Elephants join up with Bulls

2005-04-15 18:10

Durban - After deliberations that delayed the intended media conference by three hours at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday the South Africa Rugby Football Union finally announced a reshuffle in provincial affiliations in the enlarged Super 14 franchises for the next three years, subject to an annual review and initial three year trial period.

Saru president Brian van Rooyen confirmed that the fifth franchise had been awarded to the Central Unions - Free State, Griqualand West and the Griffons.

The other franchises were awarded to: 1 - Western Province, Boland and South Western Districts; 2 - Kwazulu-Natal and Border; 3 - Golden Lions, Mpumalanga, Leopards and the Falcons; 4 - Blue Bulls and Eastern Province.

Those to whom the franchises have been offered have 45 days in which to accept the Saru.

SA Rugby reserves the right to decide on the award of the five franchises for the remaining two years of the Sanzar Super 14 competition.

In addition to the waiting period ahead of acceptance, a further 45 days is set aside for the successful candidates to present a working management plan to be devised by way of agreement between the parties concerned.

Van Rooyen confirmed that the new system would ensure that the Southern and Eastern Cape regions would have the benefit of Super 14 rugby.

Skulduggery will be avoided

He said the aim was to take games into rural areas, where logistically possible. He said at least 20 black African players would get exposure to Super 14 rugby.

To avoid skulduggery there will be a moratorium on Black African players moving to other regions other than for bone fide or family reasons.

The major surprise came by way of the linking of the Blue Bulls in Pretoria with Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth from a geographical point of view. "It's not possible to carve South Africa up into compatible regions, just like that," said Van Rooyen.

"The criteria for awarding the five franchises were to create a winning Springbok team, growing the game at all levels, transformation, and, of course, financial sustainability," he explained.

SA Rugby also had to comply with the requirements of the Sanzar broadcasting agreement.

"The form shown by the four South African teams in the Super 12 competition in the current season has been disappointing, to say the least," said Van Rooyen. "But it was necessary for many reasons - one of them being travel commitments - for South Africa to have a fifth franchise once Australia - had also been offered another side for the Super 14 era," he added.

Answering a media question, Van Rooyen said that with the new composition of the franchise units it was possible that there would be name changes in the Super 14 as opposed to The Sharks, The Stormers, the Bulls and the Cats as presently constituted.

- SAPA