Antonie can mend fences with SA Rugby

It would appear Gerald Antonie’s election as unopposed president of the troubled EP Rugby Union has gone a long way to repairing the union’s badly damaged relationship with SA Rugby. A more positive mood towards EP by the mother body was evident when SA Rugby deputy president Francois Davids said he would push for Gqeberha to host a Springbok Test match as soon as possible. After former president Maasdorp Cannon was suspended by SA Rugby for calling it a racist organisation in 2023, relations between EP and the mother body became strained.

Matters did not appear to improve when George Malgas, who was part of Cannon’s defence team, was named as acting president. It was thought that Gqeberha would win the right to stage a Test against Portugal in 2024, but SA Rugby decided it would be played in Bloemfontein.

This decision was another slap in EP’s face as it continued to be viewed as an outsider on the national stage because of internal politics. Gqeberha was also overlooked when the Boks went on their World Cup victory parade in 2023, with neighbours East London getting the nod.

This was a strange decision because Bok skipper Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus have roots in Gqeberha and Despatch respectively.

Then, to add insult to injury, SA Rugby organised a scaled-down visit to Gqeberha at the weekend which was held on the back of a bakkie to the amusement and disgust of many fans.

Saru sent Davids, Hennie Baartman and Chantal Dupisani to Gqeberha to EP’s annual meeting on Saturday as observers and it was clear they were pleased to see Antonie installed in the top job.

In his acceptance speech, Antonie said he was delighted the relationship between EP and SA Rugby had been restored. He appealed for sponsors to come back, saying EP was open for business again.

One of Antonie’s main goals is to form working relationships with Border, the SWD Eagles, Boland, the Sharks and Western Province within the coastal region.

EP have been in Saru’s dog box for too long and hopefully Antonie can mend fences with the mother body.