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SA Rugby explain decision to postpone private equity meeting
By Liam Heagney
Rugby officials in South Africa have explained why Thursday’s special general meeting in Cape Town regarding private equity investment in the sport’s commercial rights has been postponed after a political intervention.
A statement read: “SA Rugby have postponed a planned special general meeting (SGM) to consider a proposal to conclude a private equity investment in the sport’s commercial rights at the request of Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.
“The meeting was scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Thursday but will now be rescheduled at the minister’s request to more fully brief government on the proposal. A new date for the SGM before year-end will only be confirmed after the engagement with the minister.”
Mark Alexander, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) president, said: “We received the request from the minister this morning [Wednesday] and we are happy to oblige, having shared the request with our member union presidents.
“We had previously briefed him on his appointment, but we understand his request for further assurance considering the newsworthiness of this proposal. We look forward to providing any information the minister may require.
“We believe that the proposed partnership, along with our identified partner, offers an opportunity for organic growth rather than simply serving as a cash injection. Importantly, it ensures that the Springboks will remain under the control and direction of SA Rugby, safeguarding the future of our organisation.”
In a letter to the SARU, minister McKenzie had written: “It is always important that levels of consultation and information sharing are adequate in matters such as these, especially when regarding matters of significant public interest.
“I would therefore like to humbly request that Thursday’s scheduled meeting to decide on the way forward with your members be postponed so that I can be fully apprised of the particulars surrounding this proposed deal, or any deal that may be agreed to through your structures.”
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Latest Comments
oh ok, seems strange you didn't put the limit at 7 given you said you thought 8 was too many!
Why did you say "I've told you twice already how I did it but your refuse to listen" when you had clearly not told me that you'd placed a limit of 8 teams per league?
"Agreed with 4 pool of 4 and home and away games?"
I understand the appeal of pools of 4, but 6 pool games might not go down well with the French or the South Africans given already cramped schedules. I do still think that you're right that that would be the best system, but there is going to be a real danger of French and SA sides sending b-teams which could really devalue the competition unless there is a way to incentivise performance, e.g. by allowing teams that do well one year to directly qualify for the next year's competition.
Go to commentsFoster should never have been appointed, and I never liked him as a coach, but the hysteria over his coaching and Sam Cane as a player was grounded in prejudice rather than fact.
The New Zealand Rugby public were blinded by their dislike of Foster to the point of idiocy.
Anything the All Blacks did that was good was attributed to Ryan and Schmidt and Fozzie had nothing to do with it.
Any losses were solely blamed on Foster and Cane.
Foster did develop new talent and kept all the main trophies except the World Cup.
His successor kept the core of his team as well as picking Cane despite him leaving for overseas because he saw the irreplaceable value in him.
Razor will take the ABs to the next level, I have full confidence in that.
He should have been appointed in 2020.
But he wasn’t. And the guy who was has never been treated fairly.
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