Cheeky Watson
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) confirmed on Thursday that they had assumed administrative control of the Eastern Province Rugby Union.
This effectively sidelines EPRU President Cheeky Watson, who has stubbornly clung to power of the bankrupt union for the past year – despite several attempts to unseat him.
Monde Tabata, an independent member of the SARU executive committee, has been appointed to the role of administrator.
According to SARU’s statement the decision to action the intention of the SARU executive council was taken after “consultation” with Watson, and with the co-operation of the EPRU.
A letter formally advising the EPRU of the intention was delivered to the union on Monday.
“The executive council determined to step in some time ago, but without the consent of a union it is impossible to practically take such action,” said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.
“We have now reached that point and trust that our intervention can assist in regularising the situation.”
Roux said that SARU’s intervention did not mean that the mother body would provide new funding for EPRU.
“We will be working with all stakeholders to find solutions to EPRU’s problems, but we do not have a magic wand and there are months of hard work ahead,” said Roux.
“We have already had conversations with interested parties, but it would be premature to say much more right now.
“We are working for the interests of rugby in the Eastern Province and will do everything to help them bet back on their feet.”
The EPRU’s professional arm, EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd, need to come up with ZAR 18 Million by 10 May or face final liquidation.
This is a court order brought by 2 groups of players (36 in total) have claimed salary arrears that results from EP Rugby’s inability to pay the players and staff when they ran out of cash last year.
Watson said that the decision had been confirmed in consultation with EPRU and that he and his union would fully co-operate with SARU.
“I invited SARU in to assist with the Southern Kings and have done so with EP,” said Watson.
“We will do everything in our power to assist in SARU in their work.”
Francois Davids, a member of the SARU Executive Council and a former president of Boland, has been appointed as an interim chairman of EPRU committees.
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