'Bulls are not racists'
February 2, 2001

The Bulls have become embroiled in the latest saga to hit the implementation of the quota system in South African rugby.

South African Rugby Football Association (Sarfu) chief executive Rian Oberholzer on Thursday poured cold water over the Ministry of Sport's accusation that the Bulls selection policy is based either on provincialism or blatant racism.

Oberholzer said the Bulls were clearly following Sarfu's decree of selecting three quota players, despite the Ministry of Sport and Recreation's statement to the contrary.

Ministry spokesman Graham Abrahamson lashed out at the Bulls' selection policy after Thando Manana was left out of the Fijian pre-season tour, saying that the franchise is promoting the perception that racism is still rife in rugby.

"The policy of transformation is being stymied by the Bulls and it is either provincialism or blatant racism," Abrahamson said. "Sadly the Bulls failed in the first opportunity presented to them to demonstrate their commitment to transformation of the game," he added.

But according to Oberholzer, the complaints are unfounded with Bulls coach Phil Pretorius having selected "quota" players Adrian Jacobs, Gavin Paasens and McNeil Hendriks for the Fiji tour.

Adding to the confusion and seemingly unaware of his franchise's own team, Bulls chief executive Barend van Graan on Thursday passed the buck, saying that Pretorius was accountable for selection.

Van Graan admitted that he did not know why Pretorius apparently selected only one "black" player after initially picking four in their Super 12 interim squad. "I will speak to Phil as soon as possible to sort this out," he said. "There is still an opportunity for them to make the final squad," he added.

Abrahamson, speaking as an official Ministry of Sport spokesman, went on in length as to the exclusion of Manana but according to Oberholzer, the Springbok flanker was dropped and not omitted for any sinister reasons. "He was just not selected," said Oberholzer. - Sapa

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