Another Super SARU delay
The Lions' hope of speedy resolution to the protracted 2013 Super Rugby participation saga has been dashed.
On Thursday Golden Lions Rugby Union acting Chief Executive Ruben Moggee called for a speedy resolution to the uncertainty over which South African teams would participate in next year's Super Rugby competition.
However, barely hours later the SA Rugby Union announced that the general meeting, scheduled for July 13, has been postponed.
It was at this meeting that a final decision would have been made on which five SA franchises would partake in the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
The Southern Kings have been 'guaranteed' a spot in the 2013 competition, with the participation of the other four teams still had to be decided.
SARU, in a statement on Thursday, said that the meeting was postponed on request from the 'majority' of the provincial unions (note not the five Super Rugby franchises).
The statement did not say when the meeting would be rescheduled.
"Media are reminded that SARU will not comment on the participation options for Super Rugby 2013 until after the next SARU General Meeting," the statement concluded.
The latest development further clouds a situation, with reports of legal action against SARU – over its handling of the situation – emerging from within the existing franchises.
GLRU President Kevin de Klerk has repeatedly made reference to SARU CEO Jurie Roux's statement during a scheduled visit to Parliament's portfolio committee on sport in which he, Roux, said that the Southern Kings would participate in Super Rugby next season – but NOT at the expense of another franchise.
The Lions, in the most vulnerable position at the foot of the SA Conference standings, are expected to make way for the Kings next year.
However, De Klerk continued to point the media to Roux's statement before parliament.
"If we listen to what was said at the sport portfolio committee … the Southern Kings will play in 2013, but not at the expense of any other side," De Klerk said.
Moggee said on Thursday the GLRU had weighed up other options in case they were relegated from Super Rugby.
"We want to make sure that going forward – whatever the type of decision is – we also find a bit of an entrenchment similar to what the Kings would want to have," said Moggee.
"That you don't have a situation where you are in one year and out the next year."
Moggee said it would be short-sighted to make a decision based on only one season and SARU needed to plan further into the future.
"We need to be mindful of 2014 and 2015 and not only look at 2013," he said.
"It puts South African rugby in a difficult position because most franchises like us go and contract players for two to three years and make those type of plans."
