Despite the executive committee of the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) having been suspended, rugby will continue as usual, the EPRU said on Tuesday.
Crisis talks took place at the EPRU Stadium on Tuesday after the committee was temporarily relieved of its powers late on Monday evening.
EP Rugby media-liaison officer, Debbie Ellis, confirmed that the executive has indeed been suspended, but stressed that this has not affected business.
”Everything else will continue to run as per normal,” said Ellis. ”There will be assistance by SA Rugby and we are taking this one step at a time.
”This was not a decision that was taken lightly and there are meetings taking place today [Tuesday] to ensure a resolution that will be in the interests of EP Rugby.
”All provincial and club fixtures have not been affected. The match against the Lions on Friday night will take place,” she said.
The Mighty Elephants play the Lions in a crunch Currie Cup qualifying-round encounter in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, those believed to be locked in the crisis talks on Tuesday included SA Rugby deputy chief executive Mveleli Ncula — formerly a member of the EP executive; SA Rugby Union vice-president Mike Stofile; EP Rugby head Phillip Joseph; and other SA Rugby Union (Saru) representatives.
Blue Bulls CEO Gary Boshoff has been appointed as administrator to conduct the day-to-day affairs of the province, with the cooperation of Joseph.
SA Rugby spokesperson Vusi Kama confirmed that Boshoff will assume his position in Port Elizabeth by the end of this week.
”The administrators will facilitate the appointment of a team of investigators into the affairs of the province, to help it operate on a better footing,” Kama said.
”The decision to suspend the executive committee will not affect normal rugby business in the province, including forthcoming fixtures at all levels,” he said. — Sapa