Rugby transformation starts from inside: iLIVE

Transformation in rugby is not where it should be.

I visit the townships and there is very little done there to build rugby clubs and fields for junior and high schools.

There needs to be a massive channelling of financial and human resources into this.

In addition, each club should be equipped with a soup kitchen so young players can eat free of charge after games. This will draw many more children to play rugby.

Touch rugby should also be introduced.

At the moment, a handful of rugby bursaries are given to children in previously disadvantaged areas.

Then those concerned seem to pat each other on the back to feel good, and that's transformation.

The truth is that what has been done to develop the game in these areas is close to nothing, except maybe in KwaZulu-Natal.

True transformation in all the other provinces is a joke.

Too much money is going to the very top level rugby players and executives, leaving pennies for building clubs in the t ownships.

We need to make rugby 100% professional so that it doesn't matter where you play in the world, if you are the right player for the Springbok position, you get it, with more leniency to players of colour where it's a 50/50 call.

Every child should be blessed with the opportunity to play the game, because they want to and because it's accessible.