Hope for 'positive' outcome in Kings dispute
Staff and players at the Eastern Province Rugby Union have still not been paid.
The trouble first started in June last year and no payments have been made since September.
And the last public statement on the matter was when EPRU Cheeky Watson sent letters out to numerous players – those not contracted to the South African Rugby Union controlled Southern Kings Super Rugby team – that their contracts were about to be cancelled.
A number of players launched court action against EP Rugby, the company in whose employ they were, while others also started looking for employment elsewhere.
However, there now appears to be some movement to resolve the issue.
While none of questions posed by rugby365 to the EPRU President, Watson, were answered, a statement from the union's lawyers suggested the matter could be resolved soon.
The suggestion is that the matter between the players and the union could be settled out of court.
"We are currently in discussion with a number of players and we hope to have a positive outcome in the very near future," said a brief statement – issued by Chris Unwin Attorneys on behalf of the EP Kings.
However, none of rugby365's other questions were answered.
Here are the questions we directed at the EPRU boss, Watson:
1. The latter half of 2015 was marked by the well-documented financial troubles of EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd. Has anything changed? What is the current status and when could players and staff expect to receive outstanding salaries?
2. What is the status of the sponsorship you were working on in the latter half of the year?
3. There has been various rumours about the financial status of EP Rugby, with some reports suggesting the union/company could be in the red by as much as R100-million. Is this true? I am not expecting you to reveal sensitive information, but what is the extent of EP Rugby's financial troubles?
4. While the Super Rugby team is being run (organised/controlled) by SARU, there is still the matter of a Currie Cup competition. When will the coaching staff for that be revealed and the playing squad?
5. There was also the well-documented stand-off with the players who did not receive SARU contracts. Has that been resolved or are there still pending court cases?
6. When will the special general meeting (postponed in December) take place?
7. There was some opposition to your ongoing presence as EPRU President. Are there any plans for you to step down or will you wait for the special general meeting to see what the clubs and affiliates say?
8. What do you feel is your biggest challenge (in rugby terms) in 2016?
The drama surrounding Watson's position as EPRU President could come to a head at the end of the month, with a special general meeting scheduled.
Previous attempts by clubs in the Eastern Province region to hold a meeting and put a 'vote of no confidence' in Watson on the agenda were scuppered in December when Watson – less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting – postponed the event.
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
