Alexander new Saru head
SOUTH African Rugby Union (Saru) acting president and former deputy president Mark Alexander has officially been named as the union’s head.
Alexander‚ who had been deputy president of Saru since 2007‚ was elected unopposed at a special general meeting in Johannesburg yesterday.
The new president fills the vacancy left open following the resignation of ex-president Oregan Hoskins in August.
Alexander has been the rugby union’s acting president since Hoskins’s resignation.
The new man will head the rugby governing body until the next elections in 2018.
Francois Davids‚ who has been a member of the executive council‚ will step into Alexander’s former role as deputy president‚ while Valke Rugby Union’s president Vivian Lottering will fill the vacancy left open by Davids on the executive council.
Alexander admitted that South African rugby had been going through a period of turmoil and he said he was looking forward to taking rugby to greater heights.
“We need to thank stakeholders and supporters because they stood by us through tough times‚” Alexander said.
“I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Alexander was part of the recent coaching indaba held in Cape Town.
The indaba looked at ways of advancing the way of play.
The gathering has also left Alexander confident that better days are around the corner for the national side under coach Allister Coetzee.
“Our coaching indaba was a major breakthrough.
“It was an excellent conference – the best two days I’ve ever spent in sport.”