SA Rugby boss Oregan Hoskins has expressed confidence in the current leadership of Eastern Province Rugby.
The SARU boss was in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday for high-level talks on the cash crisis facing EP rugby.
In a statement afterwards Hoskins said "we are aware of the financial challenges that EP Rugby are facing and are fully confident that EP Rugby is in the process of addressing these challenges," he said.
"We have seen how, in the face of similar challenges earlier in the year, EP Rugby were able to resolve the matter and that no player has gone unpaid for any extended period of time," said Hoskins.
He encouraged both business and rugby supporters to get behind the Eastern Province Rugby Union in preparation for their re-entry to Vodacom Super Rugby next year.
"The Eastern Province region is still the cradle of black rugby and the Kings Franchise will play a critical role in the development of future black Springboks, which is instrumental to the transformation of the sport as a whole," Hoskins added.
Piet Heymans, the CEO of the SA Rugby Players Association said that he will be taking the outcome of Thursday's meeting back to the players and will be following up with EP Rugby again next week.
"We will continue to provide players with advice during this period whilst monitoring the situation at the EP Kings. Our priority at this time is the well-being of the players," Heymans said.
EP Rugby boss Cheeky Watnson said that "he appreciated the fact that both SARU and SARPA were prepared to engage with the union."
"We will not deny that there have been cash flow challenges this year, but what is often overlooked is that we have always met these challenges head on, and have been able to overcome them," he said.
Watson said EP was acutely aware of the challenges that the late payments caused and had always made arrangements to assist players where possible.
"We are confident that the union will be in a strong financial position going forward and that this will not repeat itself," he said.
