The imminent fight for the presidency of the South African Rugby Union between incumbent president Brian van Rooyen and the man opposing him, KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins, will not end in a blood bath, Hoskins said on Monday.
Hoskins confirmed last week Friday that he would be contesting SA Rugby’s presidency at the annual general meeting (AGM) at the end of February. However, he said his decision to stand was not to fight Van Rooyen, but rather to improve the tarnished image of South African rugby.
”This shouldn’t be about a personal battle, but rather about rugby,” Hoskins said.
While Van Rooyen rose to the highest seat in the country’s rugby two years ago unopposed, his support — especially among the smaller unions — has dwindled, while Hoskins will walk into the AGM with probably the influential support of the bigger unions and the sponsors.
Hoskins’s elevation to one of the front-runners for the presidency has come on the back of an investigation into Van Rooyen and his allegedly poor corporate governance of SA Rugby.
While Hoskins sternly believes that he is the man to take SA Rugby forward, he will enter the ring against Van Rooyen with a match-winning asset, the sponsors.
”What prompted me to stand for the election is a bit of both. I was contacted by interested parties involved in rugby and they asked me to stand for the presidency. Secondly, I wouldn’t do it if I did not believe that I can change the image of the game,” Hoskins said.
Hoskins agrees that the image of the game has been tarnished during Van Rooyen’s two years at the helm, but is not taking him winning the election as a forgone conclusion.
”I don’t underestimate Brian and I don’t take things for granted,” said Hoskins.
Van Rooyen and Hoskins had walked out of last Friday’s marathon president’s council meeting looking like blood brothers, in deep discussion and swapping pleasantries on departure.
”Brian and I had a good discussion on Friday and we both realise that this shouldn’t be a personal battle. And regardless of what happens, we are doing this for the sake of rugby,” concluded Hoskins. — Sapa