Brian van Rooyen has vowed to fight off any attempt to unseat him as president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), The Mercury website reported on Monday.
Denying reports that he had been asked to leave, he said: ”I will make myself available for the elections on February 24. Reports that I have been asked to leave are factually incorrect.”
Van Rooyen reportedly failed to persuade members of Saru’s President’s Council on Friday to put off an external probe into breaches of rugby’s code of conduct.
This was also not correct he said.
”I welcome the investigation that everyone says I am trying to push off the table.”
Van Rooyen vowed to fight off a challenge for his current position from Sharks President Oregan Hoskins.
”I’ve gone on the campaign trail and I am confident I have the support of most of the provincial unions. I’m ready for a fight, meneer.”
Hoskins confirmed he would accept a nomination.
”There is just too much negativity surrounding our rugby,” the Durban lawyer said.
”Rugby cannot prosper if it is rocked by one scandal after another. My motivation for standing is to do what I can to improve rugby’s image.”
The election will take place in Cape Town on February 24. A total of 44 votes will be cast — the 14 provincial unions have three votes each and the president and deputy president also vote.
Hoskins asked Van Rooyen to stand down last year after the latter was accused of ”bad corporate governance”.
A probe into the matter stalled last week when retired judge Edwin King indicated he would not head an inquiry into allegations of breaches of the code of conduct by Van Rooyen and certain members of the President’s Council.
The allegations are contained in a report by advocate Jannie Lubbe, who was tasked by the President’s Council to look into the matter. – Sapa