SA Rugby are ready to launch a major counter-offensive in an attempt to gain control of rugby in the Eastern Cape.
Defeated in court by the Southern Spears, and shaken by news that controversial former SA Rugby boss Brian van Rooyen is looking to buy equity stakes in Eastern Province (EP), Border and South Western District (SWD), the governing body revealed on Wednesday that they are launching their own bid to gain majority shareholdings in the three rugby unions.
The move, if successfully negotiated, will mean that SA Rugby will be in a position to oust Spears chief executive Tony McKeever, limit Van Rooyen's influence, and put the Spears' participation in the Super 14 on hold.
SA Rugby claim that SAIL have given them the inside track to purchase the share
However, SA Rugby claim that SAIL have given them the inside track to purchase the shares in the unions that make up the Spears.
"They (SAIL) want SA Rugby to become the owners. We were offered the shares a while ago. At the time, we said we were quite interested as part of our broader plan for the region, but given our situation (SA Rugby and the Spears were involved in a court case) we could not follow through. The board will have to reconsider the offer," said SA Rugby board chairperson Mpumelelo Tshume.
The Cape High Court ruled last Friday that the Spears have the right to participate in the Super 14 in 2007 and 2008. SA Rugby earlier this year backtracked on a decision to entrench the Spears for two years.
Tshume said that SA Rugby would appeal the ruling by Judge Dennis Davis. He also renewed SA Rugby's interest in EP, Border and SWD with SAIL chief executive Brand de Villiers on Wednesday.
International Rugby Board regulations prevent private equity companies such as SAIL from owning a controlling stake in any union. However, SA Rugby claim that, as a rugby body, they are allowed to be majority shareholders and can thus purchase the additional stakes required from the unions. That will enable them to choose the directors on the Spears
No comments:
Post a Comment