Political intervention by the African National Congress seems to have steadied the volatile situation between warring Eastern Province Rugby officials and South African Rugby in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
SA Rugby supremo Brian van Rooyen, who was due to arrive in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday evening for more crisis talks, cancelled his trip and instead attended an African Leopards function in Newtown, Johannesburg, further cementing the newfound trust between the two parties.
The African Leopards are a conglomeration of players from various African countries who are due to play against the South African Under-23 team in a curtain-raiser to the South Africa versus Australia Mandela Challenge Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.
”We indicated at 9am this morning that Brian would not be able to make the trip following his commitment to the function in Newtown,” said presidential spokesperson Andre Bester on Wednesday night.
That message, though, did not reach EP Rugby officials who apparently waited for two hours at Port Elizabeth airport for Van Rooyen to arrive.
His presence was, however, not needed, as a joint statement by SA Rugby and the EP executive committee indicated that the situation had already been brought under control following the EP executive committee’s refusal to stand down on Tuesday.
This, it seemed, was made possible by the ANC sports desk of the Nelson Mandela metro. It was a timely intervention, as the predicament was threatening to explode into a free-for-all and overshadow the Mandela Challenge Test.
The Boks — who include six players of colour in the staring XV — need a win if they hope to give the elder statesman a special birthday present by retaining the Plate after Australia won the first Test in Sydney a fortnight ago.
The local branch of the ANC sports desk on Wednesday convened a meeting between SA Rugby representatives and the Eastern Province Rugby Union executive committee.
This followed differences between the union and SA Rugby on the way forward in solving existing problems at the union. It was a virtual stand-off, but both parties have put their differences away in an effort to sort the matter out.
They both agreed to a set of proposals outlined by the ANC sports desk. They are:
- The investigation into the affairs of the Eastern Province will take place, and last for a period of two weeks.
- None of the two parties will rally third parties (constituencies) to champion their respective points of view.
- None of the parties will go to the media to discuss the existing situation without consulting the other.
- None of the parties shall take legal steps outside of the present investigation.
- Members of the EP executive committee and the CEO will cooperate with the investigation and the executive committee will go into recess while the investigation continues. The CEO will take special leave for the duration of the investigation.
According to the statement, the resolutions of the meeting were accepted in the interest of rugby in the province, but whether it will have the desired affect of once and for all cleaning up the mess in which the union currently finds itself remains to be seen.
In the statement, it was said that ”the recess is in no way a presumption of guilt on the part of the executive committee and the CEO”.
”The two parties have agreed that there will be no further statements and/or comments on the matter, until further notice.” — Sapa