The New Zealand Rugby Union, backed by its government, are to tackle their South African counterparts over an announcement on Wednesday that placed a proposed match between the NZ Maori and the Springboks in the balance.

The game, ear-marked to be played in Soweto in early June, is under threat as the South African Rugby Union's notorious President's Council has a ruling that prevents national teams from playing against racially-selected teams.

In a statement on Wednesday SARU revealed that there are "several obstacles" to overcome should they (SARU) wish to pursue the offer of playing against the Maori side.

However, the biggest stumbling block appears to be the fact that the Maori team is selected along "racial" lines.

"They include the financial viability of the project, logistics around venues and player availability and the fundamental stumbling block of a long-established President's Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected along racial lines," a SARU statement said on Wednesday.

The NZRU and the New Zealand government acted swiftly and have already engaged SA Rugby bosses in discussions about the perception that the Maori team is a racially motivated selection.

New Zealand's race relations commissioner Joris de Bres has written to SARU urging them to allow the Maori team to play the Springboks, while the NZRU said they remain hopeful the match will go ahead.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said a "number of discussions" on the possibility of a NZ Maori versus Springboks match had been held with SA Rugby acting Managing Director Andy Marinos and supported by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

"As we said in December, we have been working very hard to try and arrange a fixture for the New Zealand Maori team for this year and the Springboks match is the one we are currently pursuing," Sorensen said in a statement on Thursday.

"Obviously, it would be fantastic for New Zealand Maori, the Springboks and their respective fans if the match took place but it is still early days and we know that there are a number of hurdles that need to be cleared if the match is to be confirmed."

Sorensen also expressed surprise at the SA Rugby President’s Council resolution which forbids SA teams playing against teams selected along racial lines - describing it as a "bolt out of the blue" and added that it had not come up so far in the discussions between the NZRU and SA Rugby.

"That is obviously just one of the many things that SA Rugby will need to discuss internally but we obviously hope that the match will take place and will hold further talks with SA Rugby over the coming weeks."

New Zealand Maori last toured South Africa in 1994, playing four matches against Vaal Triangle, Free State, Griqualand West and Eastern Province.

Sorenson was planning to call Marinos on Thursday again to try to get clarification on the statement that was issued from SARU offices on Wednesday.

Sorenson accepted that the Maori side was racially based in that "you have to be a Maori to play in it".

But he chose to side with New Zealand race relations commissioner Joris de Bres who in his letter to SARU said: "I have no problem with the concept of a Maori rugby team, or a European rugby team, or a Chinese rugby team, as long as our national, regional and local representative teams are open to people of all ethnicities. This is ethnic diversity, not racial discrimination."

Asked his thoughts on De Bris' letter, Sorenson said: "I think it's inspirational. We agree with everything."

The NZRU were working to a February deadline to try to have the match settled. They wanted to discuss South African suggestions that it could drag out till the end of March now.

Sorenson didn't want to get drawn into the politics of South African rugby when it was raised that South African sides had a racial issue with quotas since their reinstatement to international rugby in 1992.

De Bres' letter in full:

"Dear Members of the SARU Board,

"I am writing to you in response to media reports this morning that the South African Rugby Union has a policy that may prevent the Springboks from playing the New Zealand Maori team in Soweto later this year because of a President's Council resolution forbidding the appearance of SARU teams against opponents selected along racial lines.

"As New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner I appreciate why such a policy would have been adopted, particularly because of the racial discrimination in sport that existed in South Africa under apartheid. However, there is no such discrimination in New Zealand: people of all ethnic backgrounds are eligible to play in New Zealand's national, regional and local representative teams, and alongside that, consistent with the principle of freedom of association, people are free to play together in any other combination.

"The New Zealand Maori rugby team has a proud history in New Zealand and has the support of the community as a whole.

"As Race Relations Commissioner, I have no problem with the concept of a Maori rugby team, or a European rugby team, or a Chinese rugby team, as long as our national, regional and local representative teams are open to people of all ethnicities. This is ethnic diversity, not racial discrimination.

"I would urge you to proceed with the proposed game between the Springboks and the New Zealand Maori rugby team in Soweto. I am sure it would be welcomed by the people of Soweto, the people of South Africa and the people of New Zealand.

"Yours sincerely
Joris de Bres
Race Relations Commissioner"

  • What do YOU think of this whole debacle? Does SARU have a point? Leave a comment below!

    365

    RSS
    Digg
    de.li.cious
    facebook


    Print this page
    Send this article to a friend