Since the problems being experienced by the Border Rugby Football Union have been put forward as a good reason for top school rugby players kids from schools in the region wanting to jump ship (with consent of their parents / guardians off course), I wanted to explore this. Can the problems at the Rugby Union rightfully be blamed for any sort of exodus or is this just a convenient excuse being used?
At the moment the Border RFU is in financial difficulty. This may be understating their problems but the bottom-line is that things are not good there as far as pro rugby in is concerned and it’s starting to impact on things like development as well. That said, in the past Border has never been the desired destination of any aspiring school leaver who wanted to pursue a career in rugby. These types of talent kids have always set their sights on playing for one of the big unions in South Africa and therefore it’s become common practice for the best school rugby players to leave the Border region once they matriculate. They generally head to either Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria or the Western Cape and in some cases Bloemfontein and even North West University in Potchefstroom who work with the Leopards to offer young players provincial A-section junior rugby, which has been the springboard for some successful rugby careers. Of late, the EP Kings based in nearby Port Elizabeth has become a popular destination for Border schools old boys.
A few years ago, the Border rugby union attempted to halt this process by denying players who had already signed with other rugby unions, the right to play at Craven Week. Although one might have argued that this was a move designed to uplift rugby after school in Border by encouraging youngsters to commit to the local academy, the strong-arm tactic was definitely the wrong approach to adopt. The poor decision cost several top local players the reward they deserved. SARU should have stepped in to condemn this form of prejudice immediately. Luckily the failed policy applied for just that one season only and is not longer enforced. A few very promising school players did leave Border during that time though and one cannot help but wonder what level of influence this badly thought out union policy had on the players who left.
The matter does highlight the one and only area where a rugby union and school rugby ever have to overlap. Rugby unions have been entrusted with overseeing the school age group youth weeks selection process and the funding of things such as trials, kit, travel and coaching. So if the union happens to be in a financial crisis, it is bound to have some sort of effect on the youth week teams, even if it is just the creating of a perception. For provincial youth weeks there are quota systems in place. This means that large percentages of youth week teams consist of “previously disadvantaged” players. In the economically impoverished Border area many of these selected players are still financially disadvantaged with some of them actually coming from extremely poor backgrounds. There is no way they can pay for their own travel or any other costs for that matter. And this has happened in Border. I know of at least one situation where parents have had to fork out to ensure their kids got to a provincial tournament. Ahead of this year’s youth weeks, a meeting took place between concerned parents and the union in order to get to a common understanding of what funds would be available just in case there were shortfalls requiring better off parents to step in and assist. That is unfortunately how things are at the moment. It’s definitely a concern and it’s one of those issues that anyone who seeks to profit by encouraging a star player to relocate to a school another region that is economically better off can use as a persuasion tool. I did find it interesting though that a few years back when the Golden Lions were in all sorts of financial turmoil, no one suggested players from Monnas, Florida, KES or Jeppe should be plotting an escape route from that rugby region. It’s also worth noting that SARU has appointed an official to help sort out Border’s woes.
Continuing on along the lines of perception that come about, one theory that has become very popular and not just in Border is that of the notion that it is far more difficult for white school rugby players to make it into SA Schools team from smaller regional Craven Week sides like Border than from say the Blue Bulls, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Lions or Western Province. This opinion is subject to debate and probably merits an analysis of the relationship between the results achieved by Craven Week teams and the number of white SA Schools representatives each has had over recent years. However for now whether anyone wants to agree with it or not, the perception is there and it can be used to sway a white school rugby player and/or his parents into believing that the grass is really greener on the other side. The Border Craven Week team may prove at least part of this to be true in 2015, when it’s expected that they will field a very strong Craven Week team barring any further players leaving between now and then obviously. With the Craven Week format as it stands, Border is unlikely to have a shot at playing in the unofficial final irrespective of how well they perform during their first two matches. It may even be contemplated whether they will even have a chance to play on the main field on the final day, something else that a growing number of small region supporters believe is crucial to SA Schools selection decision-making at Craven Week. It’s interesting that the new 2014 Craven Week winners Eastern Province, produced the 2012 Player of Craven Week in Sergeal Petersen and who were unbeaten that year, were overlooked for the 2012 final, so things don’t always work out as planned.
Staying with the very sensitive topic of race, a local Border region newspaper reported a few weeks back that out of school players raised concerns that places in the Border provincial team were reserved for players of colour only. This is the sort of news item that although may have no bearing on school rugby or youth week selection whatsoever, creates doubt about the integrity and future of rugby in the region. Somewhere subconsciously these sort of ongoing in the rugby community must factor in when weighing up the pros and cons of leaving for a school in another area.
In closing, it’s worth stating that in spite of issues at Border RFU, school rugby in Border is in a healthy state. They are churning out talent year after year. At least three of the schools in the region have been regarded as big guns on the South African schoolboy rugby scene and continue to hold their own, as a result of being able to offer rugby opportunities (perhaps just not the highly sort after 100% plus funding of players) on par with most of the best schools scattered around the country. A number of other schools in the Border region try equally hard and are on par with smaller schools that have produced Springbok players in recent seasons. Without saying as much a recent correspondence from the WPRU can be interpreted as suggesting that the union is interested in acquiring the services of top players after school but completely comfortable that these top players finish their school studies at their existing Border schools. The Border schools are up to standard but they face a growing challenge to retain their best players who are needed to produce good match results.
@rugbyfan: Agree I think we should get together and get “Beet Fund” going so he can do this full time he has the passion for it, met the man in PE stand up guy.
@Bateleur: I say no oversees based player. We have enough tournaments to keep all interested and able players busy. Vodacom / Currie Cup and S15. If you go and work somewhere else bugger off and enjoy your life. Rugby on all levels are in shambles because of the “people” in charge from the very top to primary schools.
@beet: Very good writing this you should open your own “Newspaper”.
Well done.
Shame poor Border I really feel for that area.
@DC Army: I’m not being mean or anything but from what I’ve seen from their u14 days Morgan made Brit look good. This whole situation is ridiculous. I don’t understand how Brits could do this to Selborne and us okes from EL who support Selborne because they are our flagship team.
@beet: I must congratulate you on an excellent article. @ Tjoppa: @ Bog: IMHO I think we shouldn’t allow any Springbok to play for the Boks if they’re not available for all the Bok games. I think that will halt the exodus initially and maybe even more than we imagine because not many overseas clubs would like to sign a contract like that? The problem we have is that it might not stop the young future Springboks.
@BoishaaiPa @Playa: Unfortunately perception, right or wrong, becomes reality. Unless the wrong perception is corrected, the ignorant will believe it to be the reality.
@BoishaaiPa:Sorry,I was referring to the perception,not insinuating that you share it.
@Playa: I said the perception exists and that is all it is, a perception and not the truth and as long as that perception is fuelled, the exodus will continue.
@BoishaaiPa: Judging from the amount of Border rugby players that are being snapped up by the big unions, would you not say that that perception is flawed?
I’ll be first to express my disgust at how BRFU has kept their house in the last 15 years, I certainly cannot blame boys looking for a future outside after school. But to say “they leave to get exposure during school” is absolute hogwash. Let the records show that.
Beet – excellent piece
@beet: @Tjoppa: I notice that we have a possible breakthrough here. The light is coming through and some wisdom with it. And it has nothing to do with “negativity”- its truth and REALITY! All that you have failed to ad, was that in a few years down the road, SA should do OK in the 3Nations- along with Zim and Namibia. And while Im busy with quasi politics, has anyone seen the “chairperson” of the Sport portfolio on Sport? She must weigh at least 400 Kg, 5000 craps behind schedule and I dont think that she has ever been near a sporting event, other than a hot dog eating contest, perhaps.Congratulations with your revelation !
@beet: Is Bog now preparing your answers and comment. But must agree. Things not looking that bright to all concerned.
@Tjoppa: I’ve made the same comparison recently Tjoppa.
Border school rugby and SA pro rugby will more or less in the same position in the years to come.
Saffas will experience the same dilemma. Best players will move to Europe and much better pay. Local teams will struggle for quality players as a result. Local fans will wish stricter controls over movements/eligibility to play abroad were in place when there was still hope of protecting something worth holding onto.
Very negative outlook I know
but unfortunately that’s how I see it.
@BoishaaiPa: And comparing Border with the big 5 is like comparing RSA with Europe. As long as schoolboy rugby is a business their kids will be flooding the big 5 union’s preferred schools.
Big 5 being Blue Bulls, Sharks, Lions, WP and OVS.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Border schools or their rugby, but as long as the perception is there that Border players will not get the exposure on the bigger platform that is Cravenweek and a possible SA Schools spot they might opt for better exposure at one of the bigger unions. @Queenian: and in that we might be a little closer to the truth..
Beet very well put agree with you.