Saru sends in cavalry to save Southern Kings
● Heavyweight rugby administrators deployed to sort out cash crisis
Concerned SA Rugby bosses have deployed heavyweight rugby administrators Monde Tabata and Jannie Louw to help sort out the cash crisis facing the Isuzu Southern Kings.
In an attempt to nip any potential financial problems in the bud, SA Rugby bosses have wasted no time in sending in the cavalry.
Working at breakneck speed, insiders say the new board have already met to discuss the dire state of affairs at the franchise.
Tabata and Louw were named in a five-person board which was hastily assembled after SA Rugby took administrative control of the beleaguered Kings last week.
SA Rugby are now firmly in the driving seat and have assumed day to day running of the Guinness PRO14 franchise.
Apart from problem solving in the boardroom, SA Rugby said director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus would support Kings interim head coach Robbi Kempson in their return-toplay preparations.
The Saru takeover decision was taken because the Kings’ previous owner, the Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World [GRC], was unable to meet contractual commitments.
The new board will be chaired by EPRU president Andre Rademan and sitting alongside him will be Mbulelo Gidane, chair of EPRU finance and human resources.
The fifth member of the board is independent member Gugu Nxiweni, who has been retained from the previous Kings board.
The EPRU has two places on the board as the minority shareholder (26%).
Tabata, a retired former corporate executive, has been credited for helping to get EP rugby back on its feet after problems the union experienced in 2016 during the Cheeky Watson era.
Because of his problemsolving capabilities, Tabata is referred to as “Mr Fixit” in rugby circles.
He is a graduate of Rhodes University and holds an honorary degree from Australia’s prestige Monash University.
Tabata is also is a former MD of Megapro, served for 16 years on the board of directors of Peermont Global Group and was chair of the various trusts linked to the group.
Louw recently joined the Saru executive committee after a stint as president of the Griqualand West Rugby Union.
His position at Griquas was taken by Monte Engelbrecht who was voted into the position unanimously following the union’s annual meeting in Kimberley in May.
After putting the EPRU back on an even keel after huge financial problems, Rademan will also have a key role in resurrecting the Kings.
It is expected Rademan will only spell out his plans later.
A circumspect Rademan directed all queries regarding the Kings to Saru media manager Andy Colquhoun in Cape Town.
Insiders say retired Judge Lex Mpati is also expected to release his findings this week after an inquiry into allegations of gross misconduct at the EPRU.
A bombshell hit earlier in 2020 when outspoken EPRU deputy president Bantwini Matika announced his resignation.
His decision to quit came soon after Bantwini had been served with a letter accusing him of gross misconduct.
Later the EPRU said their manager of club affairs, John Scheepers, had handed in a letter of resignation.
Another EPRU official, club affairs administrator Angelo Peters, also quit his position.
EPRU vice-president Chico Februarie was also sent a letter alleging gross misconduct and was subsequently suspended. Kings timeline:
November 2010: SA Rugby announces intention to field the Southern Kings in Vodacom Super Rugby in 2013.
February 2013: Kings compete in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition as one of five SA teams.
August 2013: Kings lose place in Vodacom Super Rugby in a two-legged play-off against the Lions.
November 2015: SA Rugby takes control of the franchise after EPRU, to whom the operation of the franchise had been granted, runs into financial trouble.
February 2016: Kings return to Vodacom Super Rugby when the competition expands to 18 teams.
April 2017: Sanzaar announces that Vodacom Super Rugby will contract from 18 teams to 15 teams in 2018.
September 2017: The Kings and Toyota Cheetahs are included as SA’s representatives in the Guinness PRO14 competition. January 2019: GRC acquires 74% shareholding in the franchise; EPRU retain a 26% shareholding.
June 2020: SA Rugby resumes control of the Isuzu Southern Kings following failure of the GRC to meet contractual commitments.
July 1: New five-person Kings board formed.