The Southern Spears are still in the dark about their participation in next year’s Super 14.
SA Rugby’s board of directors met in Cape Town on Tuesday to discuss the franchise’s state of readiness and delayed a decision until Friday.
”The meeting discussed the Southern Spears issue at length, taking into account submissions from the recent SA Rugby fact-finding mission; a presentation by the chairman of the board of the Spears franchise; and input from various stakeholders,” SA Rugby said in a statement.
”The board decided not to announce a decision before receiving further input from the meeting of the presidents of the provincial unions, scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Thursday April 20.
”It is important to note that the decision on the Spears franchise is within the context of the competitions structure SA Rugby will adopt in the near future,” said board chairperson Mpumelelo Tshume. ”It would be unfair to all parties concerned not to take into account the outcome of the Thursday meeting.
”It is for that reason that we are so keen to receive input from that structure. We have to emerge with a decision that takes into account the total picture of the South African rugby environment.”
Tshume reiterated a statement made earlier by SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins that the rugby governing body would not make hasty decisions on the matter without examining all the relevant factors.
”Mr Hoskins put it correctly when he said the process will require a lot of research and time, precisely because the ultimate decision is one we will not take lightly or in a haphazard fashion.”
SA Rugby decided last year that the bottom-placed franchise in this season’s Super 14 would be relegated to make way for the Spears.
However, there have subsequently been serious concerns about the franchise’s state of readiness and the potential financial ruin a relegated franchise would face. — Sapa