Cosatu enraged by Matfield's riot squad scrum cap

The Congress of SA Trade Unions homed in on Springbok captain Victor Matfield's choice of scrum cap as it questioned why so few black players were in big games, according to a report.

Beeld newspaper reported that during the match between South Africa and Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, Matfield played in the cap "of the former South African riot squad", according to Cosatu.

Beeld provided a front page comparison of Matfield in his Blue Bulls camouflage scrum cap, and two white men in camouflage caps with rifles, and the question: "What on earth has Vic got to do with the SA Police?"

The SA Police was the apartheid-era police.

Cosatu said Matfield did not grasp the effect this had on black people and proposed he rather wear a cap with the country's new national symbols.

Cosatu reportedly asked Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula to intervene at the SA Rugby Union (saru) which it claimed was an "old boys club" which gave preference to white players.

Saru said it would not comment at all.