Golden Lions Rugby Union president Kevin De Klerk has made it clear that no South African Super Rugby franchises would be prepared to merge ahead of the Southern Kings’ involvement in the tournament in 2013.

Representatives from all five South African franchises held discussions on Thursday in order to find a solution to the conundrum created by the South African Rugby Union.

“We’ve been mandated by SARU as the five franchises to look at the possible methodology of how this will take place in 2013,” he said.

“We have met today, we’ve tabled communication to the president and he will comment on that in the next 24 hours, I assume.”

De Klerk said the unions had reached a consensus, and the possibility of any of the franchises merging was out of the question and would not happen at any stage.

“It is sincerely a tough one, but I am sure that we will, in the interests of rugby, make the best decisions.”

The news comes just days after SANZAR CEO Greg Peters also ruled out the possibility of expanding Super Rugby to accommodate 16 teams, in order to make place for the Kings from 2013.

33 Responses to De Klerk – No merge for SA Super Rugby Franchises

  • 31

    @ grootblousmile:What are your thoughts on my post #20? Have you come across it before?

  • 32

    31 @ Just For Kicks:
    I saw it on Sport24… and thought I better just keep my trap shut before I vloek their moeerre solid for them!

    It’s like the Springbok Emblem… rather difficult to get rid of, and rightly so!

    The Blue Bulls Company is a private company ensconsed with basic rights in SA, also covered and protected by the SA Constitution.

    I say fark the TSC, hope they all die of Aids! Hulle kan in hulle moerre vlieg, ek sal nog vir die vliegkaartjies ook betaal en die vliegtuig sabotage!

    I say up yours to them, big time!

    Fark, if stupidity was a sickness, they would all be in coffins already… and one of these days I could supply those as well….. hehehe

  • 33

    And now……..South Africa’s five Vodacom Super Rugby franchises have not threatened to boycott the competition, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) confirmed on Sunday.
    A newspaper report alleged that the boycott threat was a part of a letter from the five franchises to SARU president, Mr Oregan Hoskins.
    “No threat of a boycott was made,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU. “But the franchises have made it plain that the only option to them is the expansion of Vodacom Super Rugby.
    “They also pledged their support for the Kings’ inclusion in 2013 as well as for SARU’s efforts to persuade SANZAR to include a sixth South African franchise.”
    The letter reads:
    “After lengthy discussions between the Franchises, we unanimously decided that it is imperative:
    That such inclusion will benefit South African rugby in general;
    That none of the existing franchises shall be prejudiced by such inclusion in any way whatsoever;
    That none of the existing franchises shall be eliminated from the tournament in 2013 or at any stage thereafter as a result of the inclusion of the Kings;
    That SARU as custodian of the South African leg of the tournament will ensure that the Kings are included without prejudice to any of the existing franchises.
    “The existing franchises will endeavour to provide all necessary assistance and support to SARU in its negotiations with SANZAR to ensure the inclusion of six South African franchises in 2013 onwards.”
    Roux said that SARU would continue discussions with its SANZAR partners around participation in the 2013 tournament.
    A decision on the mechanism by which South Africa’s entrants in Vodacom Super Rugby in 2013 would be identified was postponed in January. A special General Council meeting delayed the decision until the Annual General Meeting of SARU on March 31 to allow time for further discussions with SANZAR.

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