Cape Town - The South African Rugby Union says it remains in conversation with the leadership as well as disgruntled members of the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union (SWDRFU).
All parties have been advised by a delegation of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), led by Dr Jan Marais, that the removal of the current executive at the annual general meeting of the SWDRFU on November 28 by means of a vote of no confidence, was contrary to the organisation's constitution.
As a result, SARU cannot acknowledge the legitimacy of the newly appointed "interim committee".
However, Dr Marais advised the members that SARU was prepared to facilitate a process whereby the SWDRFU constitution could be amended to make provision for the removal of elected officials by means of a vote of no confidence.
The SARU delegation was acting under provisions of the new SARU constitution, which allows that the national union can intervene if a province deals with its members in a manner which is seriously inconsistent with that member's constitution, rules or regulations.
SARU remains committed to assisting the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union in finding a solution to the current impasse along the route mapped out by Dr Marais in recent meetings.
However, it must be emphasised that the president of the South African Rugby Union, Oregan Hoskins, cannot be seen to be personally intervening and taking sides in the internal affairs of member unions, as was suggested in some media reports this week.