SA Rugby has power to change lives of an entire generation of women

WHILE the Men have one eye on a breakaway R360 league that could ultimately transform the oval-ball game as we know it, Women’s rugby, particularly here in South Africa, is fighting tooth and nail to break free of its shackles.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The Springboks’ heroic performance at the Women's Rugby World Cup over the past month has firmly cast the spotlight on the game in South Africa.

For it was only three years ago that Bok Sevens Women’s coach Paul Delport quit his post in huff, stating “I'm not willing to work for people who don’t care about our Women’s Sevens programme.”

He went further by saying “[SA Rugby] don't give a shit. I'm just resigning because I can no longer peddle a lie to talented young women,’ said Delport.

“I don’t know why we're so backward and conservative in South Africa, the rest of the world has really lit the flame and carried the baton and we're just mucking around doing nothing”

These were harsh but true words from the former SA U21 scrumhalf. Even Saru chief Riaan Oberholzer admitted

“I think obviously we're quite far behind in starting the seriousness of women’s rugby in South Africa”