Cape Town – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Parliament’s rugby team, which is due to jet off to England to participate in World Cup curtain raisers, to go to the Queen’s land and make South Africa proud.
The Deputy President said this when speaking at a cocktail dinner organised to send off Parliament’s rugby team – which comprises MPS, officials and Springbok veterans at the Old Assembly, in Cape Town, on Wednesday.
He said while they were not professionals, they should go to the World Cup knowing that over 50 million South Africans are behind them.
“I extend my best wishes to the club for your own tournament for you are going to go out there and represent us.
“In case you thought that all you are going to do was to cheer the Springboks, you are actually going to represent us and we are praying that you should go and represent us as well.
“I don’t have a great deal of advice to offer you though, either than to say what we say in Parliament so often – play the ball and not the man.
“When you caucus amongst yourselves, remember that you carry with you the dreams and the hopes of more than 50 million South Africans who are yearning for the good feeling of pride when we engage with the nations of the world,” he said.
Parliament’s rugby team, made up of sitting and former Parliamentarians, Parliamentary staff members and some Springbok legends, will partake in a tourney that precedes the official rugby World Cup, which kicks off in England this month.
The Deputy President said the team was a valuable institution within the institution of our Parliament.
In giving them encouragement, the Deputy President did not leave out any humour in his speech.
“When the opposition tackles you out there in England and they tackle you roughly, I hope you will just rise, keep rising and keep rising, and this time not on a point of order and privilege, but on a score that the tries are going to keep on coming.”
The President, meanwhile, used the dinner to also wish the official Springbok team well during the rugby world cup.
“I look forward to the Springbok success, also in this tournament and indeed all of us look forward to that based on exceptional talent and hard work that they have displayed.
“We think that they have a great chance indeed of making it to the final and finally bringing the cup back home.
“[Parliament’s rugby] team will fly the flag. You are going out there as a team to fly our national flag in support of our national team, who are expected to do our nation very proud once again.”
After his speech, the team presented the Deputy President with their blazer, tie and a Springbok jersey to make him an honorary member as part of a long-standing tradition. – SAnews.gov.za
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa with rugby players
