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Cape Town - Are Cheeky Watson’s days as president of the EP Rugby Union finally coming to an end?
According to the HeraldLIVE website, the balance of power may be swinging against Watson after claims that 31 clubs filed a motion of no confidence in him ahead of the union’s annual meeting on Thursday.
Well-placed sources of the website said Rugby Transformation Coalition spokesperson Bantwini Matika had handed in the file to EPRU general manager Sharief Gamiet at Imatu House just after 16:00 on Monday.
A source said there were 119 clubs in total, with about 20% of them (about 23 clubs) needed to have a vote of no confidence tabled, according to the EPRU constitution.
“But the guys submitted more to be on the safe side,” the source said. “This will be tabled at the special general meeting (tomorrow) for clubs to vote. So if two-thirds vote for that, then it is goodbye Cheeky.”
Under Watson as president, the EP Rugby Union plunged into a financial crisis last year, with the union unable to pay players’ salaries.
Watson had promised a R200m sponsorship for the Kings but this failed to materialise, with players forced to accept food vouchers following the non-payment of salaries.
It led to the South African Rugby Union (SARU) stepping in to take control of the union’s Super Rugby franchise, the Southern Kings.
The Kings open their Super Rugby campaign at home against the Sharks on Saturday (15:00 kick-off).
