Between a rock and a hard place

Government’s overt interference in the Super 14 bid process casts the spotlight on the seemingly insurmountable dilemma in which SA Rugby finds itself.

And, let it be said, it also provides yet another indication of to what extent South Africa got the Super 12 wrong.

Had SA Rugby stayed with a system of provinces qualifying for the tournament rather than overthrowing years of tradition to move to a regional set-up this problem would not now have occurred but, I’m afraid, little can be done to correct the errors of previous administrations.

It is also debatable whether the game of rugby can do anything about being held to ransom by government on the selection of a fifth South African franchise to compete in the new Super 14 tournament.

On the one hand SA Rugby has to do something about encouraging and developing black rugby and there is no arguing that the only region in which blacks participate in rugby in large numbers, and where they have a tradition of playing the game, is in the Eastern Province and Border.

It would seem to be imperative that these players be included but can SA Rugby afford to exclude rugby nurseries such as Grey College, Free State University and the Cheetahs by turning its back on Bloemfontein?

The extent of the problem is shown by the fact that while the Cheetahs have 14 players in the Cats squad for the Super 12 only one player from the southern and eastern Cape region, Tiger Mangweni of Border, will see any Super 12 action (with the Stormers).

There seems to be almost no way out of the conundrum. The central region, anchored by Free State, is a proven powerhouse of rugby while the eastern Cape is a hotbed of black rugby.

South African rugby cannot lose either and, one wonders, whether in the end it might not be better to coax a compromise with the fifth side representing the “rest” of South Africa?