Posted
to the web on: 28 March 2006
SA Rugby to discuss Spears’s
request
Zeena Isaacs
THE embattled Southern Spears Super 14 franchise
could be granted the opportunity in the next few days to plead with SA Rugby’s
board of directors not to eliminate them from next year’s southern hemisphere
series.
SA Rugby is the commercial arm of the South African Rugby Union (Saru).
Southern
Spears CEO Tony McKeever sent a letter to the chairman of SA Rugby’s board
of directors, Dolf van Huyssteen, late on Sunday requesting that they be afforded
the opportunity to make a presentation on their plans for the franchise and how
they intend to develop the team in the next few months before the board makes
a decision on the Spears’ future.
This followed a decision by the South
African Rugby Union’s (Saru’s) presidents’ council that the board
of directors would set up an inquiry to investigate the “viability”
of their “Super 14 engagement” and to decide if the franchise was ready
to take to the field next year.
“I received the letter, and I
appreciate what Mr McKeever has asked,” said Van Huyssteen.
“We
cannot refuse it (such a presentation) because I think it is fair to hear what
Mr McKeever says. But I will have to discuss it with the president (Oregan Hoskins).
However, cognisance must be taken of the presidents’ council decision because
the council is the custodian of rugby.”
Van Huyssteen indicated that one
of the factors that would be considered regarding the Spears’s participation
in next years’ Super 14 series would be the financial implications it would
have on SA Rugby.
He said the fact that the Spears would participate in the
Currie Cup competition would affect the organisation’s finances - the franchise
has yet to secure major sponsors, and the R3m it received from SA Rugby in December
is believed to be used up already.
However, McKeever said on Sunday he was
currently in negotiations with five possible sponsors - two of which are believed
to be title sponsors.
Saru CEO Johan Prinsloo said yesterday the committee,
which is expected to make the decision on whether or not the franchise is prepared
take part in next year’s Super 14, would get together on Friday.
This
committee will visit the Southern and Eastern Cape region in an attempt to make
an informed decision about the franchise’s future.
They will also be tasked
with the responsibility of composing a detailed report on the franchise, which
will be distributed to the board members.
“We will discuss the Spears’s
participation at our board meeting (today), and this will be followed by further
communication after the report has been submitted,” said Prinsloo.
“It
is difficult to predict when a final decision will be made about the franchise,
but given the significance of the matter it has to be addressed urgently.”
SA
Rugby’s board meeting will take place in Cape Town tonight, and is expected
to continue tomorrow.
The Spears issue, however, is only one of a range of
issues that will be discussed at the meeting.
Another matter believed to be
high on the agenda is the threat by the Griqualand West Rugby Union to take legal
action against SA Rugby regarding the qualification system for this year’s
Currie Cup competition.
Under the current system, the Blue Bulls, Cheetahs,
Golden Lions, Sharks, Western Province and the Southern Spears will be entrenched
in the competition for five years, while the other nine provinces - the Eagles,
Griffons, Elephants, Leopards, Falcons, Pumas, Border, Boland and Griquas - are
expected to battle it out for the last two places in this year’s Vodacom
Cup series.
The two teams which finish in the highest position on the log will
advance to the Currie Cup.
