A South African political party has taken the South African Rugby Union to court in a move that could see the Springboks miss the Rugby World Cup.
The NZ Herald reports that the Agency for New Agenda (A.N.A) party is seeking an order in a Pretoria court this week that would force players and officials to surrender their passports.
The A.N.A party is protesting the fact that the Springboks squad does not have enough black players which does not meet the South African government’s policy on transformation.
Springboks Coach, Heyneke Meyer named his squad last week which included a record nine black players selected.
He had to meet a minimum requirement of having 30% black players in his squad, but he only has 29%.
The party president says the national team’s rugby selection criteria are racially exclusionary and biased in favour of whites.
South Africa opens their World Cup campaign against Japan at 3.45am September 20th. Samoa, Scotland and the United States are the other Pool C countries.
Springbok Squad:
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter‑Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs: Jean de Villiers (captain), Damian De Allende, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn.
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