Grant Khomo flare-up: Someone forgot to read the fine print
REACTION: The emotional outcry suggested a major crime had been committed. However, it happened to be no more than an oversight or miscalculation by Western Province officials.
The social media headlines spoke of a 'quota bomb', while political parties jumped on the bandwagon with obligatory condemnation and a civil rights organisation also set out to score political points.
All this followed the decision to deny WP the 'privilege' to play in the main game (not a Final as reported in some media) on the final day of the Grant Khomo Under-16 tournament at Hoër Landbouskool Boland in the Western Cape on Thursday.
Noel Ingle, Chairman of the South African Schools Rugby Association - which is the organising committee for the event - confirmed to @rugby365com that Province was punished for not adhering to the rules and regulations of the event.
He pointed out that all teams (and team managers) were provided with and were well aware of, the tournament rules and regulations.
That requires that all teams field a 'target' (minimum) 12 players of colour in a matchday squad of 23 players.
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"They [WP] transgressed one of the tournament rules," Ingle said, adding that there had to be some sanction.
Province, unbeaten through the first two rounds, had not met the required '12 players of colour' target.
Injuries resulted in them having to call up two additional players, who were both white - resulting in a breach of the tournament regulations.
They were originally scheduled to take on Free State - the other unbeaten team after the first two rounds - in the main match on Thursday.
However, someone lodged a complaint about their failure to adhere to the tournament target.
Ingle confirmed a complaint was lodged, but declined to confirm it was the Bulls - as some media reports suggested.
Instead the Bulls - who lost to WP on Day Two - advanced to the main match and Province tackled the Lions in the penultimate match of the tournament.
"We did not want to punish the players," Ingle told @rugby365com, adding: "We do not believe the players were disadvantaged through this sanction.
"They still got to play in an important fixture against very good opposition.
"In a worst-case scenario, they could have been moved to a very early match or suspended."
WP officials were not available for comment, but Ingle believed it was a genuine oversight.
"Unfortunately someone made a mistake and there had to be some sanction," he said, adding that transformation is something they take very seriously.
"When something like this happens, it should not affect the boys," Ingle added.
It did not stop attempts to politicise the event.
Civil Rights organisation AfriForum sent a letter to the South African Rugby Union to request that they intervene and address the decision.
"AfriForum is strongly opposed to any racial discrimination as it deprives individuals of the opportunity to compete purely based on the colour of their skin," the organisation said in a statement.
"SARU launched its Rugby Against Discrimination And Racism campaign in 2019, highlighting SARU's zero tolerance to discrimination and racism in rugby.
"Therefore, we believe that this act of discrimination against a team of minor rugby players, violates the core values of this campaign and should be addressed urgently," Ronald Peters, Manager: Sport, AfriForum.
The DA also released a statement in which it 'condemned' the punishment of the Western Province team.
"Racial quotas [sic] have no place in sports, especially in children's sports, and the DA will request an investigation by the SA Human Rights Commission," Tsepo Mhlongo, DA Shadow Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, said in a statement.
"We will also inform World Rugby about the government's interference in grassroots rugby and the violation of its regulations.
"The DA strongly condemns the unjust discrimination witnessed at the under 16 Grant Khomo tournament.
"The DA will promptly request the South African Human Rights Commission to conduct an investigation into this matter.
"The DA firmly believes that racial quotas [sic] and discrimination based on skin color have no place in any sport, particularly in children's sports."
* Meanwhile, the Bulls beat Free State 20-12 in the final match of the U16 Grant Khomo Week.
Day Three results
South Western Districts 19-24 Pumas
Limpopo Blue Bulls 29-16 Zimbabwe
Border Country Districts 7-28 Free State XV
Boland 13-15 Eastern Province
Griquas 23-0 Namibia
Griffons 6 Falcons
Western Province XV 25-8 Sharks
Leopards 12-12 Border
Western Province 10-5 Lions
Free State 12-20 Bulls
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