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Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 10:32 PM by Newser
It looks like the days of calling our nation rugby team the Springboks could be over. An intense first day of the National Sports Indaba ended in Durban today with many delegates calling for the Springbok emblem to be stripped off from the national rugby team. South Africa’s sports federations are calling for the Boks to loose their emblem as they are the only national team that still uses the Springbok and that they should use the King Protea just like everyone else.
As expected, this decision has not been welcome in some quarters, most notably from SA Rugby themselves. The Springbok has not only become an emblem that the whole country relates to the national rugby team with but it has also become a huge commercial brand for SA Rugby. It would be a drastic change for many to have to leave the Springbok. Can you imagine going to watch the Springboks (okay, for now we will call them ‘The National Rugby Team’) and be chanting “Go Protea!” instead of “Go Bokke”? Go Protea does not seem to have that ring to it.
The meeting in Durban ends tomorrow (Friday) and by then we will know if the Springbok has become extinct or not. It will also be interesting to see how SA Rugby reacts if the ruling is passed that the Springbok has to go. Will they rebel and continue to use the Springbok anyway? One can understand why it is wanted for all national teams to use the King Protea but there are some things that should not change.
What do you think? Should the Springbok go or should it stay?
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Sonia on 10 October, 2008 at 10:22 am
We have more pressing issues to worry about in the country than what emblem should be used by the sports team! They should rather focus on ways to reduce poverty and crime instead of crying about the emblem. Whether its a springbok or protea makes no difference on the field of play!
christopher on 10 October, 2008 at 1:14 pm
the springbok logo has nothing to do with the past,the goverment is wasting time and money doing this,they can use that money for the people of this country that need it,housing,hospitals,mbeki now this,this country is becoming a joke,now u want to now why all the skill is moving overseas,wake up sa
muizing1 on 10 October, 2008 at 3:30 pm
See what happened when the Royal Mail spent £2 million changing its name a few years ago. Ha ha. Corporate disaster. How dumb can people get? If you have one of the most famous names or symbols in the world you can’t just swap it for something new without losing all the benefits of a world-famous image.
Daryl Myerson on 5 November, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I can’t accually believe that they would even entertain the idea of changing the Springbok, not only is it worldwide but the unity that it brings and has brought in the past is untouchable, “sure go ahead and change it, SA will loose not only its rugby team but its unity and sence of achievement. Ask yourself one question…… What colours was Nelson Mandela wearing at the world cup???
Answer…….. the SPRINGBOK colours.
Jim McIntosh on 13 November, 2008 at 8:16 pm
It makes me sick to see the S.A Government trying to do away with a emblem of a beautifull African animal.
My rugby team always are the BOKKE!
No matter what! They always will be.
Do away with all the white man did eh?
Ex non racsist
gofiwa on 18 November, 2008 at 10:55 pm
what is south African rugby without the bokke-rythm..their name is what makes them,shoot me if u like but the victory emblem is for kips…viva SPRINGBOK viva
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