FRIDAY, 10.50AM:
The four rebel rugby unions who opposed the new Super-12 system accepted it on Thursday, ending the crisis in the competition.
SA Rugby Football Union president Louis Luyt met the four unions’ presidents — Keith Parkinson of Natal, Harold Verster of Free State, Hentie Serfontein of Northern Transvaal and Ronnie Masson of Western Province — at Ellis Park on Thursday.
The four unions voted against the system a fortnight ago and asked Sarfu to hold a meeting on August 5 to discuss it. On Thursday they also withdrew their request for a meeting and asked Sarfu to include a fifth region.
Luyt said he will discuss the proposal of a fifth region with the directors of SANZAR in Melbourne on July 26 and will report back to the unions. Sarfu will then ask the unions to put forward suggestions for discussions.