The major talking point should have been that Eastern Province somehow ratified a Boys’ u18 Craven Week squad that did not meet the prescribed transformation target, with the final team consisting of an 11:12 person-of-colour-to-white split rather than the required 12:11 ratio.
However, the issues surrounding the province’s Youth Week selections run far deeper.
It has emerged that players were added to various squads by the Eastern Province Rugby Union after selectors had already submitted their final teams. The squads ultimately released differed from those originally selected.
Ironically, four of the players who were reportedly inserted into the squads comes from a different region of the province — Robert Sobukwe (Graaff-Reinet), Kariega (Uitenhage), Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Tsitsikamma.
The additions follow suggestions of significant pressure being placed on the EPRU president at the union’s Annual General Meeting to ensure greater representation of “underprivileged” players within the provincial teams. From there politics took over.
The controversy does not end there.
In correspondence sent by the chairman of the Eastern Province High Schools Rugby Association to the president of the union, concerns were raised regarding alterations made to the Boys’ u16 Grant Khomo Week squad. The changes allegedly resulted in highly-rated players being omitted from the final team and replaced by players who did not feature in the final trials after failing to secure the backing of the selectors.
The fallout has extended beyond the players themselves.
In what many will view as a commendable moral stand, members of the coaching staff associated with the affected u16 Youth Week teams have indicated their willingness to step down should the matter remain unresolved and the selection changes continue without adequate justification.
What should have been a celebration of EP’s brightest young rugby talent has instead become a saga dominated by allegations of political interference, selection manipulation and now growing divisions between the union and its rugby structures.
Hoeveel van daai seuns wat nou in die bevooregte skole is kom van die skole waarvan die pres praat as minder bevooreg.Ek weet nie en het nie die stats nie. Maar as daar is wat beurse gekry het beteken dit nie dat daai ontwikkeling reeds gedoen is nie? Dis hoekom CW vir die meeste niks beteken nie behalwe vir n paar Kapenaars wat wil he die WP A en B span moet in die final speel om hul superiteit te bewys.Mense wat in n droomwereld met oogklappe wandel.
@HSBR (Comment #5) Can’t see players opting out. Regardless of the underlying issues, it remains a huge honor and goal for these boys to put on that provincial jersey.
@beet (Comment #6)
SA u 18 is just saru trying to justify their greensquad policy….the SA schools team will do just as well as the sa u 18 team
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@vonke_44 (Comment #4)
Why there is a difference is beyond me but basically one body – the High Schools Assoc picks the traditional SA Schools team to uphold this tradition I guess.
Then the real deal SA u18 that plays in the international series is a SARU driven selection.
It really should be one and the same.
As a result each year boys who did not play at CW for any one of a number of reasons are drafted into the SA u18 team.
Including boys who did not attend CW is not a bad thing but having two different teams is not great
Craven Week has lost its prestige in any case. Years ago it was used as an opportunity to get an union contract but now with contracts already given at the festivals there is really no use for it anymore. Spoke to an agent who said craven week is now an opportunity for the smaller universities to get players. Wouldn’t be surprised if players start opting out of the craven week to give their bodies a rest
@beet (Comment #2)
What is the difference between SAS and SAu18?
This is exactly the reason saru sucks,everything saru and its unions touches in schoolboy rugby turns to fuctup,the only reason our schools remain strong is because saru has no say in team selection at 1st team level….its high time schoolboy rugby ditches saru and go’s it alone they have the resources and skills and do not need to be dragged down by politics and incompetent “administrators”
@Wyvern (Comment #1)
CW for SAS = yes
CW for SA u18 = no
Youth weeks will forever play second fiddle in identifying talent (as compared to Wildeklawer, Ns, easter fests etc.) for this reason alone.
Does anyone know if it is a prerequisite for SA Schools selection that you need to attend CW?