The South African Rugby Players Association (Sarpa) has come out in support of Brian van Rooyen in his campaign to win the presidency of the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) on Friday.
After its annual general meeting held in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Sarpa also called on managing director of SA Rugby Rian Oberholzer and the current president of Sarfu, Silas Nkanunu, to resign.
Sarpa further want the terms of reference of the forthcoming King investigation be extended to include an inquiry into the administration and corporate governance of Sarfu and SA Rugby.
They added that legal action with regard to the humiliation of Springbok players represented by Sarpa is being considered and further investigations in this regard are pending. They have also called for Sarpa to play a role in the future administration of the game.
”The performance of South African rugby on and off the field was discussed and the overwhelming consensus was that not only should the performance of the coaches and players be evaluated but also that of the administrators of South African rugby,” Sarpa said in a statement.
”The only conclusion that Sarpa is able to draw is that the current national administrators of South African rugby do not appear to have the confidence of the professional players and are believed to be incapable of taking the game in this country forward in the professional arena.”
Sarpa also noted that players, ”as the most important stakeholders in South African rugby”, have no say in the running of the game. Proposals have been made that Sarpa, as the collective representative of all professional rugby players in South Africa, should have representatives on the board of SA Rugby and on the Sarfu executive.
”These proposals have been rejected and this is a clear indication how far behind we are in comparison to the top teams in the rest of the world. Players in those countries … have a say in the administrative aspects of the game.”
Sarpa claim that in a survey the majority of professional players in South Africa indicated that the current president of Sarfu and managing director of SA Rugby have had ample opportunity to prove their ability to manage South African rugby into the next era, but have failed to do so.
”The survey also confirmed the apparent the lack of confidence in the current administrative structures and the individuals running SA Rugby.
”Sarpa is of the view that the performance of the present national administration has resulted in the Springboks being relegated from first to fifth position in the world in eight years, our lowest ever ranking in world rugby.”
They have further called for a comprehensive independent audit of both Sarfu and SA Rugby, including the budget allocated to the Rugby World Cup 2003 campaign, in order to establish the current financial status of the professional game, and the manner in which the income generated by the game in this country is spent.
”Sarpa is concerned that the results and current status of South African rugby may impact on the television revenue received. Responsibility for this must be laid at the doors of SA Rugby.
”The image of South African rugby both on and off the field has suffered greatly, not only locally, but worldwide. SA Rugby is responsible for the image of the game in this country, and for the management of the Springbok brand, both of which Sarpa views as national assets held in trust for the nation and for the future of the professional game by SA Rugby.
”The management of SA Rugby must therefore be held responsible for any damage to the image and brand.” – Sapa