About 350 youths joined South Africa's Springboks and Argentina's Pumas for a rugby clinic Wednesday in Soweto, a black township in a nation where the game has long been seen as the domain of whites.

Passing the ball, tackling and getting into a scrum, both black and white youths -- including two girls -- were brought together to put into practice what they learn at their rugby club.

"Each child here should have a chance to play for the Springboks if they have got the talent. It hasn't always been like that," said injured Springbok captain John Smit.

Under the former apartheid regime, whites dominated rugby and still do to a large extent, but an increasing number of black youths have shown interest in the sport.

John Allan, chief executive of Rugby Legends South Africa, a group of former rugby players, said "there is progress but it is not fast enough."

"We believe in opportunities. We went out to coach the kids, we identify the talented kids," he said.

"In five years' time, half of the (national) team could be coloured".

Ten Argentinian players took part in the clinic ahead of their match against the Springboks Saturday dedicated to South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela in recognition of his 90th birthday last month.

Mandela witnessed South Africa's euphoric World Cup win in 1995, when he handed the trophy to the team in a symbolic gesture.

"It's an honour for us to be together with the Springboks, to show the kids how to play rugby. By playing rugby, they learn values like friendship and commitment ... It's the best way to form good people for tomorrow," said manager of the Argentinian delegation Ricardo Garcia Fernandez.

AFP.

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