The mediation process between SA Rugby and five unions regarding funding has broken down.

SA Rugby confirmed that a meeting was held in Johannesburg earlier on Friday, but that the parties involved failed to come to an agreement regarding the ongoing financial dispute.

‘A mediation between the South African Rugby Union and the Boland, Griffons, Leopards, Border and Valke rugby unions took place 5 October,’ read the statement.

‘The parties failed to reach an immediate resolution on the issues in dispute, but have committed themselves to ongoing discussions in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues, in particular through a series of meetings scheduled for the month of October.’

Earlier in the year, it was reported that the five unions in question had given SA Rugby an ultimatum to negotiate a mutual agreement or face being summoned to court where the national governing body’s annual budget will be disputed.

The unions only received R10.14-million, which is about R11-million (52%) less than what was paid to them last year.