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As an expat, I no longer have easy access to a crackling fire laden with meat, cold ones on tap and what seem to be rugby’s wisest men- the weekend enthusiast (home commentator) with their fiery debates and seemingly unrivalled insight on the way forward for SA Rugby. I do however manage to catch most important SuperRugby and all national games online, even if the household is fast asleep and I sit in relative silence trying to contain shouts of “OFFSIDE! Comeon Mr Ref!”, and the like.
Of late, there has been much media coverage of the latest SA Rugby debacle, “quota” players. It seems anything more than a whisper of the concept is sure to set off disgruntled fans across a nation that so love this game. As much as I do understand the various viewpoints as I did the criticisms of the last coach (still a sore point for many), I must say to all naysayers back home, and please do take note:
The introduction of more players of colour, whether deserving of a spot or not, is such an amazing thing, as it not only enhances the talent and experience of such men, but more importantly it creates heroes for children from neighborhoods who never really cared for the sport or could never really call it their own. Yes development needs to happen at grass roots level, but what’s the point of developing the products and services, if you haven’t really created a demand? Quite simple business acumen really! To think that the pool of talent will grow much faster in this way, how can it not be the way forward?
Yes townships, rural areas and disadvantaged neighborhoods will still need infrastructure, expertise and the required funding to truly take their place in the current system. BUT, I do remember growing up that nurturing skills and a love for the game only required a few youngsters, the smallest of spaces and a juvenile dream of rugby grandeur- to the point where you would even pretend to be your rugby hero during a game of “touchies”. Five years down the line, I’m quite certain that this will only serve to strengthen the SA Rugby enthusiast dream- being the best. I know we all deeply despise losing at any level, but can we as a national support base just put our own needs for victory on hold for 10 seconds to take a look into the future? Vastly greater talent pools, new unchartered territories for rugby leagues and of course so many more enthusiasts- everybody wins. That is the rainbow nation’s dream I was told.
As an aside, I’d also like to say that I really do not mind the national team trying new tactics, new people and generally new approaches to rugby. It’s really the only way the game itself can evolve and the team in all fairness is not a total punishment to watch. Growth can be a painful process, but it can only get better from here and I support Coetzee 110%, just like I’m sure I would support the next vision for the game in SA.
It’s truly such a wonderful game and as fans living in SA, people probably won’t realize just how fortunate they are to have such a wealth of sport, culture and social interaction generated by this game. Yes there will always be problems and diverging opinions, but let’s just put that on hold, take a deep breath and drink all that beauty in before we all “throw our toys out of the cot” again over seemingly petty differences.
