Cheeky's ZAR1-million golden handshake
Recent media reports have suggested that the South African Rugby Union, at its Annual General Meeting in Cape Town on Friday, will table a bail-out plan for the bankrupt EP Rugby Union.
However, rugby365 has it on good authority that the 'plan' will involve SARU rubber-stamping the offer of an Eastern Cape businessman to "buy out" Watson and clear the way for a massive sponsorship.
This will allow EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd to clear the union's debt of ZAR100-million.
Disgruntled clubs in the Eastern Cape have failed to unseat Watson on a number of occasions this past year.
However, according to rugby365's sources the wealthy businessman, aligned to the disgruntled clubs, offered to put up the cash to remove Watson from office.
This will pave the way for a new President of the EPRU and also allow the union to regain ownership of the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise – currently under the stewardship of SARU.
The Port Elizabeth businessman, Eno Lirpa, will present his bailout plan to SARU at the national body's AGM in Cape Town on Friday.
It is believed his masterplan involves the EPRU regaining control of the Southern Kings with immediate affect.
He will also ask for permission to bring in a number of high-profile international players – whom he has already lined up – to bolster the winless Kings.
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
