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Sharks boss blasts URC in swiftly deleted Tweet
By Ian Cameron
Cell C Sharks boss Marco Masotti has blasted the URC on Twitter before quickly deleting the post following the cancellations of two Round 6 games over the weekend.
Glasgow and Ulster were both forced to postpone their BKT United Rugby Championship games in South Africa this weekend because of the outbreak of a stomach bug.
Warriors were due to face Emirates Lions in Johannesburg while today, with Ulster were scheduled to play Cell C Sharks in Durban.
A URC statement read: “Due to gastroenteritis infections it is not possible for Ulster or Glasgow Warriors to field full playing squads.
“In order to ensure a duty of care towards the players involved and given the medical advice received from all key stakeholders, the United Rugby Championship has made the decision to postpone the fixtures.
“The league will now move to examine potential dates to reschedule the games and will update in due course.”
However the New York based Masotti was fizzing at the decision and took to social media to vent his frustration.
Masotti, who is an active and outspoken Twitter user, reportedly posted “Is this a joke? Must be. Is this a professional sports league? Has this happened in other professional sports leagues? Maybe darts, curling, or pickleball? Just give us the points,” before deleting it a few moments later.
Masotti grew up in Amanzimtoti and is a life-long fan of the franchise. An attorney by trade, Masotti is a powerful figure in the game and heads up MVM Holdings, an international investment consortium that purchased a 51 per cent majority stake in The Sharks in 2021.
He was also part of a consortium of investors that agreed terms to acquire a majority controlling stake in English Premiership Rugby side Saracens for £32 million in 2021.
He likes to mix things up on Twitter in particular, even having a pop at Gallagher Premiership outfit Sale Sharks, claiming the term 'Sharks' was inappropriate given the UK's location in the north sea.
additional reporting PA
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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