The Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU) is open to again discuss a possible move away from Newlands to Cape Town Stadium.
This comes after the union suspended talks in February this year after it was upset when then-Mayoral Committee Member Grant Pascoe said talks ‘were taking place behind closed doors’ to secure WP as the anchor tenant for the stadium.
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However, at a general council meeting on Monday night it was again voted in favour of engaging in talks with the city.
Only 13 of the union’s 91 clubs voted against re-opening talks with the city about a possible move.
The talks will, however, only be to gain answers on potential concerns the union has.
WP president Thelo Wakefield said the union needs to know if it would be financially viable to move away from Newlands – which WP owns.
“We don’t know what it would cost to move. With all the costs involved, would we be able to generate enough money for the union to survive. We have salaries to pay and are responsible for the existence of our clubs,” said Wakefield.
“We need to know if we’ll be better off (moving) or not. We don’t have enough information to be able to answers important questions.
“Will the union be financially stable over the next 50 to 60 years and be able to pay its accounts?
“I also don’t know what the role of the so-called ‘anchor tenant’ is. All that I know is that we own Newlands.”
Wakefield emphasised that the clubs would have the final say in the matter.