Springboks or Proteas? Would a name change have made a big difference?

[Jimmaay93]

Before the 1995 RWC there was a campaign to have a name change and again in 2008 after winning two world cups. What impact would it have made?

 

[smartcooky]

None.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

It would have pleased a few and it would have ticked off a few others but for the most part it would be business as usual I'd expect. For me, I'd be annoyed but more for the waste of money than anything else really. Also, a protea? Really? If we go away from the springbok I'd rather go for a lion or something. Imagine the added spice at B&I Lions vs SA Lions then; battle for top lion kind of thing. In any case I still see name changes in general as a pointless waste of money since SA can do with some money and it'd be better spent on... well just sooo much I don't even care to start making THAT list!

 

[TRF_heineken]

pre-1995 it wouldn't have made such a big difference.

2008, it would have changed the branding of the team. I say this, because the Springboks were then World Champions, and had the reputation of being 2-time world champions. Everyone knew who the Springboks were (are).

I'm with Stormer, as a South African, I see the name changing as a waste of money. We see it on a regular basis where names of towns, municipalities, streets and teams change quite regularly. Most of the time it's because the current political party in charge, the ANC wants to remove any connection to Apartheid. So if there was a minister whose name was used in a small town for a street, it's now changed to one of the freedom fighters who fought against apartheid.

But here is the kicker, the Springbok wasn't part of the Apartheid regime, in fact, the Springbok is older than our country being a Republic. the previous 2 attempts was to get the Afrikaner folk to "get with the program". But since then, the realisation was that the branding of the Springbok is such a powerful tool, that it would do more harm than good.

 

[Icemn]

for me its like the road name changes... you can call it what you want... people will still refer to it with the old name...

so you can change the Springboks to the Guavas, people will still call them the springboks...

it will take a few generation for the name to actually change and for people to refer to it using the new name...

 

[Rugga-lad]

The soccer team is called Bafana Bafana. So, we have different names for our sports teams. I think the Springboks will still stay the Springboks for a while, at least.

 

[Jimmaay93]

Would you say that the Springbok is now a symbol for all in South Africa?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Would you say that the Springbok is now a symbol for all in South Africa?

Huh?

Do you mean as a symbol in regard with rugby or sport in totality??

Here are some photos to illustrate:

SA Rugby:

SA Cricket:

SA Soccer:

As you can see on all three the Protea is on them, as it is the South African National flower, and the sports symbol used on all National team's clothing.

The Springbok is only on the Rugby jersey.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I assume he means can all South Africans associate with the Bok emblem? Certainly Id say most who follow the sport do but of course there are those who either don't follow the sport or who are still after the Bok emblem for whatever reason be it legit or not. I don't pay much heed to the latter as I feel if there was a time to change it, it has come and gone and we have more important issues to deal with.

 

[Jimmaay93]

Sorry I shall rephrase

Could anyone, whether a big fan of rugby or a tournament/big match supporter, associate and support the springbok emblem/symbol now?

 

[TRF_heineken]

I assume he means can all South Africans associate with the Bok emblem? Certainly Id say most who follow the sport do but of course there are those who either don't follow the sport or who are still after the Bok emblem for whatever reason be it legit or not. I don't pay much heed to the latter as I feel if there was a time to change it, it has come and gone and we have more important issues to deal with.

Yeah, and Our Sports Minister has also indicated that the Springbok is here to stay...

 

[Jimmaay93]

I assume he means can all South Africans associate with the Bok emblem? Certainly Id say most who follow the sport do but of course there are those who either don't follow the sport or who are still after the Bok emblem for whatever reason be it legit or not. I don't pay much heed to the latter as I feel if there was a time to change it, it has come and gone and we have more important issues to deal with.

What would you say are the big problems now? And how would you like them resolved?

 

[Jimmaay93]

Just to give you gentleman a bit of context to this topic. I am a history student at Bath Spa University in England and I am looking at the 1995 RWC for my dissertation. My idea is to see how big an impact the tournament made, has the tournament been romanticised in films, newspapers, magazines etc and has rugby continued to unite South Africa.

Thank you very much for your help thus far, I hope you do not mind continuing to offer your opinions.

 

[Rugga-lad]

the saying goes, it united the country.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

What would you say are the big problems now? And how would you like them resolved?

Wow, that is a big question! I'll have to get back to it when I have more time available..

Just to give you gentleman a bit of context to this topic. I am a history student at Bath Spa University in England and I am looking at the 1995 RWC for my dissertation. My idea is to see how big an impact the tournament made, has the tournament been romanticised in films, newspapers, magazines etc and has rugby continued to unite South Africa.

Thank you very much for your help thus far, I hope you do not mind continuing to offer your opinions.

Glad to help (as far as you can use the perceptions of individuals) as good as I can. I do feel there was legitimate euphoria for a while after the 1995 win and i am sure the result played some part in bringing in more fans and with unification. The trouble is it was so long ago, even 2007's win is hstory now and it only carries so much significance and is up against all the divisive issues/reports we get bombarded with daily and which is more current.

 

[Jimmaay93]

the saying goes, it united the country.

But did it? And for how long?

Within rugby in SA the RWC win didn't keep things happy for long as Super Rugby, SANZAR and others began the professional revolution.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

It's common knowledge today that the lighter the rugby kit the better the players perform, The South African team would benefit if they had Protea written there instead of Springboks because less letters ya know.

 

[Jimmaay93]

Wow, that is a big question! I'll have to get back to it when I have more time available..



Glad to help (as far as you can use the perceptions of individuals) as good as I can. I do feel there was legitimate euphoria for a while after the 1995 win and i am sure the result played some part in bringing in more fans and with unification. The trouble is it was so long ago, even 2007's win is hstory now and it only carries so much significance and is up against all the divisive issues/reports we get bombarded with daily and which is more current.

If it's easier just give me a top three haha. I'm interested in looking at diversity in rugby (so quotas and there impact), support for the rugby team (what I started with) and generally if rugby has succeeded in unifying the country long term.


I'm very grateful for any help and opinion you can provide. Would you possibly be interested in conducting an interview?

 

[Da Grappla]

It was a silly anti-white movement, eventually and reasonably called off

 

[TRF_heineken]

If it's easier just give me a top three haha. I'm interested in looking at diversity in rugby (so quotas and there impact), support for the rugby team (what I started with) and generally if rugby has succeeded in unifying the country long term.


I'm very grateful for any help and opinion you can provide. Would you possibly be interested in conducting an interview?

Are you looking at diversity in Rugby, the impact the sport has had on a country, the support for the team and the unification it has brought to the country?

In my opinion, you will have to broaden your approach to get a definitive answer.

When Nelson Mandela became president, he looked at sport as a tool to unify the nation. He didn't just look at rugby. He used soccer and cricket too. Rugby just happened to be the first sporting event that had a big enough impact to get the ball on the roll. in 1996 our Soccer team won the Africa Cup of Nations, which was also the last time we won the event.

Rugby, or any other sport for that matter are merely tools to reach a goal, they weren't isolated things where all the focus was aimed at for unification.

Anyways, 1993 - 1996 was an intermediary phase of our democracy. We had a temporary Constitution at that time, and many other factors were on the back-burners.

Our Constitution only came in operation in 1996. And from there onwards there were clear laws to help in unification. The Bill of Rights which formed an integral part of our Constitution, made unification easier, through articles like the limitation clause, the discrimination & differentiation clause, that every person regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sex, age, disabilities, sexual orientation etc. are equal.

If you look at support for the team. Rugby has always had a strong contingent of fans in South Africa. And it is growing on a regular basis, spreading into the township areas. It is not necessarily on the same level as soccer would be, but the diversification and growth of fans in Rugby, Soccer and Cricket are always increasing. As teams performs well, and keep on winning, the more fans will watch, FOMO is the term most frequently used.