A case-based analysis of the implementation of transformation in Western Cape rugby

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rugby in South Africa has a long racial and political history. This history was a direct resultof the policy of apartheid in which a deliberate attempt was made to arrange all areas of lifealong racial lines. One saw rugby being played and administered on the basis of race in whichdisparities between races became apparent. Twenty years into democracy and one has seentransformation in South African sport been increasingly prioritized by national government inwhich numerous policies have been developed to bring about redress and equity in sport. TheSouth African Rugby Union (SARU) and Provincial Rugby Unions in their attempt totransform rugby have implemented numerous strategic plans to ensure greater access to thegame in historically disadvantaged areas. Yet despite the efforts of both state and non-stateactors rugby at a senior national and provincial level is still dominated by white players eventhough the majority of rugby players at a junior level are non-white.The research focused on how transformation policies in rugby have been implemented in theWestern Cape. The research design was a case study, in which the author conducted anumber of interviews with rugby administrators and managers, both past and present,involved at the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU). The objectives of theresearch was to look at what implementation initiatives have been put in place, both on andoff the field, to bring about transformation of rugby in the Western Cape. The case studyfocused on rugby played at an intermediate level in which rugby institutions, school rugbyand recruitment and club rugby in the Western Cape were explored. The research focused onhow transformation policies have been implemented by those involved with rugby at aprovincial and local level. Implementation of transformation policies in rugby was seen as adynamic and complex process in which both state and non-state actors played an importantrole. Thus the theoretical approach of the research was a bottom-up approach to public policyimplementation.The findings showed that while there was no strict enforcement of a quota on teams at theintermediate level the WPRFU have carried out a number of implementation initiatives inwhich transformation has been advanced. This is particularly true of transformation off thefield in which employment equity and preferential procurement of the Union's broaderadministrative structure has been advanced. Yet findings into school and club level rugbyshowed that there still existed great social and economic disparities between historicallyadvantaged and disadvantaged groups. Thus the goal of achieving equity and access in rugbyhas yet to be reached at these levels. The research highlighted that transformation at a senior professional level will remain a challenge as rugby cannot escape the socioeconomic contextin which it is embedded in. Therefore increase focus needs to be placed on transformingrugby at school and club level in which disadvantaged groups need to be assisted so as toensure that rugby is played on a level playing field.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University