South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) president Brian van Rooyen announced several major changes to rugby in South Africa at a press conference held at Eldoronians Rugby Club in Eldorado Park on Wednesday.
The changes are likely to invoke a mixed response from the rugby public and is another step in the ”cleansing” of the sport in South Africa, following the departure of Silas Nkanunu, Rian Oberholzer and Rudolf Straeuli late last year.
The changes were adopted at last weekend’s Sarfu bosberaad and according to Van Rooyen were subsequently ratified by the executive committee of Sarfu.
It had been speculated in recent weeks that Van Rooyen would flex his muscles and attempt to diminish the role of the professional arm of Sarfu — SA Rugby — in order to give himself more power.
”It was always the intention of Sarfu that it would retain the custodianship of the game of rugby and never its intention to let SA Rugby take the lead on rugby matters. The current situation must thus be corrected in order to allow Sarfu the full authority to decide and direct all rugby matters in South Africa,” said Van Rooyen.
”Sarfu must retain its rights to influence and direct rugby matters, whilst SA Rugby must be given the space and authority to carry on with the business of managing Sarfu’s commercial assets and generating maximum revenues for the game.”
Other significant announcements were the scrapping of the regional Super 12 teams and a restructuring of the current strength-versus-strength Currie Cup format.
Regionalisation was introduced for the 1998 Super 12 campaign, but will fall away in 2005, with the Lions, the Blue Bulls, Western Province and the Natal Sharks becoming the four South African Super 12 franchises.
The controversial move leaves the Free State Cheetahs — one of the most consistent breeding grounds for top rugby players in the country — out in the cold.
”That issue [leaving Free State out] was debated long and hard,” explained Van Rooyen, ”and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are totally out of the loop.”
”We will continue to discuss the issue but at the end of the day it wasn’t commercially viable. Research has shown that between 80% and 90% of SA Rugby’s revenue was generated by those four.
The Currie Cup, meanwhile, will revert to a 14-province format, with a strength-versus-strength component, but a decision on whether or not that meant a two-tier competition had not yet been made.
”The broader details are to be worked out following further consultation and discussion with relevant sponsors,” said Van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen also said that no final decision had been made on the post of the new Springbok coach and an announcement in that regard would be made ”in the next few days”.
”Gentleman, I have to keep you in suspense a little longer as far as the new Springbok coach is concerned.
”The committee only finished its deliberations after 10pm last night and there is no need to be in a rush. We will make an announcement in the next few days,” he said. — Sapa