South African RL News

[The Partisan]

I visited SA in 1994 and met with a number of the people mentioned in those years whilst staying with Dave Southern who i had corresponded with (as in letter writing !!!) for a few months before heading over.

Certainly saw the signs of acrimony and upheaval but also caught a few local games which i really enjoyed.

Shame it has never kicked on properly.

 

[Springbokfly]

they are without a doubt THE sleeping giant of world Rugby League. Even if only 5% switched, imagine the possibilities...

:roll::roll:

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Craigo]

:roll::roll:

:lol::lol::lol:

Troll lollol lollollol

 

[RoosTah]

I'd like to see a strong League culture in South Africa, but I reckon it'd take 50 years to build one and a couple of extremely zealous high net worth individual that were hell bent on building a pro comp there. In short, I just don't see how it could happen... most South Africans I know don't like League and are just completely obsessed with Union. It'd be like trying to build League in Melbourne 20 years ago, but with the added challenge that you can't put an NRL side there to give the game exposure.

 

[Bronco Rob]

I'd like to see a strong League culture in South Africa, but I reckon it'd take 50 years to build one and a couple of extremely zealous high net worth individual that were hell bent on building a pro comp there. In short, I just don't see how it could happen... most South Africans I know don't like League and are just completely obsessed with Union. It'd be like trying to build League in Melbourne 20 years ago, but with the added challenge that you can't put an NRL side there to give the game exposure.

Once you break down their insular and narrow-minded view, many South Africans I've spoken to who give League a go actually like the code. But for some there will always be the narrow-mindedness and intolerant, prejudiced view towards Rugby League which may never change.

They really need some exposure to the game and some commitment from the RLIF. After the Broncos did their coaching venture into South Africa there has been no follow-up at all. I've spoken to the crew that went over and the response from the locals was outstanding and stated they would do a follow-up if asked as this trip was funded by the RLIF not the Broncos.

 

[RoosTah]

Once you break down their insular and narrow-minded view, many South Africans I've spoken to who give League a go actually like the code. But for some there will always be the narrow-mindedness and intolerant, prejudiced view towards Rugby League which may never change.

They really need some exposure to the game and some commitment from the RLIF. After the Broncos did their coaching venture into South Africa there has been no follow-up at all. I've spoken to the crew that went over and the response from the locals was outstanding and stated they would do a follow-up if asked as this trip was funded by the RLIF not the Broncos.

It's a tricky one dealing with the prejudice... I personally reckon League would be wise to focus on the poorer areas that don't have that anti-league snobbery. League has always been more of a game of the people and more inclusive than Union, so that's what ought to be focused on early on.

 

[Evil Homer]

^ Its funny that I've seen South African RL being accused of being 'lilywhite', even moreso than RU. IIRC that was the previous administration in Pretoria so maybe things are different on the Cape.

 

[RoosTah]

^ Its funny that I've seen South African RL being accused of being 'lilywhite', even moreso than RU. IIRC that was the previous administration in Pretoria so maybe things are different on the Cape.

Jeez... really? That's pretty bloody poor form. League ought to be out in front embracing people of all races - particularly in South Africa!

One of the great things about League has always been its inclusiveness in Australia. Growing up I always felt that the league teams I played with were the most diverse. Had people from everywhere in teams I played with. Soccer was purely a Mediterranean thing and you would cop flak for being a "skip" if you were white, whilst in union it was pretty white with a a strong Polynesian presence.

 

[crimpo]

League certainly was far from lilly-white in South Africa in the 1990s. In fact they were ahead of RU in trying to reach out. The revived RL seems mainly (but clearly not universally) white - but that just reflects RU in South Africa which (to its credit)has spent a lot of time and money trying to broaden its demographic but is probably disappointed by the results.

For the record, the vast majority of South Africans are obsessed with football (i.e. soccer). All other sports are left well behind.

 

[RoosTah]

For the record, the vast majority of South Africans are obsessed with soccer. All other sports are left well behind.

Well that's because 90% of the country is black and there is still a stigma and exclusiveness attached to Rugby there. This doesn't need to exist with League, so they ought to be holding clinics around the country trying to promote it - particularly in those soccer-only regions where they have no idea a game like Rugby League exists and there is a strong animosity toward union - the marketing writes itself!

 

[miguel de cervantes]

http://www.nospam18.com/rlp-nations...frica-for-historic-long-term-development-plan

Australian Rugby League coach arrives in South Africa for historic long term development plan

• http://www.nospam18.com/media/system/images/emailButton.png

http://www.nospam18.com/images/nations/South-Africa-RL-Dev.jpg
Date: 16/10/14
The Rugby League International Federation, South African Rugby League and National Rugby League (Australia) have combined forces to send a NRL/RLIF Accredited coaching moderator to South Africa for a historic 3 month coaching development program.
Brian Greige has coached internationally in the USA and New Zealand, and has extensive experience delivering top level coaching programs in Australia for the NRL. The primary goal of his extended trip is to spend time with the various club and regional coaches, delivering a series of coaching development workshops. In addition Brian will be working closely with Fanie Bredenhann, SARL Director of Coaching, with the national team management and players to get the Rhino’s ready for next years World Cup Qualifier.
South Africa lost the bid to host the 2017 RLIF World Cup to a combined bid from Australia and New Zealand, but will be eager to make an impression on the world stage in 2017 as they will certainly bid for 2021 again. Kobus Botha, President of SARL, was very excited about the coaching development program: “The coaching development pathway is a program that SARL has been working on since last year, and the first phase was to sent some coaching and match official experts to South Africa last year. This year we see a continuation on the program, but with the difference that Brian will be able to spend considerabel time in South Africa at the various provinces.”
The trip has the support of sponsors from both Australia and South Africa, and locally Brian is sponsored a vehicle by Action Ford Krugersdorp, making the program so much more feasible.

 

[roughyedspud]

we need a federation shield type comp to use as a test event for future hosts of future world cups...we need to see how they cope with a 6-8 team federation shield first..

personally i think canada are best placed as potential world cup hosts

 

[Foreign Legion]

nice

 

[deluded pom?]

This is the sort of initiative the RLIF need to do more of. Long term commitment to develop the game at ground level will pay benefits for years to come. Well done the RLIF, NRL and the SARL.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

^^^ the above initiative was funded by the Asia Pacific Confederation thingo (ARLC).

Looks like the SARL were not able to get around the red tape (THERE IS ONLY ONE RUGBY IN SOUTH AFRICA) and are forced to associate in some way with SARU (union) in order to get access to government funding and caps etc.

This seems to be a very, very strange mess and not a good position to be in I wouldn't think.

http://www.sarugbyleague.co.za/news...s-towards-sascoc-recognition-for-rugby-league

SARL and SARU making progress towards SASCOC Recognition for rugby league

11/3/2014
0 Comments

SARL and SARU had a landmark meeting where SARL was presented the opportunity to present their case for Association to SARU to the Executive Council of SARU and all the Presidents of the various provinces. This is part of the process for Association Status to SARU. SARL sits in the unique situation that clauses in the Articles of Association of SASCOC and SRSA, South Africa’s governing body for sport and it’s operational arm, prevents them from recognising SARL as a different governing body for sport. The only solution forward was for the two sporting codes to approach it from a different angle, and an Association Status is the only solution.

Both codes have been working hard at creating a memorandum of agreement for Association, and this will be presented to the SARU Executive Council at their December Annual General Meeting. Once this has been passed by majority vote, SARL will get automatic recognition as a sporting body within the structures of SASCOC and SRSA. This will enable SARL to have their players “capped” when representing South Africa, and also open the doors for development initiatives at grass roots levels.

Both parties are upbeat about the progress, and the willingness for the two sporting bodies to work together to reach a solution to ensure that players of all races, gender and age can be afford the opportunity to participate in a sport of their choosing and stand the chance to represent their country at international level.​

 

[Foreign Legion]

That's bs

 

[miguel de cervantes]

The memorandum of agreement would be interesting reading.

Something along the lines of "you can have some funding but we get first pick of your best players".

 

[docbrown]

Time to go poaching South African union players for the NRL.

Enough so they can string together a competitive test side and weaken the Springboks.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Honestly I hope the RLIF are being proactive in this. This should be a top priority for them and should be getting onto the ARLC and the RFL for support to heavily lobby the SASCOC for separate recognition. I emailed SASCOC months ago about the injustice but never got a response. How can they be so disingenuous to a sport that has been around since 1895 and has one of the biggest Rugby comps in the World in the NRL? Or are there more agenda-driven reasons behind it?

 

[RoosTah]

Time to go poaching South African union players for the NRL.

Enough so they can string together a competitive test side and weaken the Springboks.

That's actually not a bad idea... I'd like to see the NRL mining them for talent a bit even if just to raise more awareness in South Africa for RL. I also think the NRL, ESL and RLIF should petition the government to recognise the sport officially, telling them that if they don't they've never get a shot at hosting a WC.