Cape Town – A showdown is looming at Friday’s South African Rugby Union (Saru) annual general meeting over how about R1 billion should be divided among the 14 provincial unions.
Afrikaans newspaper Rapport reported on Sunday that the 14 provinces are reportedly unhappy about the fact that Saru are proposing that 60 percent of the about R1bn total revenue be allocated to the national body, with just 40 percent having to be divided equally amongst the 14 unions.
The competition format for the Currie Cup will also be in the spotlight at the meeting, and along with the R1bn issue, could overshadow the discussion and possible final decision about the new Springbok coach, which is set to be made at the Saru AGM in Cape Town on Friday.
It is understood that the 14 unions believe that Saru has become too big and powerful while they are battling to survive financially every year.
This comes after two meetings between Saru’s finance committee and a few unions this week couldn’t resolve the impasse about the national organisation’s budget.
Sources told the newspaper that Saru should only act as the head office of the 14 unions and that a new path forward needs to be worked out to achieve a better balance between Saru and the unions with regards to finances and authority.
It was reported that the six unions in charge of the SA Super Rugby franchises – the Blue Bulls, Sharks, Western Province, Free State Cheetahs, Eastern Province and the Golden Lions – also want a greater piece of the financial pie than is the case at the moment.
In terms of the Currie Cup format for 2016, the current plan sees all 14 provinces playing each other in a league format from April, with the top team winning a cup of sorts. But after that, the nine leading sides will fight it out for the Currie Cup trophy in a single-round Premier League, with the top four going through to the semi-finals.
But the provinces are calling for a return to a strength-versus-strength format, which in the past has seen eight teams compete for the Currie Cup, as officials are concerned that the new competition is a “watered-down affair”.
– African News Agency (ANA)