Kings’ Yankee talks start
Rescue plans for EP Rugby discussed in London
NEW YORK financier and North American Pro Rugby chief executive Douglas Schoninger has met SA Rugby president Mark Alexander in London about a proposed partnership with the EP Rugby Union.
Alexander, who is in Europe with the touring Springboks, met Schoninger about a deal that could change the face of South African professional rugby.
The pair spoke at the World Rugby conference on Monday after Schoninger expressed his interest in acquiring the Nelson Mandela Bay junior, Currie Cup and Super Rugby teams.
“An informal conversation took place at the World Rugby conference but no specific next steps were identified,” Alexander said.
Earlier, Schoninger confirmed that Pro Rugby North America had sent a letter of interest to SA Rugby about cash-strapped EP Rugby.
“We had a good talk and it was great meeting him,” Schoninger said. “We will continue to talk.” Former Southern Spears chief executive and founder of Mandela Bay Rugby and architect of the “American alliance” Tony McKeever welcomed the meeting.
“I am excited at the prospects that this offers SA Rugby and EP to develop a financially strong and potent rugby culture with Pro Rugby,” McKeever said.
Prior to the meeting, Schoninger had been keeping an eye on rugby developments in Port Elizabeth.
“We have been watching the situation for a while now and, after quite a bit of work, we think that a relationship with those teams would add tremendously to both Pro and Nelson Mandela Bay,” Schoninger said.
“We are a one-year-old league with great commercial and performance opportunities that would benefit from the structure and the expertise that those teams could offer.”
Another benefit would be financial stability, Schoninger said.
“If we are able to consummate a deal, we envision integrating many South Africa players and coaches into our programme immediately to strengthen it.
“We envisage having many of our players playing in the Currie Cup tournament, which runs after our regular season,” Schoninger said.
McKeever said a potential partnership would change the face of Eastern Province rugby.
“Pro Rugby brings a powerful bilateral trade tourism and cultural exchange via rugby.
“It has not gone unnoticed that there are many US companies invested in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape,” McKeever said.
“Pro Rugby would bring investment and a coherent administration into EP Rugby. Similarly U19, U21 and the two senior teams of Currie Cup and Super Rugby will benefit with the crosspollination of the EP players between the Bay’s EP Rugby teams and the New Orleans-based Pro Rugby side by playing for three months – from March to May – in the Pro Rugby tournament.
“This means that U19 and U21 and prospective Currie Cup and Super Rugby players can have a 90-day season in the US, based out of New Orleans, playing with US players, to experience and play international games pre-Currie Cup.”
The players would then return and could be seeded across EP Rugby, Border and South Western Districts, McKeever said.