Under-fire Eastern Province Rugby Union president Cheeky Watson could be facing a motion of no-confidence at a special general meeting on Thursday.
This development in the crisis-ridden EPRU set-up comes after 31 clubs apparently handed in letters to the union to state that they wanted Watson out following months of upheaval at the Port Elizabeth-based outfit.
Players and team management weren’t paid their salaries, and it led to the Southern Kings franchise being removed from the hands of the EPRU by the South African Rugby Union, who are now in charge of that team for the Super Rugby competition that starts this weekend.
Watson had promised to bring in a sponsor from overseas to alleviate the financial challenges, but that never materialised, and it virtually forced Saru to intervene to safeguard the Kings’ participation in Super Rugby.
But now the blood-letting is about to begin, as Watson and his executive are under pressure to hold on to their positions.
According to a report on Wednesday in the Port Elizabeth daily newspaper, The Herald, sources said that Rugby Transformation Coalition spokesman Bantwini Matika had delivered a file containing the letters from the 31 clubs to the EPRU general manager Sharief Gamiet on Monday.
The EPRU have 119 clubs in total, and the union’s constitution states that 20% of clubs (about 23 clubs) are required to table a motion of no-confidence in Watson at the meeting, which will take place at the Pieter Rademeyer Hall in Algoa Park at 5.30pm on Thursday.
“This (the 31 letters) will be tabled at the special general meeting for clubs to vote. So, if two-thirds vote for that, then it is goodbye Cheeky,” a source told The Herald.
But those within the union who support Watson are adamant that there won’t be enough clubs to carry the motion of no-confidence. “There were 12 clubs who delivered a vote of no-confidence to the EP offices. Five of the letters were not signed. You need 24 clubs to be on your side to table a vote of no-confidence,” a source within the Watson camp told the newspaper.
Despite the problems within the EPRU and around Watson, the Southern Kings – coached by Deon Davids and led by lock Steven Sykes – will begin their Super Rugby campaign against the Sharks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (3pm kick-off). – African News Agency
