Rademan bidding for EP Currie Cup coup
Tough negotiations are on the cards for Tuesday’s SA Rugby annual meeting when EP Rugby president Andre Rademan makes a case for the EP Elephants to be included in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
If Rademan convinces SA Rugby bosses that EP belong among SA’S elite teams he will have pulled off a major coup for his union.
Not only will top rugby return to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, but the union’s coffers will be boosted to the tune of about R7m.
Buoyed by a landslide victory in the EP presidential elections, Rademan is confident he has enough ammunition to win a place in the big league.
“It is very important that EP play in the top tier Currie Cup Premier Division. There is only financial injection of about R7m to consider.
“EP have got an international coach in Peter de Villiers and with extra money we start contracting better players. It will be difficult to put a competitive team on the field, but I think everything is positive moving forward after our elections.
“I certainly believe EP will be playing in the Premier Division later this year.
“I can assure you we will be putting forward a strong case.
“Earlier I asked SA Rugby to put the matter back on the agenda, which they did.
“So I will be talking to the general council on Tuesday.
“There are two major sponsors that are interested in EP rugby and now we can start negotiating because the elections are over.
“EP’S executive is in place and we can start speaking to sponsors because we’ve got a massive mandate.”
If EP are unable to secure a place at SA Rugby’s top table, they will compete in the lower league First Division.
Insiders said EP could not get the 75% vote they needed to play in the top tier at an SA Rugby meeting in January.
If this result is not overturned on Tuesday, EP will continue to play with the Griffons, Falcons, Boland, the SWD Eagles, Leopards and Border in the First
Division.
Not deterred by the earlier vote, EP have insisted that their right to play in the Premier Division is on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.
Playing in the less glamorous First Division will make it difficult for EP to attract sponsors and to assemble a top-quality squad.
EP are confident of getting the nod to play in the Premier Division because they enjoy franchise status.
Counting against them is that they were the whipping boys in the Preparation Series when they lost by heavy margins to the Bulls, Lions, Griquas and Cheetahs.
Because of a lack of financial clout, EP were forced to field a team of mainly club players whose lack of experience at the top level was cruelly exposed.
Coach De Villiers and his team have returned to training at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and are preparing for all eventualities.
A concerned De Villiers has made it clear EP must be bolstered by new players if they want to be competitive at the top level.
EP have lost two players since the Preparation Cup in Chris Hollis (to Griquas) and Athi Mayinje (Griffons).
“I think there is a 70% chance that EP will be in the Premier Division,” De Villiers said.