SA Rugby joins calls to Take on Racism

Mar 17 • General News, International • 3464 Views • Comments Off on SA Rugby joins calls to Take on Racism

The South African rugby fraternity has thrown its weight behind the Anti-Racism Week with all Vodacom Super Rugby teams in action locally this weekend and will wear yellow armbands to show their support for the campaign.

The initiative stems from the sporadic and unfortunate incidents of racism in South Africa, with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation joining forces with 80 civil society organisations to form the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa (ARNSA).

“We’ve been approached by ARNSA to participate in the Anti-Racism Week, which started on 14 March and will culminate on Human Rights Day on 21 March. As a sport who prides itself on having the power to unite our nation, we’ve gladly accepted,” said SA Rugby President, Mr Oregan Hoskins.

“SA Rugby fully embraces this initiative from ARNSA, and we firmly believe that the unity of the Rainbow Nation can and will overtake and eradicate the stubborn fog of racism.

“We remain committed to non-racial sport and embrace diversity and racial reconciliation. We strongly condemn racism in all forms and wish to emphasise that it has no place in rugby and our beautiful country.”

Three Vodacom Super Rugby matches are scheduled to take place this weekend in South Africa. The local action kicks off with two derbies, on Friday evening in Pretoria, where the Vodacom Bulls host the Cell C Sharks (19h00), and on Saturday in Johannesburg, where the Emirates Lions will host the Toyota Cheetahs.

The final match of the weekend is in Cape Town between the DHL Stormers and the Brumbies on Saturday (19h15). Earlier on Saturday, the Southern Kings kick off their New Zealand tour with a match against the Crusaders in Christchurch (08h35).

For more information, please visit www.arnsa.org.za