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Bigger field for Saru crown?
30/01/2008 22:17 - (SA)
Liam Del Carme , Beeld
Johannesburg - The expected two-man race for the presidency of the South African Rugby Union may develop into a bigger field before nominations close on March 8.
Oregan Hoskins, the president, is likely to be opposed by his deputy, Mike Stofile, but other candidates may emerge and influence the voting at the annual meeting.
Koos Basson, the vice-president, is stepping down. This means there will be at least one newcomer among the top administrators.
Hoskins has been nominated as president by the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union but Stofile's intentions have not been formally announced.
According to informed sources, Western Province president Tobie Titus will run for one of the three top positions.
Titus has refused to comment, saying the nomination forms have not even been sent out and the annual meeting was still a long way down the line.
"We, as a union, have not made a decision. Therefore, I can't comment because it (nominations) was not even on the agenda at our previous meeting. It will be discussed when we receive the nomination forms."
The possibility of other candidates emerging should not be dismissed, says Mark Alexander, an executive member of the Golden Lions.
"I won't be surprised if a few candidates make themselves available at a late stage for the top three positions," he said on Wednesday.
'Not interested'
Alexander feels the uplifting of rugby in the Eastern Cape will be an important issue in the elections.
"Very little has been done to promote rugby in the Eastern Cape and I suspect people will keep that in mind when they vote."
Alexander, who lost to Stofile in the election of the deputy president in 2006, has not made himself available again. "At this stage I am not interested," he said.
Golden Lions president Jannie Ferreira also won't make himself available. His union must still decide which candidate to support.
Harold Verster, president of the Free State Rugby Union, says they normally vote for the incumbent, but there have been exceptions, as Brian van Rooyen discovered when he lost in the election of the president in 2006.
"We normally go for the person in office, unless there is a good reason to vote otherwise," Verster said.
"As a union, we have not discussed this year's elections. We'll probably do so in the second half of February."
Verster added, "I am certainly not interested in any of the three top positions."
Christo Ferreira, SA Rugby's manager of rules and regulations, indicated that the unions had already been requested to nominate candidates.
"Nominations can be made until 20 days before the elections," he said on Wednesday. "The cut-off date will therefore be March 8."
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