Interested parties welcomed the election of Oregan Hoskins as the new president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru).
The Sharks president defeated Brian van Rooyen at the Saru annual general meeting on Friday in Cape Town.
South African Sports Commission and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) chairperson Moss Mashishi said Hoskins is a person of extremely high calibre who will bring about constructive change in the sport.
”His election is an exceptionally positive development for rugby. They are now in a position to put the past behind them and move on with new leadership.”
He added that Sascoc is promoting two important issues among sporting bodies.
”Firstly you need good corporate governance, because in its absence you have no accountability. Secondly, we want officials to realise they are in their positions for the benefit of the sportsmen, and not the other way around.
”Those are two ideas we want to drive home very hard.”
Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile congratulated Hoskins on his victory and said he hopes the problems within Saru will now be sorted out.
”The department has said all along that rugby must sort out its own problems,” said Stofile’s spokesperson, Bongi Sishi. ”We wish him [Hoskins] all the best and hope that all the problems will be resolved.”
Dr Ali Bacher, sponsors’ representative on the board of SA Rugby, said: ”An exciting new era awaits South African rugby, based on good corporate governance, sound management and effective public-relations management.
”The sponsors of South African rugby welcome Oregan Hoskins as the president of SA Rugby.”
The South African Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa), which had been at loggerheads with Van Rooyen over a number of issues, is pleased with the outcome of the vote.
”We nailed our colours to the mast prior to it happening,” said Sarpa spokesperson Hennie le Roux. ”At least now there is an opportunity for change in South African rugby. Without the change in the presidency, there definitely would not have been any change in the sport.
”The relationship between Sarpa and SA Rugby can only get better and I believe from the few discussions we have had with Oregan that he is sensible enough to know what needs to be done.”
Sarpa hopes to see sweeping changes to the structures of South African rugby.
”At the moment there is a huge conflict of interests between the provinces and SA Rugby. It is time the structures were guided by people outside the provinces who influence the game, such as players and sponsors,” said Le Roux.
”At the moment the system allows for provinces to further their own interests.”
He said an independent report in 1999 came to the conclusion that South African rugby cannot survive with 14 provincial bodies. ”Hopefully the report will now be taken out of the draw, dusted off, and taken into account.”
Le Roux added that while one should never take away the rights of the smaller provinces to compete and be involved, they need to earn their right by their performances on the field.
Former Springbok captain Naas Botha, speaking on Supersport, said he has always had a good relationship with Van Rooyen and that one has to ask whether change will be for the better.
”However, with all that has happened in the past few years, it looks like it will be a good change,” Botha said. — Sapa