This statement from trade union Solidarity follows the action of several pressure groups in the lead up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The latest objection came in the shape of an application for an urgent interdict filed by an outsider political party, the Agency for New Agenda (ANA). In the court application, the party requests the International Rugby Union (IRU) to ban the Springboks from participating in the 2015 World Cup because of a lack of transformation.
Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive of Solidarity, believes that there is no room for politics in national sport. “South Africans should now stand firmly behind the Springboks and not get involved in infighting about transformation. We believe that rugby players should not be chosen for the Springbok team based on their race; their selection should be based on their ability to bring the World Cup home,” Hermann explained.
During this time leading up to the kick-off of the World Cup on 18 September, the Solidarity Movement will show its support for the Springboks through a social media campaign with the theme “Solidarity supports the Boks”.
Hermann encouraged the public to support the campaign. “We think the answer to the debate is simple – keep white and black out of the green and gold. The issue, therefore, should not be about whether a player is white or black; it should rather be about whether he is gold or not,” Hermann said.
