SA Rugby says the Eastern Province Rugby Union has fulfilled all the criteria required to complete its transition out of administration.

The executive council of SA Rugby formally rescinded the sanctions under clause 28 of the SA Rugby constitution which suspends a member’s voting rights and places them under administration.

The EPRU’s affairs had been placed into the administrative control of SA Rugby – at the union’s invitation – in April 2016 to help regularise the union’s affairs as it faced a number of financial challenges.

Control of the union’s day-to-day affairs was returned to the EPRU in 2017 and the formal lifting of the clause completes their return to normality, with the reinstatement of the union’s voting rights at SA Rugby general meetings.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander expressed his delight at the union completing the process.

‘The winds of change are blowing through EP Rugby and the new structure and executive are making great strides,’ Alexander said. ‘They have been working for an extended period on turning around the union’s affairs and this decision completes the process.’

In that time the EPRU has adopted a new constitution and appointed a new executive, featuring independent local businesspeople. The union further announced a change of the team’s name from the Kings to the EP Elephants.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images