By Renaldo Bothma Part 2 of 3 | Exclusive for Octafield
Let me be blunt — one of the biggest challenges facing South African rugby today isn’t just injuries, player drain, or travel schedules. It’s the media narrative.
For too long, I’ve watched how stories about the Bulls, Sharks, Lions, and Stormers are spun into negativity. It’s become too easy to sit in a press conference, take a quote from a coach out of context, and build an entire headline around it. That’s not journalism — that’s bait.
And what frustrates me even more is that many of the people doing this have never stepped into a changeroom before a URC semi-final. They’ve never sat through the late-night analysis sessions, felt the emotional toll of an injury crisis, or understood what it means when a key player pulls out the day before kickoff.
“A lot of the guys writing stories don’t have the insights into unions, into teams, or into what it takes to prep for a season,” I’ve said before — and I’ll keep saying it.
Renaldo Bothma
As someone who’s lived it, I feel a deep responsibility now that I’m on the media side. I’m not here to sugar-coat things. If something’s off, I’ll say it. But my job isn’t to tear down — it’s to build up, to educate, and to tell it straight.
The truth is, we’re losing battles off the field before we even step onto it. When fans are constantly fed negative content, what do you expect them to feel? Optimism? Pride? No — they become critics. And that negativity seeps into teams, into management, into players. It’s a toxic cycle.
“We need to write more positive stories. We can’t keep digging our own grave,” I warned in a recent media chat — and I meant every word.
Renaldo Bothma
Here’s what I believe: South African rugby media has a massive responsibility. Not to ignore losses or sugar-coat bad games. But to cover the game with insight, with respect, and with the intent to grow it.
Yes, the Sharks didn’t have the season they hoped for — but that’s not the whole story. Behind those results are coaches working 14-hour days, analysts dissecting every frame, and players pushing through pain barriers. The same goes for the Lions and Stormers. There’s effort, vision, and progress, even if it’s not visible yet.
So my message to fellow writers, reporters, and content creators: Let’s change the script.
Let’s start asking better questions. Let’s challenge ourselves to understand what’s really going on in our teams. And most importantly, let’s back our people.
Because the more we uplift our rugby culture, the more powerful we all become — from the grassroots to the professional stage.
In the final piece of this series, I’ll go deeper into what fans and followers need to understand — and why unity between media, players, and supporters is the future of South African rugby.
