Tony Ehrenreich, Provincial Secretary at Cosatu Western Cape said the “old boys’ club” in rugby were still in control of the sport “in the same way they always have and they manage their public relations to reinforce this,” he said.
Over the weekend, the Springboks beat Scotland 55-6 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union urged Bok coach, Heyneke Meyer to select more black players in the squad.
“Looking at the match on Saturday, again black players are brought onto the field in the last five minutes, even though the Springboks are comfortably ahead. This is because the coach is scared that the black players will outshine the white players, if they get lots of game time,” claimed Ehrenreich.
“Even when players go off for injury, they are rushed back on because the black replacements may shine,” he added.
Ehrenreich added that the camouflage scrum cap which Bok captain Victor Matfield wore was a ‘symbol of apartheid’. “Matfield wears an old South African riot squad skull cap, completely disregarding how this may impact on the sentiments of black South Africans,” he said.
Do you think the cap is offensive?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or tweet us @RK_Gazette
Add us on BBM for the latest news in your community. PIN: 29C7976C
