I remember holidaying in the Eastern Cape when I was much younger and being amazed at all the rugby poles in the dusty outposts.

Much to my regret, I knew little about the history of black rugby and how it had been played in the region for over 100 years. There is nothing fake or artificial about this: the region is the heartland of black rugby and has long produced outstanding players. Many are local legends, denied their place in the sun thanks to apartheid’s inequities.

The reconstituted SA Rugby Museum has made a commendable effort to recognise such players; black players who otherwise would have been Springboks also receive special mention in the SA Rugby annual. None of these initiatives can undo the damage of the past, but doffing a cap to the trailblazers is something.

I was reminded of the Eastern Cape’s passion for the game at SuperSport’s launch of Phaka, a new isiXhosa magazine show, in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. The appetite among black people for rugby is all too real. This enthusiasm runs deep, as I discovered when sharing lunch with Kaya Malotana and Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe-Calata.

Malotana, a centre, was democratic South Africa’s first black African Springbok, and Tsotsobe-Calata captained the women’s Springbok team.

They speak with great passion about the game, although Tsotsobe-Calata despairs at the state of women’s rugby where the national team receives scant support. “They won’t even be at the 2017 World Cup,” she groaned.

Malotana is making a fist of things as a coach at Alberton Rugby Club, which has been on a downward spiral. He’s trying manfully so include a life skills programme to enable youngsters to have something to fall back on.

As with much else, it’s a struggle, but he is encouraged by the depth of black talent he sees all around.

Phaka, a Xhosa term for “dish up” (as in rugby), is designed to celebrate black rugby. Lead presenter Kaunda Ntunja, the first black SA Schools captain and a real pro behind the mic, already has a ream of people lined up to profile. They all have stories to tell.

Ntunja will be joined by celebrated analyst Makhaya Jack, one of the black game’s pioneers.

I’m told that the pair make a formidable on-air tag team, combining humour with isiXhosa’s more unusual nuances.

“In isiXhosa commentary terms, we say esiScrumhalf siphaka kamnandi, loosely translated to ‘the scrumhalf is an excellent distributor of the ball’. We aim to distribute and deliver rugby news and history to black people in a way and manner unique to them,” explained Ntunja.

Former Lady Rugger finalist Motshidisi Mohono will also be a regular presenter. Having cut her broadcasting teeth on the Varsity Cup, she’s keen to flex her TV muscles on the new show.

“It’s important for black kids to see that people like them – black people – can also make it,” she said, cutting to the heart of how essential transformation is.

The first show is on SS1 at 6pm on Tuesday with repeats on SS4 and SS Select (ch 10).