Playing time between senior rugby players of different ethnic groups across all levels of South African rugby, 2007- 2011

Background. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has had a continual challenge to make the game representative of players of all ethnic groups at all levels of play. In response to this challenge SARU has implemented several programmes designed to accelerate the development of players from previously disadvantaged areas with the goal of making the game more representative. However, the success of these programmes to transform the player profile at different levels of rugby cannot be evaluated because the players representing different ethnic groups have not been quantified in a systematic way.Objectives. To quantify the number and playing time of South African professional players (Vodacom, Currie Cup, Super Rugby and Springboks) from different ethnic groups from 2007 to 2011 to determine whether there are any changes in the profile of the players over this period.Methods. Playing time was recorded for all players in sanctioned matches. Players were divided into the ethnic classifications used by SARU (i.e. white, coloured and black).Results. At all levels of competition there were proportionally more white players, followed by coloured players and then black players. This pattern did not change from 2007 to 2011. Based on the ratio of number of players v. playing time, the white players played more time than expected at the Springbok level, whereas the black players played less than expected for the number of players from 2007 to 2011. At the Vodacom level the white players played more than expected in 2007 and 2008 and played less than expected in 2010 and 2011, whereas the black players played more than expected in 2010 and the coloured players played more than expected at the 2011 tournament. The Super Rugby tournamenthad the most consistency between players and expected playing time for the different ethnic groups.Conclusions. Despite the effort to support players from disadvantaged backgrounds since 1998 with facilitative programmes and selection targets, the professional game is still dominated by white players at all levels.

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Playing time between senior rugby players of different ethnic groups across all levels of South African rugby, 2007- 2011

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/sajsm.327 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 81-84

Author(s):

J Du Toit ◽

J Durandt ◽

J Joshua ◽

H Masimla ◽

M Lambert

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Groups ◽

South African ◽

Rugby Union ◽

The South ◽

Playing Time ◽

Rugby Players ◽

Different Levels

Background. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has had a continual challenge to make the game representative of players of all ethnic groups at all levels of play. In response to this challenge SARU has implemented several programmes designed to accelerate the development of players from previously disadvantaged areas with the goal of making the game more representative. However, the success of these programmes to transform the player profile at different levels of rugby cannot be evaluated because the players representing different ethnic groups have not been quantified in a systematic way.Objectives. To quantify the number and playing time of South African professional players (Vodacom, Currie Cup, Super Rugby and Springboks) from different ethnic groups from 2007 to 2011 to determine whether there are any changes in the profile of the players over this period.Methods. Playing time was recorded for all players in sanctioned matches. Players were divided into the ethnic classifications used by SARU (i.e. white, coloured and black).Results. At all levels of competition there were proportionally more white players, followed by coloured players and then black players. This pattern did not change from 2007 to 2011. Based on the ratio of number of players v. playing time, the white players played more time than expected at the Springbok level, whereas the black players played less than expected for the number of players from 2007 to 2011. At the Vodacom level the white players played more than expected in 2007 and 2008 and played less than expected in 2010 and 2011, whereas the black players played more than expected in 2010 and the coloured players played more than expected at the 2011 tournament. The Super Rugby tournamenthad the most consistency between players and expected playing time for the different ethnic groups.Conclusions. Despite the effort to support players from disadvantaged backgrounds since 1998 with facilitative programmes and selection targets, the professional game is still dominated by white players at all levels.

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Playing time between senior rugby players of different ethnic groups across all levels of South African rugby, 2007- 2011

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.7196/sajsm.327 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jacques Du toit ◽

Justin Durandt ◽

Jonathan Joshua ◽

Mike Lambert ◽

Herman Masimla

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Groups ◽

South African ◽

Playing Time ◽

Rugby Players

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The effect of prophylactic knee bracing on proprioception performance in first division rugby union players

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2078-516x/2004/v16i1a192 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

TH Kruger ◽

MF Coetsee ◽

S Davies

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Knee Brace ◽

Balance Test ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

Test Order ◽

The University ◽

Rugby Players

Objective. To investigate the effects of prophylactic knee bracing on proprioceptive performance among first division rugby union players during a 2-minute Wilknox Quad Time Logger balancing task. Design. Each subject performed a 2-minute balancing task on the Wilknox Quad Time Logger. Test order, left or right leg, and the sequence of brace or non-brace, were randomised. Subjects were placed on the balancing board and instructed to balance for 2 minutes. Subjects performed 6 trials. Two days elapsed between testing. Each testing day involved 2 trials, 1 trial with and 1 without the prophylactic knee brace. Settings. Testing took place at the biokinetics laboratory of the University of Zululand. Subjects. Thirty playing (not injured) male rugby players, aged 22 - 30 years, participating in the KwaZulu-Natal club championships (2000). Outcome measure. Performance was measured in terms of time that balance was lost in a dynamic balance test. Peak proprioception was the best balancing performance recorded, and average proprioception the average balancing performance for all trials. Results. The findings showed an improvement of 17.9% in average proprioception times and 19.1% in peak proprioception times with the application of a prophylactic knee brace (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Prophylactic knee bracing improved proprioception performance of playing (uninjured) rugby players, and therefore may be responsible for the improvement in knee injury statistics reported in some studies on knee bracing. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol.16(1) 2004: 33-36

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Fitness and body composition profiling of elite junior South African rugby players

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2413-3108/2006/v18i2a242 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J Durandt ◽

S Du Toit ◽

J Borresen ◽

T Hew-Butler ◽

H Masimla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

South African ◽

Body Fat ◽

Age Groups ◽

Rugby Union ◽

The Body ◽

Upper Body ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sprinting Speed ◽

Rugby Players

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the body composition, strength and speed characteristics of elite junior South African rugby players. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Field study. Subjects. Rugby players (16 and 18 years old, N = 174) selected for the South African Rugby Union National Green Squad. Outcome measures. Body composition, 10 m and 40 m speed, agility, 1RM bench press, underhand pull-ups, push-ups, multistage shuttle run. Results. The under-16 players were on average shorter (175.6 ± 5.7 v. 179.2 ± 6.7 cm), weighed less (76.5 ± 8.2 v. 84.8 ± 8.3 kg) had less upper body absolute strength (77.1 ± 11.8 kg v. 95.3 ± 16.7 kg) and muscular endurance (41 ± 12 v. 52 ± 15 push-ups) and aerobic fitness (87.1 ± 19.4 v. 93.5 ± 15.3 shuttles) than the under-18 players. There were no differences in body fat, sprinting speed (10 m and 40 m) or agility between the two age groups. There were differences between playing positions, with the props having the most body fat, strongest upper bodies, slowest sprinting speed, least agility and lowest aerobic capacity compared with players in the other positions. Conclusion. This study provides data for elite junior rugby players and can be used to monitor the progression of players after intervention while also assisting with talent identification for the different playing positions. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (2) 2006: pp. 38-45

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Understanding entrepreneurship in the South African context: Insights from entrepreneurial risk attitudes of four major ethnic groups

African Journal of Science Technology Innovation and Development ◽

10.1080/20421338.2016.1147199 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 146-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dennis Yao Dzansi ◽

Akwasi Arko-Achemfuor

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Groups ◽

South African ◽

Risk Attitudes ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

African Context

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Rugby-playing history at the national U13 level and subsequent participation at the national U16 and U18 rugby tournaments

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2078-516x/2011/v23i4a321 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Justin Durandt ◽

Ziyaad Parker ◽

Herman Masimla ◽

Mike Lambert

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

South African ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Young Age ◽

The South ◽

High Level ◽

The Cost

Background. The South African Rugby Union has adopted the model of competition at a young age (U13 years) to identify talent. There is concern however that bigger players who mature early are selected at this age, and that the majority of these players do not play rugby at a high level after puberty. Objectives. The aim of this study was to establish how many players in the 2005 U13 Craven week (n=349) participated in subsequent U16 Grant Khomo and U18 Craven week tournaments. Design. Longitudinal. Results. 31.5% of the players who played in the U13 Craven week, were again selected to play at U16 Grant Khomo week and 24.1% were selected for the U18 Craven week. Conclusion. Seventy-six per cent of the players selected for the U13 tournament do not play at the U18 national Craven week tournament. These data need to be considered when decisions are made about the cost-effectiveness of staging the U13 tournament, particularly if the main goal of this tournament is for talent identification.SAJSM, vol 23 No. 4 2011

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Race Relations at Work: A Challenge to Occupational Therapy

British Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/030802269305601202 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 56 (12) ◽

pp. 434-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mabule R Matlala

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Occupational Therapy ◽

Race Relations ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

South African ◽

Therapeutic Relationships ◽

African Society ◽

The South ◽

South African Society ◽

Racial Issues

This article raises a few issues that prevail in the South African society which may interfere with therapeutic relationships in rehabilitation. Although it focuses on health matters, many of the racial issues discussed are not exclusive either to health or to South Africa. Suggestions that may facilitate communication between the various ethnic groups are proposed. Some of the interpretations and suggestions are the personal opinions of the author.

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BokSmart: Pre-participation screening of rugby players by coaches based on internationally accepted medical standards

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2078-516x/2010/v22i3a311 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 62 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JS Patricios ◽

RM Collins

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Neurological Injury ◽

Initial Screening ◽

Medical Assessment ◽

School Settings ◽

Medical Standards ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Rugby Players

A comprehensive medical history forms a significant part of any medical assessment or screening. In the athlete, pre-participation screening is aimed at determining those aspects of personal and family history that place the participant at greater risk of sudden death, serious illness or musculoskeletal injury. In rugby union, where the incidence of head and neck injuries is higher than in other sports, emphasis needs to be placed on screening for potential risk factors for neurological injury. In a South African rugby environment, pre-season medical screening is not standard and indeed rarely practised. In most club and school settings, the rugby coach may well be the person most in contact with players and therefore in the best position to conduct an initial screening. This article reviews the relevant literature pertinent to such a guideline.

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