South African Rugby Union (Saru) bosses are said to have approved a multimillion-rand bailout plan to save the cash-strapped Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU).
It is expected that a top-level delegation will arrive in Port Elizabeth this week for talks with EPRU president Cheeky Watson to discuss the way forward for the troubled union.
Sources at the heart of Saru, who spoke on condition on anonymity, said the plan was approved when Saru bosses held their annual meeting in Cape Town on Friday.
“Though the rescue plan was approved, it was not discussed at the general council. However, SA Rugby Union officials will continue working with EP. They will be in Port Elizabeth early next week to discuss the plan,” the source said.
According to the source, Saru will write to disgruntled clubs and give them the date for a proposed special meeting when a vote of no confidence against Watson and his executive will be delivered.
It is also believed that Saru executive members Monde Tabata and Francois Davids have been appointed as administrators to deal with EP Rugby’s problems.
Watson attended the meeting in Cape Town, but he has refused to comment to the media on the cash crisis since the storm broke last year.
If the 11th-hour rescue plan fails and the more than R18-million owed to aggrieved players is not forthcoming by May 10, EP Rugby’s fall from grace could be placed under further scrutiny.
The task team comprises Saru chief executive Jurie Roux, Saru vice-president Mark Alexander, and Tabata and Davids.
A tentative date of May 7 has been set for the meeting where unhappy clubs are planning to table a vote of no confidence in Watson and his executive.
It is known that disgruntled clubs are not happy with the new date and they have accused EP Rugby of employing delaying tactics.
After a report on Tuesday last week that EP Rugby had ignored requests to convene a special general meeting, a notice was sent to clubs yesterday, informing them that a tentative date of May 7 had been set.
The initial deadline for EP Rugby to respond to a request for the meeting by five clubs was by close of business last Thursday.
However, the delay in EP Rugby’s response to the request for a meeting was met with anger.
“We received with regret the tentative date of May 7 proposed by EPRU today. We find it is unconstitutional and yet another clear indication of how badly Cheeky has been running our union,” Booysen Pride RFC chairman Wayne Draghoender said.
The club was one of the five clubs that submitted letters to EP Rugby requesting a special general meeting.
“They received a request on March 3 and only sent a notice 27 days later for a meeting in two months?
“I mean, that is no longer a special meeting,” he said.
“We will escalate this matter to Saru because we need a meeting this week. Anything less than that is not acceptable,” Draghoender said.
Clubs want the following issues discussed at the meeting:
lThe 2016 Currie Cup team;
lGrand Challenge fixtures are not taking place until they are tabled to the union committee;
lVote of no confidence; and
lAppointment of auditors.
Saru approves bailout plan for EP Rugby
It is expected that a top-level delegation will arrive in Port Elizabeth this week for talks with EPRU president Cheeky Watson to discuss the way forward for the troubled union.
Sources at the heart of Saru, who spoke on condition on anonymity, said the plan was approved when Saru bosses held their annual meeting in Cape Town on Friday.
“Though the rescue plan was approved, it was not discussed at the general council. However, SA Rugby Union officials will continue working with EP. They will be in Port Elizabeth early next week to discuss the plan,” the source said.
According to the source, Saru will write to disgruntled clubs and give them the date for a proposed special meeting when a vote of no confidence against Watson and his executive will be delivered.
It is also believed that Saru executive members Monde Tabata and Francois Davids have been appointed as administrators to deal with EP Rugby’s problems.
Watson attended the meeting in Cape Town, but he has refused to comment to the media on the cash crisis since the storm broke last year.
If the 11th-hour rescue plan fails and the more than R18-million owed to aggrieved players is not forthcoming by May 10, EP Rugby’s fall from grace could be placed under further scrutiny.
The task team comprises Saru chief executive Jurie Roux, Saru vice-president Mark Alexander, and Tabata and Davids.
A tentative date of May 7 has been set for the meeting where unhappy clubs are planning to table a vote of no confidence in Watson and his executive.
It is known that disgruntled clubs are not happy with the new date and they have accused EP Rugby of employing delaying tactics.
After a report on Tuesday last week that EP Rugby had ignored requests to convene a special general meeting, a notice was sent to clubs yesterday, informing them that a tentative date of May 7 had been set.
The initial deadline for EP Rugby to respond to a request for the meeting by five clubs was by close of business last Thursday.
However, the delay in EP Rugby’s response to the request for a meeting was met with anger.
“We received with regret the tentative date of May 7 proposed by EPRU today. We find it is unconstitutional and yet another clear indication of how badly Cheeky has been running our union,” Booysen Pride RFC chairman Wayne Draghoender said.
The club was one of the five clubs that submitted letters to EP Rugby requesting a special general meeting.
“They received a request on March 3 and only sent a notice 27 days later for a meeting in two months?
“I mean, that is no longer a special meeting,” he said.
“We will escalate this matter to Saru because we need a meeting this week. Anything less than that is not acceptable,” Draghoender said.
Clubs want the following issues discussed at the meeting:
lThe 2016 Currie Cup team;
lGrand Challenge fixtures are not taking place until they are tabled to the union committee;
lVote of no confidence; and
lAppointment of auditors.
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