JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Sport, like so many other aspects of life, was divided along racial lines in apartheid South Africa. White rugby fans in the Johannesburg area are trying to close the divide that endures 18 years after apartheid's end. Panorama sports club members have been working with community development organizations in some of the townships set aside for blacks under apartheid, neighborhoods that remain predominantly black and poor. Sixteen black players are now on Panorama's junior rugby team. Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon, made a dramatic gesture of reconciliation when he attended the 1995 World Cup rugby final wearing a South Africa jersey. Mandela said without words that sport could be for all South Africans. The Panorama Cobras are trying to make that vision real.
South African rugby team: Game can be for all
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In this photo taken Friday April 13, 2012 rugby hopefuls from nearby Zandspruit attend trials at the Panorama Sports Club in Wilgeheuwel, South Africa. The trials were held to whittle down from 32 to 16 the numbers of players who will benefit by becoming fully paid up members of the Panorama Cobras Junior Rugby Club. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Monday March12, 2012 , rugby hopeful, Shaun Pule, makes off with a ball during a team exercise at a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. The team are topless to differentiate between the other as no kits are affordable in the poverty stricken township. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Monday March12, 2012 , rugby hopefuls, perform a hand-eye co-ordination exercise at a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Monday March12, 2012 , rugby coaches Karl Vorwerk, left, and Troy van Es, third from left, perform a war cry after a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Wednesday March14, 2012 , an unidentified boy reaches for the ball at a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Wednesday March14, 2012 , rugby hopeful, Elliot Mau, makes off with a ball past dummies during a team exercise at a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Friday April 13, 2012 rugby hopeful Mashudu Netshidoroni, from nearby Zandspruit makes off with the ball under the watchful eye of coach Troy van Es at rugby trials at the Panorama Sports Club in Wilgeheuwel, South Africa. The trials were held to whittle down from 32 to 16 the numbers of players who will benefit by becoming fully paid up members of the Panorama Cobras Junior Rugby Club. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Monday March12, 2012 , rugby hopefuls Shaun Pule, left, Wanga Mphara, center, and Kabelo Senne, right, perform a team exercise during a team exercise at a rugby clinic, at the Emthomjeni Community Center in Zandspruit, South Africa. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Friday April 13, 2012 rugby hopefuls, in their sponsored jerseys, celebrate making the team of the Panorama Cobras Junior Rugby team after trials at the Panorama Sports Club in Wilgeheuwel, South Africa. The trials were held to whittle down from 32 to 16 the numbers of players who will benefit by becoming fully paid up members of the Panorama Cobras Junior Rugby Club. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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In this photo taken Saturday April 21, 2012 rugby player from nearby Zandspruit, Mashudu Netshidoroni, makes off with the ball to score a try, as he is cheered on by an elderly spectator during a friendly match at the Wilgeheuwel Primary School, in Roodepoort, South Africa. The Zandspruit players in red jerseys underwent workshops and trials to benefit by becoming fully paid up members of the Panorama Cobras Junior Rugby Club. A group of white rugby fans in the Johannesburg area is trying to close the racial divide and rid rugby of its prejudices. In recent months, members of the Panorama sports club began working with the community to develop rugby playing talent with black kids, some of whom have never touched a rugby ball, in a sport that has had a predominantly white Afrikaner following.(AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
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