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Technicality saves the day for Cheeky

Cape Town - Cheeky Watson has lived to fight another day as president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union.

According to the HeraldLIVE website, a technicality prevented a planned vote of no confidence in Watson from taking place at the union’s annual general meeting on Thursday night.

According to officials present, the vote of no confidence did not take place because some clubs failed to meet constitutional requirements. Some letters from clubs requesting a vote of no confidence were nullified with reasons.

However, Watson’s powers may be severely curtailed after clubs asked for the financially stricken EP Rugby Union to be placed under SARU administration.

The request will be tabled at SA Rugby’s next board meeting.

Earlier this week it was reported that the balance of power may be swinging against Watson after claims that several clubs filed a motion of no confidence in him ahead of Thursday’s annual general meeting.

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 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).

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