Cheeky Watson has resigned as president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union.

According to Netwerk24, Watson did so in Port Elizabeth late on Tuesday afternoon.

This follows Monday's announcement that the EPRU will no longer be under the administrative control of SA Rugby following a series of decisions at a general meeting in PE.

Rhodes coach Qondakele Sompondo, one of Watson's outspoken opponents, told Netwerk24 that he 'was very pleased Cheeky finally smelled the coffee and resigned. He should have done it long ago.'

SA Rugby took charge of the beleaguered EPRU in April 2016 in an attempt to regularise the union's poor financial state. But the administration of the union will return to local hands, after the national governing body ensured the EP's playing commitments were fulfilled, albeit with the help of a liquidator.

ALSO READ: SA Rugby hands down admin of EP

Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images