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SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux speaks to the media after France was announced as the host nation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup at London’s Royal Garden Hotel on November 15, 2017 (Photo by Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)
- When rugby resumes in South Africa at Loftus on Saturday, SA Rugby will take a stand against racism and discrimination.
- However, special attention will be paid to the organization’s stance on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and any pre-match statements.
- Springboks Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager made headlines while on duty for Sale Sharks last month when they chose not to kneel in support of BLM.
SA Rugby has communicated to its unions a proposal on how it will take a stand against racism and discrimination when Saturday super fan takes place at Loftus this weekend.
On Saturday, the Sharks will face the Bulls at 4:25 p.m. before the Lions take on the Stormers at 6:55 p.m. in what will be the first live professional rugby matches in South Africa since Super Rugby was suspended as result of the coronavirus pandemic towards the end of March.
Since the death of American George Floyd on May 25, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has gained traction around the world and, closer to home, has been a major talking point in South African cricket, in particular.
Former players and coaches have presented their own experiences of racism and exclusion in South African cricket, and on July 18, when Cricket South Africa hosted the Solidarity Cup in Centurion, all players and coaching staff from all three teams knelt. in solidarity with BLM before the first ball was thrown.
Also in the English Premier League, the players knelt together before the start of the match, a stance that has lasted until the start of the 2020/21 season.
Kneeling has become the universal symbol of showing support for BLM, but a group of South African rugby players, including Springbok World Cup winners Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager, made headlines last month by opting out. kneel when they played for the Sharks of Sale.
South Africans playing abroad who were “ on their feet ” while on duty in Europe that weekend wore jerseys with the words “ Rugby Against Racism ” printed on them, but not kneeling was enough to get action out of South African sports. Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who wanted answers from SA Rugby.
SuperSport will air Super Fan Saturday this weekend, and SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux sent a proposal to participating franchises, which Sport24 you’ve seen, outlining the plans for the moments leading up to the start.
Roux proposes that “players make their way onto the field as they normally would: occupying their positions, kneeling in prayer (or for any other reason), shaking hands with their teammates, passing the ball or as they normally do the final preparations” .
When the players take to the field, SuperSport will broadcast a “creed” that will make SA Rugby’s position on the fight against racism clear.
The proposal would apply before the opener on Saturday and then again at the subsequent Springbok Showdown, scheduled for Newlands on Oct. 3, which will see two ‘Bok’ teams square off in an effective test match.
A concern of Roux is how players can be “attacked” or “vilified” on social media by different sections of the public, regardless of the stance they choose to take.
In both the stadium and on the SuperSport broadcast, the proposed diversity and inclusion creed would highlight SA Rugby’s united stance against racism and inequality in South Africa.
The creed further recognizes the need for equal opportunity and a commitment to “do more to eliminate discrimination and inequality among administrators, players and officials,” while adding that “we must work harder to create a culture in which each person sits seen, heard, and supported. “
