South African Rugby Union (Saru) acting managing director Basil Haddad has quashed speculation of a Springbok player strike a few days before the Boks jet off to Europe for their end-of-year tour.
It had been reported on South African Broadcasting Corporation radio on Monday that the Springboks could go on strike over the appointment of the team manager, with the team reportedly preferring former SA Rugby managing director Songezo Nayo to Saru’s favoured man, Zola Yeye.
Haddad, though, said that the speculation was just a rumour and that he had confirmation from the South African Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa) that there was no player strike planned.
”This is just a rumour. There is no such action about to happen. I have spoken to Sarpa and received confirmation from them that it was a rumour,” Haddad said on Monday.
However, Haddad did confirm that the Springboks could embark on their annual European trip without a permanent manager after the applications of Nayo, Yeye and Liston Ntshongwana had not been technically successful and also that time was running out ”as the Springboks were leaving soon”.
The SA Rugby Board had taken a decision in August to appoint a black Springbok manager, leaving former Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha out of the running after being reported to be the man Springbok coach Jake White wanted for the position.
”There is a possibility that there will not be a permanent manager accompanying the Springboks. Their [Yeye, Nayo and Ntshongwana] applications were technically not successful and as you can understand I cannot elaborate further on that. We are looking for the right person for the job. There are a number of possibilities,” said Haddad.
A sub-committee of the SA Rugby board, White and Springbok captain John Smit will be meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday to discuss the Bok team manager’s vacancy.
”The final decision as to who will be manager lies with SA Rugby, while Jake [White] has the right to be consulted,” Haddad said. — Sapa