Here we go again, SA Rugby go at it again, who is surprised?

The president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), Regan Hoskins, has - inadvertently, it seems - been drawn into a row about the signing of a R700 million broadcast deal with SuperSport.

And now, in another case of public infighting, Saru has been 'reported' to the Minister of Sport, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, by the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) who accuses Hoskins, together with CEO of SA Rugby Jonathan Stones and the chairman of SA Rugby's board of directors Mpumelelo Tshume, of signing the agreement without consulting the president's council.

However, Stones maintains he had teleconferences with the unions' presidents as well as meeting with some of them before signing the deal. It is based on this that Hoskins signed the contract, which had gone through three redrafts, according to the Business Day who quotes Stones in this regard.

Hoskins, meanwhile, is in a battle for survival with the brother of the Minister of Sport, who is the deputy president of Saru and will challenge Hoskins for South African rugby's top position at next month's election.

Although Mike Stofile is not mentioned in the present row, it is generally perceived as part of the on-going spat between Stofile and Hoskins and also a reflection of the mood of the unsettled EPRU, who are vying for a Super 14 berth through renewed efforts of Anthony McKeever.

Hoskins has countered that the present issue was not mentioned when he chaired their board at a meeting last week.