SA Rugby boss responds after report criticises Springboks over ‘transformation’ failure
The latest internal audit of SA Rugby’s Strategic Transformation Development Plan 2030 (STDP 2030) indicates that the sport is tracking firmly in the right direction, according to SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.
This, after Sunday newspaper Rapport revealed recently that the audit confirmed that the Springboks did not achieve their transformation targets in any of the three series they played in 2023.
Despite that, Alexander expressed his happiness with the progress made by his organisation on the transformation front.
‘Massive commitment’ from provincial unions
“Overall, I am very happy with our performance,” said Alexander. “The provincial unions all showed massive commitment and passed their self-determined targets. Team demographics are a challenge in some areas, but pathways are becoming better transformed, which is very positive for the future.”
The STDP2030 includes all areas of endeavour in rugby – including operations such as procurement, governance, staffing, committees as well as team demographics.
Alexander continued, “Transformation is a process, and it is very easy to see the progress we are making on the field when you turn on the television and watch rugby at all levels.”
“What you miss are the other rapidly developing areas of diversity and inclusion that are included in the STDP 2030. These include performance, community development and social responsibility, corporate governance, skills and capacity development, demographic representation, and game accessibility.
“At the level of our national teams, where we have made revolutionary progress under the direction of Raisi Erasmus, this improvement is nowhere more evident.
“Yes, we have targets for the demographics of the Springboks, but we also have performance targets that we will not waver from, and we are unquestionably making progress on both fronts.”
“Misleading headlines are exaggerating the size of the transformation eruption in the media, but our group sees the situation from a far wider perspective.
Since inclusion guarantees that everyone is treated fairly and has a voice in the team environment, it is just as important as diversity.
‘Dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture’
“Our commitment extends beyond diverse representation; we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture where every player, regardless of their background, feels valued and heard.
“The Springboks are the best athletes available to represent our nation in any given year; they are a true representation of the talent pool, and significant strides are being made in generating opportunities and new heroes for every community.
“The social cohesion of our nation has been positively impacted by the Springbok team.” Rassie Erasmus recently received an honorary doctorate, which he deserved since he knows what it means to be a South African. He chooses his players based on their devotion to one another and what they can provide the team.
“The STDP is an ongoing procedure that will conclude in 2030. Our method of tracking development, acknowledging accomplishments, and identifying potential improvement areas is through the yearly reports.
