MRL v SARU: 'We will never retreat'
UPDATE: The South African Rugby Union may have picked a scrimmage with an opponent more formidable than they had expected.
The founders of the Mzansi Rugby League are unyielding in their stance that they “will not be bullied, distracted or misrepresented” in their quest to launch a new league.
“Every time a new league challenges the status quo, the first weapon used against it is fear,” former Namibian captain and MRL co-founder Renaldo Bothma told @rugby365com.
“SARU and MyPlayers can send letters and threats, but the truth is simple: MRL exists to create safe pathways and professional opportunities for players.”
His headstrong stance comes a day after an initial interview with @king365ed in which he made it clear they are willing to go to court to defend their rights.
* To read more about the exclusive interview on Thursday, CLICK HERE!
To recap: The MRL was formally launched in South Africa last week, although it has been in the planning stages for months and will only kick off in 2027.
It offers salaries between ZAR15,000 and ZAR30,000 per month, as well as premium medical aid coverage.
Their 16-team league, based in nine provinces, promotes itself as the new home for South Africa’s ‘next generation’ of talent.
However, since its formal launch, the MRL was embroiled in the public spat between the owners and SARU, with several formal communications of a hostile nature escalating the growing feud.
@rugby365com has seen the correspondence from both SARU (forwarded to the MRL) and the trade union MyPlayers to its members.
While the MyPlayers brief to their members, the country’s professional players, was more of an informative nature – enlightening its members of SARU’s stance – neither dispatch was well received by MRL bosses.
“SARU’s letter has been acknowledged,” Bothma told @king365ed, when new questions arose, after this website had obtained a copy of the SARU letter to MRL.
SARU ‘demanded’ the immediate cessation of all unauthorised engagements with SARU-affiliated players, unions, and officials.
“Failure to comply may result in escalation to World Rugby’s Disciplinary Committee under Regulation 20, and SARU will pursue all legal remedies available,” the document cautioned.
“Any player who signs with MRL will be suspended for life from all forms of rugby under the auspices of SARU and World Rugby,” the letter continues.
However, the MRL was not intimidated by the menacing nature of the SARU dispatch.
“Our position remains that we are a lawful private company operating as a URO [Unaffiliated Rugby Organisation], and SARU has no authority to instruct us to cease operations,” Bothma told @rugby365com.
“We have already issued a defamation demand to MyPlayers, whose communication to players repeated SARU’s false claims.
“Unless that is retracted by Monday, September 22, we will file proceedings in the High Court.”
MRL said they expect SARU to continue using its influence to try to tarnish their brand and destroy this pathway.
“We will keep the public and the media updated with every detail.
“We are accountable: MRL is a company with full-time employees, we have taken investor money, and we have sponsor commitments.
“The larger SA Rugby ecosystem has accepted us and is supporting us.
“We will meet SARU at every level they take this to.
“We will never retreat.
“This league is here to be an additional pathway, not to cause destruction.”
MRL said they will continue to engage with accredited collaborators at an international level, so that their ‘safety protocols’ and URO status remain clear, recognised, and respected.
“From the start, we have said the MRL is for those left out of the system,” Bothma said.
“We don’t want to criticise the system, because our big unions seem to be doing well and the Springboks are No.1 in the world, but thousands of players fall through the cracks every year.
“MRL is a solution carefully designed to integrate harmoniously with existing structures in South African rugby.
“We respect SARU. However, respect does not mean we will allow bullying. And we urge players not to be intimidated.
“Decide for yourselves who is harming the game: the organisation creating new ways for you to play and feed your families, or those threatening to ban you for doing so.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Related
Is MRL heading for court ‘stand-off’ with SARU?
* Watch the original interview below …
