes the problem should be addressed at Super14 level.
“Transformation is definitely one of my responsibilities, but TARC should rather look elsewhere for the reasons for the lack of transformation in SA Rugby,” De Villiers said while in transit at Sydney International Airport.
Bhorat said the coach will be summoned to appear before TARC and Parliament’s standing committee on sports and recreation on his return from Australasia for failing to transform the team after proclaiming he would never pick fewer than 10 black players in his starting line-up.
De Villiers response was: “I can only pick black players who have proved themselves consistently at Super 14 level. There are many talented black players who are unfortunately not being given enough opportunities by their franchises. It makes my job very difficult when there are not enough black players coming through the system. How can I pick them if the South African Super 14 coaches are not interested in selecting them?”
The Springboks only had four players of colour in the starting XV during the Tri-Nations – Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane on the wings, and Zimbabwean-born Beast Mtawarira at prop.
Bhorat said in a statement that De Villiers had let his “ego be inflated by his winning streak” and had silently become “submissive” to SA Rugby by fielding an almost all-white team.
“The TARC and the sports portfolio committee have not criticised him up to now because we were giving him time and space. But no more. He will not be protected anymore,” Bhorat added.
De Villiers has fielded just three black players in his starting line-up and has only eight black players in his Tri-Nations squad.
“Sacrificing one’s principles is tormenting enough but betraying the trust of a nation hoping for change is another thing altogether."
