It probably shouldn’t come as a big surprise that SARU President Oregan Hoskins has resigned. He had lost support for his position from the big provincial unions. It’s probably more surprising that he lasted as long as he did. In an environment fraught with political factions, Hoskins did well to hold on to the job for 10 years. He was embroiled in numerous controversies, starting with his open criticism of Australian and New Zealand referees, his meddling with the Bok team to have Luke Watson included, his perceived fallout with Jake White after the 2007 World Cup and, more recently, the souring of his relationship with SARU CEO Jurie Roux and Head of Rugby Rassie Erasmus who has since left to join Munster in Ireland. Veteran rugby administrator Mark Alexander has been appointed interim President until elections for a new president are held. – David O’Sullivan
From Sport24
Cape Town – The relationship between Oregan Hoskins and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) executive committee had become “too difficult” to manage and his decision to resign as SARU president is in the best interests of South African rugby.
This is how Hoskins, who on Wednesday morning announced his decision to resign at a meeting of provincial rugby bosses in Johannesburg, summed up his resignation in an exclusive interview with News24.
“I am very grateful to the country and the people within the rugby community, it was a huge honour to serve the country,” said Hoskins.
“I am leaving for the sake of rugby in this country. There are just too many tough decisions that needed to be made at SARU, which weren’t made,” explained Hoskins.
Hoskins didn’t want to divulge details on the decisions he referred to.
Hoskins says he will now focus his energy on rugby development projects elsewhere in Africa, including possible projects in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Morocco.
Earlier on Wednesday, Netwerk24 reported that as many as 10 of South Africa’s 14 provincial unions wanted Hoskins to be removed from his post.
#SARU BREAKING: Mark Alexander will be the acting president of SA Rugby, after Oregan Hoskins stepped down as President today
— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) August 17, 2016
Those 10 unions were rumoured to include all the “bigger” unions in South Africa with Hoskins only able to rely on the support of some of the so-called smaller unions.
Hoskins’ relationship with SARU CEO Jurie Roux also turned sour in recent times, after Hoskins earlier this year tried to get Roux suspended from his role.
Roux is facing allegations of financial mismanagement of funds during his time at Stellenbosch University.
There was also tension between Hoskins and SARU’s head of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, who has since left to become director of rugby at Irish club Munster. – Sport24
Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/hoskins-resignation-best-for-sa-rugby-20160817
