Johannesburg - A South African Rugby Union judicial officer ruled on Wednesday that it was beyond the scope of SARU’s regulations to rule on the validity of player contracts and he was therefore unable to adjudicate on a complaint brought by the Golden Lions Rugby Union against players Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik and the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union.
The Lions alleged that the Sharks – the commercial arm of the KZN – had failed to secure the necessary clearance certificates before using the services of the players and that the players remained under contract to the Lions.
However, in making his decision, Mr Koos Basson, SARU’s judicial officer, ruled that the wording of the complaint by the Lions required him to determine the validity of the players’ contracts with the Lions – a responsibility which falls outside the disciplinary regulations of SARU.
As a result, he said he was unable to rule on the complaint.
The Sharks indicated in a media release following the hearing that they would now seek relief through the courts.
The Lions alleged that the Sharks – the commercial arm of the KZN – had failed to secure the necessary clearance certificates before using the services of the players and that the players remained under contract to the Lions.
However, in making his decision, Mr Koos Basson, SARU’s judicial officer, ruled that the wording of the complaint by the Lions required him to determine the validity of the players’ contracts with the Lions – a responsibility which falls outside the disciplinary regulations of SARU.
As a result, he said he was unable to rule on the complaint.
The Sharks indicated in a media release following the hearing that they would now seek relief through the courts.