South African Rugby
South African rugby brings in racial quotas
ESPN Staff
August 14, 2013
President of the South African Rugby Union, Oregan Hoskins, South African and British and Irish Lions Banquet, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 4, 2009
SARU president Oregon Hoskins has brought in new racial quotas © Getty Images
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The South African Rugby Union has brought in new racial quotas which will apply to next season's Vodacom Cup.

The news was announced on Wednesday by SARU president Oregon Hoskins as they seek to increase the number of players of colour turning out in South Africa's Super Rugby franchises and for the Springboks.

From next season, teams in the Vodacom Cup, a tournament which takes place between March and April, will be required to pick a minimum of seven players of colour in their 22-man matchday squads, two of whom must be forwards, with five starting.

"This decision to introduce measurable targets underlines SARU's commitment to transformation," SARU president Hoskins said. "The Vodacom Cup is a critical step on the development pathway in professional rugby but it had moved away from its primary purpose of presenting opportunities for young emerging players, particularly black players.

"This is rugby's tangible step on delivering on a pledge (to transform). The intended outcome is an increased pool of black talent from which Currie Cup and Super Rugby coaches can select and - in due course - more options for the Springbok coach."

And Hoskins added that he thought it was correct to take direct action. "The mood of the organisation is that we needed to intervene - and this was coming from the provinces as well - to see the graph of black player representation begin to rise."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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