Sports news > Rugby > Rugby Union > How South Africa is being short-changed by the IRB
How South Africa is being short-changed by the IRB
The Springboks have the weakest relative position amongst the top teams, so isn't it time the World Champions had a bigger say in what goes on in the game?
by Greg Smith on 16 May 2008
Email this Article (2) Comments
The International Rugby Board is the ultimate controlling body of International Rugby Union and it has its headquarters in the Northern Hemisphere. If the Dublin HQ isn't enough to raise the hackles of those that believe it's a sport dominated by the Southern Hemisphere, take a look at it from a South African perspective.
The current World Champions have a desperately weak standing within the current status quo and old ties and traditional bonds give the board a sinister Freemason-like facade.
Beyond faith in the benevolence and goodwill of those that control the IRB, the World Champions have very little to write home about when it comes to packing power into disputes. In fact, Springbok fans argue that their position is weaker than that of Unions having a quarter of their stature and standing within the sport.
South Africans feel it's not a case of throwing their weight around now that they are ranked No. 1 and are World Cup holders, but more a case of long overdue restructuring.
Comments (2)
by ski sikivou on May 20, 2008
I think SA should lobby for the support of the 3 Pacific Nations Fiji, Tonga & Samoa joined by Argentina to get the World Cup final positions to reflect the membership of the IRB. Wales,& Ireland should forfeit their IRB positions until the next World Cup. This would then make the World Cup held every four years very eagerly competed. Demote Ireland and Wales for non-performance.
by Lemon Squeezer on May 22, 2008
{"Then, remember, South Africa is formerly Dutch and that of these colonies, only South Africa has a legacy of hardcore war against this Empire, and the Aussies climbed in against us to boot!"} The fact that 15 Victoria Crosses, the highest award for gallantry in the british empire, were awarded to Imperial British troops during the fierce New Zealand Wars which raged over much of the latter half of the 19th century gives lie to your baseless comment and further reveals your ignorance, or is it arrogance?Probably both.!! The truth is NZ also sent a contingent of troops to SA in which they performed exemplary service while also winning NZs first VC ever.
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