SA Rugby has reportedly warned certain rugby unions for fielding teams that are ‘too white’ in the Super Rugby Unlocked and U21 Championship tournaments.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander wrote a letter to the unions wherein he warned them about their transformation records.
‘The success of the World Cup is not a get out of jail free card for those who oppose transformation,’ Alexander wrote. ‘It is the opposite – proof that there is no excuse for underperformance.
‘These are unprecedented times, but that does not mean that our transformation goals can be “restricted”.’
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Alexander wrote that during a meeting with South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Nathi Mthethwa, he could not explain why all seven coaches of the teams taking part in Super Rugby Unlocked were white.
‘Some of you will probably be summoned to explain your lack of transformation to the minister,’ Alexander added in the letter.
According to Rapport, Alexander wrote the letter after the Pumas only fielded two black players in their starting lineup during their match against the Stormers in Nelspruit last Friday.
SA Rugby reportedly spoke to the Pumas this week about their transformation plans.
The governing body has also spoken to the Free State and Blue Bulls about the composition of their teams during the recently completed U21 Championship.
The Free State’s team was 74% white, while the Blue Bulls was 70% on average during the competition. By comparison, the Lions fielded a team that was on average 40% white, Western Province 61% and the Sharks 63%
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