Saru and ANC hurl spears 28/03/2006 21:33 - (SA)

Johannesburg - A spat between the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and the African National Congress has erupted about the Super 14 future of Southern Spears franchise.
At their meeting last Friday, the presidents' council of Saru poured cold water on the Spears' chance of playing in the Super 14 competition next year.
They recommended that none of the existing South African Super 14 teams should be relegated from next year's tournament and that the decision to include the Southern Spears in the tournament be rescinded.
After the meeting, SA Rugby managing director Johan Prinsloo said, however, it had been decided there should be "no relegation or promotion of existing franchises at the end of the season".
The move was slammed by Butana Khompela, chairperson of the ANC study group on sports and recreation.

He said Saru vice-president Mike Stofile, once an ardent proponent of the Spears' participation, had withdrawn his support for the Eastern Cape team.
Saru approach condemned
"He has cited troubles plaguing EP and Border rugby in the past few months as major reasons for his about-turn," said Khompela.
"The ANC and the portfolio committee on sport and recreation condemns the approach taken by Saru in dealing with the matter of the Super 14 competition for 2006/'07.
"The unilateral decisions taken by the presidents' council to abandon the agreed relegation system is an about-turn on agreements reached between Saru, the government and the portfolio committee during 2005 on the participation of the Southern Spears in the Super 14 from 2007."
He added that Saru need to explain the reasons for their unilateral decisions.
They also should provide a comprehensive report on the state of readiness of the Southern Spears to take part in the Super 14 competition.
Remarks show a 'misunderstanding'
"The report must include an evaluation on the implementation of the original agreements with the government in 2005 and the reasons, if any, for its non-implementation.
"No political argument can be made as to why the South-East Cape should not be awarded an opportunity to participate in the Super 14 Competition," said Khompela.
But according to Saru, Komphela's remarks demonstrate a "misunderstanding of the statement Saru released immediately after the council meeting on March 24".

"The Saru statement makes it clear that we are concerned about the state of readiness of the new franchise, and, therefore, wish to make sure they are ready for the big league before they play in such a highly-competitive Sanzar tournament.
"We have not abandoned the idea of the Spears taking part in the tournament.
"It is purely a matter of carefully looking at the realities and the legal obligation with Sanzar that we should field our best sides at the tournament.
"Further, we wish to make it clear that Mr Khompela's proposal that we need to provide a 'comprehensive report on the state of readiness of the Spears'is an exercise we were prepared to embark on, in any event, as our statement indicates."
'They also expressed concerns'
Saru added that it was incorrect to call the decision a unilateral one.

"The presidents' council includes the presidents of the three provinces involved (Eastern Province, South Western Districts and Border), including the chairperson of the board of Southern Spears, in his capacity as acting president for Eastern Province.
"During that meeting, they also expressed concerns about the state of rugby in the region, and they did not object to the idea of an enquiry."
The presidents council meets again in Cape Town on Wednesday.