Toulouse (AFP)
South Africa, the reigning world champion, should take advantage of a visit to France at the end of October to promote the 2023 Rugby World Cup, we learned Thursday from the director general of the committee. organization Claude Atcher.
The Springboks are due to stay in France from October 20 to 31 to avoid a strict quarantine when arriving in the UK, where they will play three test matches in November against Wales, Scotland and England.
The organizing committee of the next World Cup, which will take place in France from September 8 to October 8, 2023, has "entered into an agreement with the (South African) Federation to be able to benefit from the presence of the team and the players to make promotion "of the event, said Claude Atcher in an interview with AFP.
The 2019 world champions should speak in the media, intervene with communities and participate "in actions of our social and environmental responsibility policy," he said.
Siya Kolisi, the first black captain in the history of the Springboks, should notably take part, alongside French athletes, in forums addressing the issue of racism.
"The news has unfortunately proved that we are not immune (from racism) and that we have to speak out firmly to say that it is totally unacceptable and inappropriate in our sport", said Claude Atcher.
A player playing in Pro D2, Ludovic Radosavljevic, was recently suspended for almost six months for having made racist remarks towards a Cameroonian opponent during a match.
Lyon's international pillar Demba Bamba was also the victim of racist comments on social media after a Top 14 loss against Pau on September 11.
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