New logo on Springbok jersey

The Springbok rugby team will wear a green and gold star on their playing jersey on the end-of-year tour as part of South African rugby's campaign to highlight the sport's opposition to racism.

The Springbok rugby team will wear a green and gold star on their playing jersey on the end-of-year tour as part of South African rugby's campaign to highlight the sport's opposition to racism.

The initiative was launched in Cape Town on Thursday by South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins.

“It is a simple logo but carries a powerful message,” said Hoskins.

“We chose the STAR symbol as it is an acronym for Stand Together Against Racism. There is no wording in the design but we're hopeful that the symbol will instantly send out our message.

“Racism is not just rugby's problem – it is a South African problem and this is rugby's approach to tackling it.”

The Springboks will wear the STAR in their three end-of-year Tests against Wales (November 8), Scotland (November 15) and England (November 22).

The initiative has grown out of the 'No to Racism' campaign which was launched during the Currie Cup season.

Provincial players wore the slogan during a round of the competition and the same message was painted on the in-goal areas for the second half of the tournament.

“That was a spontaneous response to a particular incident,” said Mr. Hoskins, “and was a new departure for a South African sport and it would have been easy to leave it there.

“But it was the feeling of SA Rugby and our stakeholders that we would be failing in our responsibility as a sport if we didn't continue to address this issue.

“Other sports codes around the world – particularly in soccer – have faced up to the issue and it's time that South African rugby did too.”

Hoskins said the progression of the initiative would be developed as and when SA Rugby had had the opportunity to engage with all relevant stakeholders.