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Cape Town - The vast majority of Sport24 readers have strongly opposed SARU's decision to introduce a quota system in the 2014 Vodacom Cup.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Wednesday confirmed that measurable targets would apply in next season’s Vodacom Cup competition.
All 14 provincial teams will be required to pick a minimum of seven black players in their match-day squads, two of whom must be forwards. A minimum of five black players will be required to start.
In our online poll over 80% of readers believed that players should be picked on merit, regardless of the level of rugby played:
Sport24 asked:
"What do you think about the new quotas proposed by SARU for the Vodacom Cup?"
These were the results:
82% - Teams at all levels should be picked on merit alone
10% - Who cares? It's only the Vodacom Cup
8% - It's a great way to see more black talent emerge
This is what Sport24 readers had to say about quotas:
This really is putting us back. Nearly 20 years of democracy what a farce. - James Holland
What an utter sham!!! Transformation must be at currie cup, super rugby and national team level. 'Quotas' at vodacom cup level is a smack in our faces. - Henry Arendse
Why don’t just ban all white players and get it over and done with? - Christo van der Merwe
"I feel sorry for the player of color on the field. He must feel embarrassed in a way...knowing he is denying another deserving player a spot in the team." - Pieter
"This system will cause SA to lose talented players, chasing away our young talent who are at this present moment being snatched by overseas rugby unions." - Werner
"This is a slap in the face to players of colour currently being selected on merit." - Linki de Jongh-Brown
"As a person of colour I am a firm believer in earning your opportunities and not being handed an opportunity because of the colour of your skin or the past." - Travis
"The government has had almost 20 years to produce players of colour and yet they persist with a quota system. They could have invested properly in the youth, building sports schools for PDI's and giving them proper training and opportunities...SARU's persistence with quotas is an acknowledgement of their own failures." - Marius Niehaus
"This is like saying Usain Bolt should start running more against white guys." - Dallas Noble
"MLB Baseball, NFL Football and NBA basketball: None of these sports even come close to reflecting the national demographics of the USA. Can you imagine the uproar (and level of stupidity) if Barack Obama got on the phone to the guys at the New York Yankees and said that he would like to see at least 10% more Black or African Americans in the team? or if he called the guys at the Chicago Bears and said 'Bob, by 2011, I want to see you fielding a side with at least 38% more white folks!'" - Green Man
"SA rugby supporters don't care if players are pink or purple , if they perform , as long as we field a competitive in-form team. Politics and sport should be kept poles apart..." - Paul Schnell
"Why lower the standard of rugby to accommodate players who don’t belong there?" - Brandt van Vliet
"As a child growing up in South Africa we always emulated our heroes that we viewed on television. Only 5% of this nation has access to DSTV and therefore 95% of this country has little or no access to watching live rugby. Improve facilities at black and coloured schools and allow SABC to broadcast all rugby live." - Michael Fortune
Siya Kolisi, who starts on the bench for the Boks this weekend, is one of the success stories of transformation in rugby. (Gallo Images)
HAVE YOUR SAY: How do you feel about this new quota rule by SARU. Is it fair on aspiring professional players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Wednesday confirmed that measurable targets would apply in next season’s Vodacom Cup competition.
All 14 provincial teams will be required to pick a minimum of seven black players in their match-day squads, two of whom must be forwards. A minimum of five black players will be required to start.
In our online poll over 80% of readers believed that players should be picked on merit, regardless of the level of rugby played:
Sport24 asked:
"What do you think about the new quotas proposed by SARU for the Vodacom Cup?"
These were the results:
82% - Teams at all levels should be picked on merit alone
10% - Who cares? It's only the Vodacom Cup
8% - It's a great way to see more black talent emerge
This is what Sport24 readers had to say about quotas:
This really is putting us back. Nearly 20 years of democracy what a farce. - James Holland
What an utter sham!!! Transformation must be at currie cup, super rugby and national team level. 'Quotas' at vodacom cup level is a smack in our faces. - Henry Arendse
Why don’t just ban all white players and get it over and done with? - Christo van der Merwe
"I feel sorry for the player of color on the field. He must feel embarrassed in a way...knowing he is denying another deserving player a spot in the team." - Pieter
"This system will cause SA to lose talented players, chasing away our young talent who are at this present moment being snatched by overseas rugby unions." - Werner
"This is a slap in the face to players of colour currently being selected on merit." - Linki de Jongh-Brown
"As a person of colour I am a firm believer in earning your opportunities and not being handed an opportunity because of the colour of your skin or the past." - Travis
"The government has had almost 20 years to produce players of colour and yet they persist with a quota system. They could have invested properly in the youth, building sports schools for PDI's and giving them proper training and opportunities...SARU's persistence with quotas is an acknowledgement of their own failures." - Marius Niehaus
"This is like saying Usain Bolt should start running more against white guys." - Dallas Noble
"MLB Baseball, NFL Football and NBA basketball: None of these sports even come close to reflecting the national demographics of the USA. Can you imagine the uproar (and level of stupidity) if Barack Obama got on the phone to the guys at the New York Yankees and said that he would like to see at least 10% more Black or African Americans in the team? or if he called the guys at the Chicago Bears and said 'Bob, by 2011, I want to see you fielding a side with at least 38% more white folks!'" - Green Man
"SA rugby supporters don't care if players are pink or purple , if they perform , as long as we field a competitive in-form team. Politics and sport should be kept poles apart..." - Paul Schnell
"Why lower the standard of rugby to accommodate players who don’t belong there?" - Brandt van Vliet
"As a child growing up in South Africa we always emulated our heroes that we viewed on television. Only 5% of this nation has access to DSTV and therefore 95% of this country has little or no access to watching live rugby. Improve facilities at black and coloured schools and allow SABC to broadcast all rugby live." - Michael Fortune
Siya Kolisi, who starts on the bench for the Boks this weekend, is one of the success stories of transformation in rugby. (Gallo Images)
HAVE YOUR SAY: How do you feel about this new quota rule by SARU. Is it fair on aspiring professional players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
