Saru still set on 50% black target

[caption id="attachment_70176" align="alignright" width="300"] UNLOCK TALENT: Saru chief executive Jurie Roux at the transformation strategy briefing in Cape Town yesterdayPicture: -[/caption]

‘Transformation in rugby critical business imperative’

THE South African Rugby Union (Saru) has vowed to continue its pursuit of a 50% black player target in the Springbok team by 2019.

Saru chief executive Jurie Roux yesterday reiterated the target, announced initially in September last year, at the unveiling of the union’s Strategic Transformation Plan (STP), which has been two years in the making.

Roux, though, was quick to point out that it was not a tool designed to impose quotas, but to rather set targets that Saru and the provincial unions would be measured against.

“Responsibility is the main aim of the STP. Like every company in South Africa, we have to do our duty.

“We’ve already set targets in the Vodacom Cup and Community Cup and we have a target of 50% black player representation for Currie Cup, Super Rugby and the Springboks by 2019,” Roux said.

When the move was first mooted, EP Kings boss Cheeky Watson came out firmly in support of the measures.