SOUTH African Rugby Union (Saru) president Oregan Hoskins yesterday backed claims by he Eastern Province Kings that they expect to gain automatic promotion to the Absa Currie Cup Premier division next year.
Earlier this week, the confident EP Kings boss, Cheeky Watson, was quoted as saying the issue would be finalised early in January. “We are extremely confident that the vote will go through just as we were with Super Rugby and the Sevens coming to Nelson Mandela Bay.
“We are confident we will get a positive answer in January. The latest proposal was put forward after SA Rugby had a special meeting in Cape Town last Friday.”
Yesterday, Hoskins confirmed a new proposal had been tabled on Thursday morning.
“We have received a new proposal this week but it still needs to be disseminated to all the unions. But what I can tell you now is that the proposal is looking feasible.
“A number of unions have already had a look at it and we will finalise in January because we are looking at all sorts of permutations,” said Hoskins.
This comes after the first proposal was thrown out, for the second time, as the EP Kings failed to gain a 75% majority vote in Cape Town.
It is understood that from last Friday’s meeting, more than five unions, including Border Rugby, voted against the proposal.
But, despite Hoskins and Watson seemingly singing the same tune, Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU) president Phumlani Mkolo remained adamant the proposal would not go through.
Mkolo said the BRFU will not agree with a proposal that does not serve Border or the province at large.
“This area is not only about the Eastern Province Kings and we won’t support something that doesn’t benefit us.
“The proposal says the Griquas, who were relegated by the Pumas following their playoff games, should stay in the Premier division and there will be no promotion/ relegation for the next two years.
“The proposal has been withdrawn because even more unions, compared to the first time around, have voted against the proposal after it was thrown out,” said
Mkolo.
Border and South Western Districts were believed to be among the five unions which objected when the proposal was tabled to all union delegates the first time around.
This time, it is believed that six unions, all Currie Cup First Division teams had disagreed with the proposal. However, Watson yesterday remained confident. “It (the proposal) has been put back on the drawing board for January and the Board will come back with a recommendation,” he said.
Watson went on to confirm that the Kings didn’t get the 75% majority vote but remained confident about next month. “I don’t know how many unions voted against it, but I think more or less the same number of unions as last time.’’
It’s understood that the proposal is now with the Saru Games and Policies Committee.
Kings confident of new cup deal
Earlier this week, the confident EP Kings boss, Cheeky Watson, was quoted as saying the issue would be finalised early in January. “We are extremely confident that the vote will go through just as we were with Super Rugby and the Sevens coming to Nelson Mandela Bay.
“We are confident we will get a positive answer in January. The latest proposal was put forward after SA Rugby had a special meeting in Cape Town last Friday.”
Yesterday, Hoskins confirmed a new proposal had been tabled on Thursday morning.
“We have received a new proposal this week but it still needs to be disseminated to all the unions. But what I can tell you now is that the proposal is looking feasible.
“A number of unions have already had a look at it and we will finalise in January because we are looking at all sorts of permutations,” said Hoskins.
This comes after the first proposal was thrown out, for the second time, as the EP Kings failed to gain a 75% majority vote in Cape Town.
It is understood that from last Friday’s meeting, more than five unions, including Border Rugby, voted against the proposal.
But, despite Hoskins and Watson seemingly singing the same tune, Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU) president Phumlani Mkolo remained adamant the proposal would not go through.
Mkolo said the BRFU will not agree with a proposal that does not serve Border or the province at large.
“This area is not only about the Eastern Province Kings and we won’t support something that doesn’t benefit us.
“The proposal says the Griquas, who were relegated by the Pumas following their playoff games, should stay in the Premier division and there will be no promotion/ relegation for the next two years.
“The proposal has been withdrawn because even more unions, compared to the first time around, have voted against the proposal after it was thrown out,” said
Mkolo.
Border and South Western Districts were believed to be among the five unions which objected when the proposal was tabled to all union delegates the first time around.
This time, it is believed that six unions, all Currie Cup First Division teams had disagreed with the proposal. However, Watson yesterday remained confident. “It (the proposal) has been put back on the drawing board for January and the Board will come back with a recommendation,” he said.
Watson went on to confirm that the Kings didn’t get the 75% majority vote but remained confident about next month. “I don’t know how many unions voted against it, but I think more or less the same number of unions as last time.’’
It’s understood that the proposal is now with the Saru Games and Policies Committee.
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