SA Rugby has reportedly warned Western Province Rugby that they will be forced to intervene if the situation at the rugby union does not improve.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, officials from SA Rugby held an ’emergency meeting’ with Zelt Marais, the president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU), and Western Province’s business wing on Friday.
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The report states that SA Rugby has threatened the WPRFU with a takeover of its operations if the union’s current problems are not resolved. This comes after a letter, supported by Western Province’s senior clubs, was reportedly sent to SA Rugby asking them to intervene.
There are concerns that Western Province Rugby could be staring at a financial collapse, especially as they face a huge damages claim after attempting to withdraw from an agreement with Flyt Property to redevelop Newlands Stadium.
Meanwhile, WP Rugby have continued their search for a new chief executive officer and reportedly approached both Eduard Coetzee and Edgar Rathbone to gauged their interest in the vacant position.
However, according to Rapport, both the Sharks and Vodacom Bulls CEOs turned them down. WP Rugby has been without a CEO since parting ways with Paul Zacks in early 2020. Junaid Moerat appeared set to be appointed as an interim CEO, but was suspended for allegedly leaking information to the media.
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