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Johannesburg - Absa did not threaten to withdraw sponsorship money or suggest quotas be instituted, Absa and SA Rugby Union (SARU) said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
"SA Rugby confirms that at no time did Absa threaten to withdraw sponsorship money or suggested that quotas be instituted or was in any way prescriptive about the composition of the teams," SARU president Oregan Hoskins said.
Last week, reports surfaced that Currie Cup sponsor Absa had expressed concern over a lack of transformation in rugby.
This caused civil rights group AfriForum to launch a "Stop Absa Quotas" campaign, with many people threatening to close their Absa bank accounts.
Absa responded in a Rapport article on Sunday, with deputy chief executive Louis von Zeuner saying: "We have never said a team should include a certain number of players of colour."
But on Tuesday, Afriforum's executive director Kallie Kriel said the organisation had found an SMS from Von Zeuner to Hoskins, apparently contradicting Von Zeuner's weekend statement.
It was sent after the Currie Cup matches played on September 11.
According to AfriForum it reads: "Regan, I think you should write to the major unions on black players -judging from today's games Lions 2, Bulls 1, Cheetahs 2 - they are not respecting the spirit and goals of transformation. Louis."
According to SARU and Absa's statement: "quotas no longer apply to the Currie Cup Competition.
“However, it is expected of each province to take serious cognisance of the issue of representivity of players on the field of play, to support our broader transformation objectives."
They quoted a provision in the competition rules: "SA Rugby has adopted a comprehensive transformation charter that will guide SA Rugby and its provinces on the critical aspect of the game".
Von Zeuner said Absa's request to SARU was that the tournament "be presented in such a way that it ensures that the Currie Cup competition gives the opportunity to all players to develop their potential".
He said spectator numbers "are not always satisfactory" and had told SARU that "all aspects of the agreement are not always adhered to".
"Currie Cup matches must generate the same excitement as was the case with certain sporting events earlier this year."
"SA Rugby confirms that at no time did Absa threaten to withdraw sponsorship money or suggested that quotas be instituted or was in any way prescriptive about the composition of the teams," SARU president Oregan Hoskins said.
Last week, reports surfaced that Currie Cup sponsor Absa had expressed concern over a lack of transformation in rugby.
This caused civil rights group AfriForum to launch a "Stop Absa Quotas" campaign, with many people threatening to close their Absa bank accounts.
Absa responded in a Rapport article on Sunday, with deputy chief executive Louis von Zeuner saying: "We have never said a team should include a certain number of players of colour."
But on Tuesday, Afriforum's executive director Kallie Kriel said the organisation had found an SMS from Von Zeuner to Hoskins, apparently contradicting Von Zeuner's weekend statement.
It was sent after the Currie Cup matches played on September 11.
According to AfriForum it reads: "Regan, I think you should write to the major unions on black players -judging from today's games Lions 2, Bulls 1, Cheetahs 2 - they are not respecting the spirit and goals of transformation. Louis."
According to SARU and Absa's statement: "quotas no longer apply to the Currie Cup Competition.
“However, it is expected of each province to take serious cognisance of the issue of representivity of players on the field of play, to support our broader transformation objectives."
They quoted a provision in the competition rules: "SA Rugby has adopted a comprehensive transformation charter that will guide SA Rugby and its provinces on the critical aspect of the game".
Von Zeuner said Absa's request to SARU was that the tournament "be presented in such a way that it ensures that the Currie Cup competition gives the opportunity to all players to develop their potential".
He said spectator numbers "are not always satisfactory" and had told SARU that "all aspects of the agreement are not always adhered to".
"Currie Cup matches must generate the same excitement as was the case with certain sporting events earlier this year."
