EP can only watch as future put through the wringer
THOUGH the cash-strapped EP Rugby Union will not have a vote at Friday’s SA Rugby general meeting in Cape Town they will be sending two observers to follow proceedings.
The union, which lost its voting powers because they are under administration, will be sending senior officials Freddie Makoki and George Malgas to Cape Town.
EP administrator Monde Tabata said Makoki and Malgas would only have observer status at what is expected to be a fiery meeting.
Earlier this year, EP Rugby also did not have a vote at a meeting, when Mark Alexander was elected as president.
A proposed “strength-versus-strength” structure featuring the teams which occupied the top six places last season would be a crippling blow for the union. If a plan for the top six teams to contest the Premier League is passed, then the Kings could lose their prized top-flight status.
That would leave the Cheetahs, Bulls, Golden Lions, Western Province, the Sharks and Griquas fighting for the coveted trophy.
Alexander has outlined plans for an overhaul of SA Rugby administration as well as for a Springbok review process, following what he admitted had been a “profoundly disappointing” season. Alexander said plans to bring governance structures more in line with the demands of professional sport were already well advanced, while the immediate question of what to do about Springbok results was the organisation’s number one priority.
Alexander said the key changes are:
● New franchise and non-franchise rugby committees to improve communication between unions and executive council; to make recommendations on competitions and playing affairs; and to speed up decision-making; planned
● Allowing third parties to take a majority shareholding in unions’ commercial arms and have a voice in running rugby through the new franchise rugby committee;
● Doubling independent representation on the executive council to four members plus the representative of the players; and
● Terminating the role of the vice-president (at the end of the current term in 2018) to bring the elected representation to six.
The executive council is also planning the creation of an advisory board of eminent individuals from business and civic society to act as a sounding board for rugby. That body would not have a constitutional role however.