The power of the Springbok

It causes horror and frustration to be sitting on the sidelines watching the drama and dilemma around the Springbok emblem, especially after watching on TV the Springbok Saga series, which gave me goosebumps and made me proud to be a South African, knowing that we won world cups in 1995 and 2007 — a 50% success rate since we started playing on the world stage again.

I must point out that my views are most definitely based on sport alone, not politics. I was born in Scotland but grew up in South Africa, and it was South Africa that gave me the passion for the game and taught me everything about rugby.

I have no history of the apartheid era and I have no chip on my shoulder or a conscience about the past. Since I played rugby I have believed in equal opportunity for all rugby players, which is one of the major reasons we started the South African Rugby Legends’ Association so that we could actually give equal opportunity to the masses.

In 1989, at the pinnacle of my rugby-playing career, I realised due to isolation that I may never play international rugby, so I fulfilled my father’s dream by playing for the country of my birth, Scotland. It was there that I realised the power and passion of traditional and national pride.

In 1990, Scotland played a grand slam final against England, who were the overwhelming favourites, but Princess Anne (patron of Scottish rugby) had convinced her sister, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, that Scotland could sing their national anthem, The Flower of Scotland, for the first time at their stadium, Murrayfield.

As the squads lined up and England ran on to the field, Scotland walked on and 55 000 Scotsmen, not waiting for the official anthem line-up, jumped to their feet and sang their anthem, The Flower of Scotland, which they had been denied all their lives. Scotland won the game based on that moment.

South Africa has such a powerful and passionate tradition named after the springbok — a majestic, beautiful animal that has become symbolic throughout the world of South African rugby.

When I returned to South Africa in 1992 and isolation was over, I pursued my dream of donning the Springbok jersey. When I achieved this in 1993, on our tour to Australia, I was so proud I kissed that Springbok badge with the Proteas underneath and slept in my jersey that night. I watched in awe on my tours to Australia (93) and New Zealand (94) how all the provincial teams were desperate to beat us so they could claim the mounted trophy of the Springbok head that all the touring teams took with them.

I was extremely proud to be a Springbok and still am today, which has given me the passion to enrol past Springboks and other provincial and first-class rugby players to develop the game at grassroots and help transform it through the South African Rugby Legends’ Association.

It amazes me that they hold a sports indaba in Durban and yet they do not invite our organisation, which through its own endeavours — without government or sporting-body financial help — is embarking on a project to build 400 sporting facilities known as “Legacy Parks” in previously economic disadvantaged areas. These which will be used for all sporting codes to boost transformation and give opportunities to the masses.

It also upsets me that politicians like our Minister of Sports, Makhenkesi Stofile, and parliamentary sport portfolio committee member Butana Komphela shout and rage about getting rid of a popular emblem (with all people in South Africa) so that they can get political kudos. The time and energy they waste on this world-renowned emblem should be directed at helping organisations such as ourselves to develop and transform the sporting codes, which is their actual mandate from the national government.

If they take away the Springbok, they take away an important piece of tradition in South African history, which will leave a bitter taste in our 1 500 members who actively coach kids of all races and colours for no financial consideration, only because of their passion for the game.

We could point fingers at soccer stars who don’t wear the Protea emblem on their shirts, or our Olympians who were disappointing at the recent Olympics, but no, we just say, leave the beloved Springbok on the jersey and focus on helping each other become world champions in all sports, just like in rugby.

South Africa’s world-renowned and revered past president Nelson Mandela got it right when he said that if the Springbok emblem on the rugby shirts would help unify our country, then it is a small price for a wonderful country. Who dares challenge the mighty man?