Bacher backs Mbalula's ban on SA Rugby

Cape Town - Former South African cricket boss Ali Bacher has backed Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula’s ban on sporting associations regarding the hosting of major international events.

Mbalula on Monday announced that Athletics South Africa (ASA), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South Africa (NSA) and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) were suspended from bidding for, or hosting, major international events due to them not meeting their transformation targets.

Bacher was particularly hard on rugby, saying SA Rugby had known 10 years ago that such measures would be taken if it failed to meet the government’s race quotas.

In 2005, Bacher was appointed by Sasol, then major sponsor of SA Rugby, to sit on the board of SA Rugby.

Bacher told TimesLIVE about a meeting he had with various rugby union presidents, including former SA Rugby deputy president Mike Stofile, where he emphasised the need for greater transformation provincially.

"I told them: 'The ANC is becoming very impatient. We need to have better representation. If we don't move quickly on transformation, the government will come down hard on us'."

The current ban means South Africa may not be able to bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.