RWC: No govt approval, but...
16/07/2007 22:30 - (SA)
Stephen Nell, Die Burger
Cape Town - The list of 30 players selected to represent South Africa at the Rugby World Cup tournament later this year does not have to be submitted to the government for approval.
SA Rugby Union (Saru) deputy president Mike Stofile made this clear on Monday, saying, "It has nothing to do with government.
"I hate this notion that comes up time and again that, before the announcement of a team or a squad, it (the names) must go to the minister of sport or the chair of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport for approval.
"Rugby is controlled by rugby people; not by government," Stofile said.
SA Rugby will announce the squad of 30 players for this year's World Cup tournament on Saturday.
It has been widely speculated that only six black players will be included and that political interference could take place.
Players who have been mentioned are prop Gurthro Steenkamp, scrumhalf Ricky Januarie, centre Waylon Murray and wings Ashwin Willemse, Bryan Habana and Akona Ndungane.
Stofile said rugby, as a sports code, should be mature enough to make the correct decisions on its own.
"We should do the right thing and apply transformation. As a sports code we should be mature enough to know how to manage our affairs. We must create equal opportunities for white and black players"
Six black players would not be enough
Stofile said the squad of 30 had to be approved by Saru president Oregan Hoskins.
Cedrick Frolick, vice-chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, said on Monday six black players would not be enough.
"Six will definitely be unacceptable," he said. "If you look at the players South Africa has at its disposal, more than six can certainly be chosen."
Frolick did not want to name an acceptable figure. He did say, however, that it was important that players who were selected should be given opportunities to play.
"We'll just wait and see what happens. There were opportunities during the Tri-Nations to create chances for players such as Wayne Julies and Hilton Lobberts but it did not happen."
Butana Komphela, chair of the sports portfolio committee, said he did not want to play a numbers game.
"Indications from rugby sources are that this squad will not be representative," he said.
"We are fastening our safety belts but must support the announcement."
There was no chance that the passports of the players would be withheld if the team were not representative, Frolick said.
"The ANC's position regarding passports is that it is anyone's constitutional right to have one. If can be withdrawn for criminal reasons but this does not apply here."
