RUGBY ‘TOO MALE-DOMINATED’
Women’s rugby is growing worldwide, but in SA men are given a much bigger budget
RUGBY in South Africa and the world over is male-dominated and controlled. Amid the male-centeredness of rugby and the hegemonic power it ensures for men in sport, girls and women are now claiming the sport as their favourite and their passion.
And with this growing enthusiasm, arrives all the surfacing of incredible raw talent at girl level rugby and women in rugby. Now that they are into the game, women want to play more, especially competitive rugby and international matches.
There is no debate about this: SA rugby concentrates on development of boys and men in rugby, with little support given to the growth of women’s rugby.
Women’s rugby is fast growing around the world, especially in Africa, and this is noted by SA Rugby, yet the budget is small.
Club rugby is there and a national provincial competition is the premier and only domestic tournament for senior women’s rugby. This tournament is played over only one round, with just five matches played over about two to three months. The top two teams from the round robin event contest the finals, with the winner crowned South African champion. How is women’s rugby to develop with one national competition and one round of five matches for each team? Fortunately, this year the women’s Springbok team will play overseas,.
SA Rugby, controlled by male officialdom, gives the same old argument that women’s rugby can’t get sponsors and SA Rugby self finances the women’s game. But why is there never money for women in rugby, but there are always sponsors for boys and men’s rugby?
SA Rugby official Pat Kuhn is keen to have women’s rugby developed further and given a much bigger budget. “I’m aware of the fast growth of girls in rugby and women’s rugby. Its an ongoing challenge and battle to get more money and bigger budgets. I agree that most focus is on men’s rugby, with women’s rugby not being able to get much done to show further development and growth. We are seeing investments on our returns after investing in girls rugby and getting the youth training centres set up in all provinces. And out of this ambitious programme is the overflowing girls rugby talent that must be nurtured and carefully looked after.”
In my opinion, SA Rugby has got to stop seeing women’s rugby as a burdensome side entity and must involve growth of girls and women’s rugby in its national planning programmes, strategic planning and future deliberations. And budgets for women’s rugby must be prioritised.