The purpose of the South Africa Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) board meeting in Johannesburg on Monday was not, as reported earlier, to lure deputy president Keith Parkinson back into the fold.
Parkinson resigned last week following a series of recent incidents that have further tainted the image of the sport in South Africa.
Monday’s meeting was in fact the start of a two-day session involving all the decision-makers in South African rugby who would discuss, among other issues, the representation of the South African Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa) on the board as well as finding a replacement for Parkinson.
The new deputy president is still a long way from being decided upon, as the process is a lengthy and involved one.
Although none of the board members was available for comment, including president Brian van Rooyen, spokesperson Andre Bester confirmed that persuading Parkinson to retract his resignation was not on the agenda on Monday.
”All that was discussed was the process and a possible replacement for the deputy president,” said Bester.
Sarpa chief executive Piet Heymans, who was not present at the meeting, said he was unaware of any move to reinstate Parkinson.
”That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” he said when contacted on Monday afternoon. ”I believe that they will further discuss our [Sarpa’s] attempts to get representation on the board, among other things.”
Regarding the case of the four Springbok players who have taken Sarfu to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for breach of contract, Heymans was non-committal.
”Under the CCMA laws I cannot discuss details, but I can confirm that both parties [Sarfu and Sarpa] will meet on Thursday this week to further discuss the issues.”
Sarfu actually has two cases against it at the CCMA. First are the four players — Victor Matfield, Richard Bands, Dannie Roussouw and Dale Santon — who were promised a contract by erstwhile coach Rudolf Straeuli. The other is the dispute with Sarpa itself.
”That involves the board representation and funding of the association [Sarpa] by SA Rugby and Sarfu,” said Heymans.
A replacement for Parkinson will be announced at a date still to be determined. — Sapa
