Readers disgusted by Bok ruling

Overwhelming response as fans get behind Boks

The E-mails from Planet Rugby readers have been flooding in ever since the IRB announced that they had fined the SARFU and docked the Springboks Sevens squad of 32-points for fielding Zimbabwean winger Tonderai Chavhanga in Tournaments in Dubai and George. And the message is clear: 'Shame on you IRB!' The news has re-opened the eligibility debate and New Zealand and Australia both come in for some heavy criticism.

"If the IRB were even-handed, then there'd be no problem, but it's not.  SARFU has shown itself to have a hell of a lot more dignity than most other unions (New Zealand, anybody?) and who gets punished for it?

"I have been, I am and I will continue to be disgusted by this self-serving hypocritical organisation which rewards the unions who most callously ignore its rulings and punishes those with a bit of good-old-fashioned honesty.

"It's great to know that the precocious talent of Zimbabwean and Namibian rugby is being jealously protected, but the ransacked unions a couple hours north of Auckland must be more than a little bemused.  Shames on you IRB your rulings have the consistency of watered-down chicken soup."
- Alex, South Africa

"The rugby world would do anything to screw South Afirca - we're getting used to it."
- Arno, South Africa

"Typical, first the head butting incidents in the super 12, now this. It's one rule for the Boks and another for the Kiwi's and the Aussies."
- Clinton, South Africa

"Typical New Zealand response, will ignore their own indiscretions and will do anything to knock South Africa out of the Sevens tournament. Most other unions would be embarrassed to take the high ground when found guilty themselves."
- David, England

"Typical - Tim Gleeson independent - what a joke ! Another glaring example of the IRB's inconsistency and blatant bias."
- Dennis, South Africa

"Is this any way to reward an already struggling union for being forthright? The New Zealanders and Aussies are famous for their gratuitous plundering of foreign talent, and yet the Kiwi official feels comfortable imposing such a punitive penalty on SA.

"As an outsider, it seems to me that there are too many repeated instances of spitefulness against the South Africans when it comes to any legislative ruling by their Antipodean counterparts, be it in the way of player eligibility, or for that matter discipline (see Super 12 incidents for more than one example).

"Surely the IRB should once and for all step up to the plate and ensure some measure of consistency. Moreover, it's time the Kiwi and Aussie rugby unions (note I said unions and not players) started behaving in manner more becoming of the proud rugby cultures they represent, instead of being such a bunch of weasels. I'd bet good money that these officials were never players themselves ... if they were they would understand that there's no place for whingers in rugby."
- Devon, USA

"It's absolute hypocrisy. New Zealand and Australia continue to get away with murder, robbing the islands dry, while South Africa cops all the flak for being honest. Rugby makes me sick now. Good riddance. I'm sticking with cricket. The IRB is an even bigger joke than the ICC."
- Springbok in Canada

"I know alot of people are going to bang this drum, but I would like to add my two cents worth. How come New Zealand got away scot free, and SA have to be punished, and by a NZ judge! Yes SA was guilty, at least they admitted it before being found out like NZ, so punish us then. But do the same for NZ. Why, oh why does it seem all the more that there are different rules for different countries?"
- Jacques, South Africa

"Didn't the other countries get off scot free for similar selections? Why don't our administrators take the IRB to court. We are the wiping boys of international rugby."
- JR, South Africa

"What is good for the Saffas is not for the Kiwis? The IRB have single handedly undermined the integrity and image of the Sevens with this ludicrous response to the SA Fielding of Chavanga, which the SARFU reported to the IRB (who didn't have a clue otherwise). How they deem it fair to take away 32 points in the Table as a result makes no sense. Fine is a Fine fair enough, but points effectively ending the South African Challenge in the Tournament has taken a major shine off the competition.

"IRB, you should be ashamed of your behaviour, what a way to seriously undermine the Sevens - London sorry not coming anymore IRB have diminished the competition and I'll take my hard earned money elsewhere!"
- John Doyle - Saffa in Berks

"SARFU field a Zimbabwean player in a green shirt, get docked 32 points in the 7s series so they cant get anywhere near a decent finishing place oh, and for good measure, the IRB decides to slap a hundred grand fine on them. That's well over the top and you've got to say, a great money-spinner for the IRB. Why not fine SARFU, but make them put the cash into grass-roots rugby in SA? I don't think a bunch of blokes in Dublin actually need any more money, do they?"
- Jonathan Jones, London

"Not surprising really. The IRB would have weighed up a number of criteria:

"1. They were dealing with SA so no light treatment to be considered ala Steve Devine with NZ or Aus and its various doping irregularities.

"2. Chavanga's country of birth, Zimbabwe, naturally has an extremely powerful sevens team and did really well at the last two world cups...not! Really, it was like he had an option to play for Zim? Does it have a team?

"3. It suits for the hardcore of IRB voters to be able to call on numerous foreigners by virtue of ancestoral allegiances when the boot is on the other foot. Even when these have proven spurious no major action was taken."

"Typical Kiwi skullduggery!!! Those sly Kiwis will do anything! They are still hurting from the World cup loss. You see the Kiwis are a Nation of Protesting whiners, the've been doing it for years in all Sports Arenas. How about the Samoan 7s players? They just cant seem to handle the fact people are beating them at there National Sport. Lets Go England!"
- Johnny, Samoa

"The IRB seems unable to withstand the pressures exerted by certain countries and has the distinct look of a puppet on a string - without any integrity. How they can destroy the competitiveness of the Rugby Sevens in such an appalling manner!

"It shows a lack of proportion and double-handedness. New Zealand got off scot-free because they were 'confused' as was the IRB when they fielded an ineligible player not too long ago. The distinct New Zealand bias to these rulings is getting to be a habit.

"Why doesn't the IRB serve itself a ban for incompetence and let someone more dignified and with more credibilty take over this game before it is further tarnished by these compromised idiots in suits! Still - now it helps England and that is no bad thing!"
- Michael Byrne, London

"What a farce!! The lack of consistency that the IRB show is unbelievable. New Zealand get let off scot-free, and South Africa get the shaft. Maybe when SARFU were being honest and came forward with the info on Tonderai Chavanga, they should have claimed that there was confusion with regards to his eligibility.

"That seems to be the standard excuse used by the NZRFU with the issues surrounding both Steve Devine, and the two Samoan players, Kevin Senio and Sosene Anesi. And I think it is completely unfair to penalise the rest of the sevens squad for an administrative oversight. Issue the fine, but leave the points intact.

"The Springboks have shown that they can win without Chavanga. It's not like he's a one-man team. The really unfortunate thing is that this ruling will probably surprise no-one. I would wager that there are a large number of people around the world who have lost all faith in the IRB's ability to manage it's own sport."
- Andrew, Canada

"Please explain how the SA misdemeanour differs to the 'error' committed by NZ earlier in the season. I am not suggesting SA be let off, but there should be consistency in the punishment meted out. If my memory serves me correctly NZ escaped punishment."
- James, Estonia

"An unbelievable total over reaction once again directed at the whipping boys of rugby. This punishment is like hanging someone for stealing a chicken. When South Africa poaches a player from a place where he could never have developed his talents it is smitten down. But if a nation that is over represented in the IRB steals a South African player via its own ridiculous grannygate rules it is considered sound rugby management.

"Tonderai Chavanga is going to be a Bok anyway, like Clyde Rathbone, a Wallaby. And he will be a great Springbok. South Africa has nurtured and developed this young player's talent. We look forward to him extracting his revenge wearing the Springbok jersey in the 15 man game."
- Peter, Geneva

"As a Kiwi I can say the Boks are being dealt a rough one here. The Devine issue was settled fairly as it was prior to the rulings concerning Sevens. But what about the two guys who had played for the Samoan Sevens team but then represented NZ in this CURRENT series. Sounds like double standards here. Doesn't look good with a kiwi making the ruling also (Tim Gresson)."
- Phil, Cardiff

"Typical, when the Kiwis use ineligible players it is swept under the carpet. Of course a Kiwi individual was the 'independent' Judge."
- Ralph, New Zealand

'So this is the price of being honest? It seems that the IRB only make rulings that favour Australia and New Zealand ... wasn't it a few weeks back that the Kiwis were found out for having players who represented Samoa? Then there is the Steve Devine incident 2 years back ... oh and who was the independent judicial officer? A Kiwi! It stinks.

"When have Australia or New Zealand ever owned up to picking the wrong player? Never and when they are found out then the perception is that there is 1 rule for them and a whole set of different rules for the rest of the world. This is especially true when it comes to suspensions for foul play (3 weeks for head butting, etc) and for choosing ineligable players.

"It is time for the IRB to have 1 rule for eligibility - if you choose to play for another country you must have a 5 year stand down period (if you have played under 19, under 21, under 23, a teams and tours). That would allow players to migrate to countries (especially for the likes of Samoa, Fiji, etc) and would clear up the issue of eligibility.

"As for South Africa (and the rest of the rugby playing world), make sure that whenever a Kiwi / Aussie player is cited for foul play or is found to be ineligable to play, play the game by their rules and hit them HARD with suspensions and in monetary terms."
- Disappointed rugby fan, United Kingdom

"It seems unbelievable considering all the poaching and plundering of the Pacific island teams by NZ mainly and Australia to some extent. I am 100 % sure they do not and did not apply ancestral rules, and bend them all the time, and use cop-outs like it was before the ruling date.

"I think they are worried that SA will use the same tactics and plunder African nations of their talent (hey every bit of help is needed for the Boks). I am however not surprised, it seems Australia, England and New Zealand have it in for SA and hammer us at every opportunity, from an administrative point of view (well lately on the field as well).

"Look at Brendan Venter in 1999 RWC, while Laurence De L. gets nothing for an open punch, and even the NZ judge for the 2006 Soccer World Cup. Hah at least we get it in 2010 (I wonder how NZ, Aus, and Eng voted for the 2010 SWC?). I think they (NZ and Aus) have it in for us, since we are seen as a rival probably with a huge upside potential and thus try to restrict SAs chances to succeed at any level."
- Richard, South Africa

"Didn't the Kiwi field some ineligible Samoan in their 7's team last year? And the Divine situation? SARFU is surely not going to sit back and accept this are they."
- Ryan, South Africa

"I think it is ironic that the country that probably looses more players than any other has been penalised. The IRB put these guidelines in place to stop the poaching of players from less powerful nations, and SA is heading in that direction.

"Other nations have been sweeping this under the table when it concerns them, take the NZ sevens Islanders for example. New Zealand has been cleaning up the Islanders for years, with Aus not far behind. Take a look at the amount of South African players in the last World Cup - 3 played in the final and 1 got a winners medal! Change the rules to eliminate National under 21's from changing countries and protect the global game."
- Steve, Australia

"I cannot believe that after fielding a Zimbabwean Born player in the Seven Team, the Boks are getting fined £100,000 and all points deducted from those tournaments in which he took part. Typical. What about New Zealand who are guilty of far more??? It's an outrage!!!"
- Stuart, South Africa

"That's just sh*te now isn't it! Hells bells, why not a 5 year ban from sevens too - the double standards are the only consistent thing that the IRB can do, I feel like SA is always dealt massive punishments for any kind of incident. If he were from Fiji playing for NZ it would have been fine, further more if they'd admitted it they would have had a pat on the back and given the necessary points to ensure another victorious campaign.

"I'm tired of all the treatment constantly handed out to SA players and teams, sometimes it's been justified, but on the whole here's a nation trying their *rses off to get back on top of their game and we keep getting knocked back down. Maybe we should go back into the days of no internationals and then people can sit and wonder if they could beat us or not instead of slating us!"
- Tim, London

"If they made the mistake then they should be deducted. But then the same ruling should be in place for all the teams, as now it looks like they are picking on SA. What about the new Zealand , Samoan, and Australian problems? So take them out as well? Rewrite the past results? Politics getting in the way of sport again."
- Warren Sheehan, London

"This is crazy. Penalising the Springboks so harshly makes a mockery of their honesty in owning up to fielding an ineligible player. It was only recently that New Zealand themselves were let off for fielding a couple of ineligible players in recent Sevens tournaments and it seems hypocritical that the Springboks have been stripped of all their points from those tournaments. It's time for the rules to be made clear once and for all, and for all teams to be bound by them.

"The rugby public are just as much the losers, as South Africa and their supporters are. Instead of being able to watch the South African team playing with passion for a possible series win, we are far more likely to see a team that finds it hard to get themselves in a winning state of mind for any of their games. As a New Zealander, I am keen to see New Zealand win the series, but not if it's because one of our judicial officers stripped on of our closest competitor of their points.

"Go South Africa, I'll be cheering you just as much as I will be cheering for New Zealand over the next couple of weekends and I'll be hoping that you prove yourselves to be as good as you really are."
- Warwick, New Zealand

"Disgusting! Absolute filth! Another blatant expample of discrimination against South Africans! The Aussies and Kiwis have been poaching other nations' players for years and nothing gets done about it! Oh and what a coincidence that it was a NZder who was responsible for the 'investigation' - the IRB might as well have appointed Charles Dempsey."
- Kokusai, Japan