As the rugby fraternity reacted to the double resignation of Rudolf Straeuli and Rian Oberholzer, South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) president Silas Nkanunu revealed at the union’s annual general meeting at Newlands on Friday that he would not stand for the post.
Nkanunu has just been elected vice-chairperson of the International Rugby Board (IRB). Nkanunu’s election was confirmed at the Interim Meeting of the IRB Council held in Sydney recently. He is the first Sarfu representative to be elected to so senior an IRB post. Former president Nelson Mandela even telephoned Australia to congratulate Nkanunu.
However, Nkanunu’s triumph was tainted by claims by Brian van Rooyen, a Golden Lions rugby administrator who lost a power struggle to former rugby supremo Louis Luyt, that he had the support of at least seven of the 14 rugby unions making up the SA Rugby Football Union (Sarfu).
Observers maintain that if Van Rooyen was victorious at Friday’s meeting, and then also carried out his promised clean-sweep of the sport’s administration, Nkanunu’s eligibility to retain the IRB vice-chairmanship would fall away.
Nic Mallett, currently coaching a club side in France, is widely tipped to succeed Straeuli as the SA Rugby board attempt to resurrect their ailing brand. Straeuli’s successor will only be appointed in the New Year.
The shock of Friday, however, was Oberholzer’s decision to ”step down with immediate effect” and it came a day after he vehemently defended his position.
The redoubtable Straeuli never once indicated he would take the money and run, despite mounting pressure, but in the end he did resign. Straeuli’s performance as coach left plenty to be desired and his resignation will please many players, fans and administrators throughout the country.
Since he took over the reins of the Bok team, on April Fool’s Day last year, he has overseen four record defeats to France, Scotland, England and New Zealand. His charges have been accused of serious foul play on numerous occasions and he has done little to aid transformation in the squad. All that coupled with a failure at the Rugby World Cup, the infamous ”Kamp Staaldraad” and an overall record of only 12 wins from 23 starts was a recipe for disaster.
According to Songezo Nayo, newly appointed acting managing director in place of Oberholzer, it was ”for the good of SA rugby”. — Sapa