Executives from Rover motor company were promised rugby Test tickets in exchange for a luxury car for rugby boss Brian van Rooyen, the Daily Dispatch website reported on Tuesday.
It said they were also promised free advertising and invitations to the South African Rugby Union’s (Saru) annual gala dinner.
This was done despite an earlier sponsorship by Ford to supply Van Rooyen and Saru with vehicles.
The allegations appear in a secret dossier on the state of Saru that caused two members of the rugby body’s audit committee to resign four weeks ago.
Free State Cheetahs MD Harold Verster, who admitted he was closely linked with obtaining the vehicle for Van Rooyen, said on Monday he had initiated talks with Rover in his capacity as Saru marketing committee chairperson.
”The president [Van Rooyen] did not ask for a car. I felt that he should have a sponsored vehicle,” said Verster.
”After discussing the issue with Rover, I was told that Megapro [Saru’s promotions arm] had organised a sponsorship with Ford. That was the end of the story.”
However, reported the Dispatch, Verster wrote to attorney Frikkie Erasmus of Erasmus Inc Attorneys on November 9, saying: ”I have recently been approached again by … Mr Brian van Rooyen, with the request that we should again help him with a Rover vehicle”.
Verster wrote that Van Rooyen was not happy with the agreement with Ford. He asked Erasmus to assist as he had good contacts with Rover.
Van Rooyen wanted to take possession of the vehicle after a while, Verster wrote.
He added: ”We must structure the agreement in order for the car to become the property of the president at the end of a term, say three years, and that it is done in [some] way, even if SA Rugby has to make a contribution in the process.”
Erasmus confirmed on Monday that Verster had told him Van Rooyen wanted a Rover.
”I do work for the Cheetahs and Rover and that is why I was asked.”
Erasmus said, contrary to Verster’s statement to the Dispatch, that Saru had already been sponsored by Ford at that stage.
”I agree with you that there was no necessity for another vehicle. That was one of the problems in SA Rugby,” he added.
On February 2, Verster wrote to Erasmus, apologising for raising the issue again, and said: ”Brian would like to know how we progress”.
He added that Van Rooyen wanted to look at Rover’s top model — a 2,5-litre V6 Rover 75, valued at R400 000.
On February 4, Verster again wrote to Erasmus, saying ”we are working with a difficult situation” and ”seeing that Ford sponsors many vehicles we must structure Rover’s package exclusively”.
Van Rooyen did not respond to a message from the Dispatch on his cellphone or one left at his office.
Verster told Erasmus that Saru could offer Rover 10 Test tickets as Van Rooyen’s guests during the after-match party, valued at R6 000; 10 invitations to the annual gala dinner, worth R10 000; two invitations to the annual golf day (R2 000); 10 invitations to the president’s quarterly dinners (R8 000); and invitations for two to other ad hoc functions (R5 000).
He also suggested free advertising space at two rugby stadiums valued at R12 000, and the association of Rover at two functions with Springbok players, valued at R20 000.
Verster, without being asked, on Monday told the Dispatch the intended Rover sponsorship and his involvement had nothing to do with the earlier dispute over the choice between the Eastern Cape and Free State for the Super 14 franchise.
The talks about Rover, however, took place during the build-up to the announcement of Free State as the fifth team in the competition. — Sapa