Stormers bosses react to talk of player strike
REACTION: Stormers officials on Monday scrambled as the rumour mill went into overdrive with reports of sponsors threatening to pull out and players set to go on strike.
New Western Province Football Union President Zelt Marais dismissed the rumours of a looming player strike as “unfounded”.
And sponsor DHL also denied they are about to pull the plug on WP and the Stormers.
“I have no knowledge of any threats by DHL to withdraw or a [looming] player strike,” Marais told @rugby365com.
“There are a lot of unfounded statements in the media,” the WPRFU boss added.
The reports revolves around the ongoing Paul Treu saga.
According to weekend media reports, DHL had given WPRFU officials an ‘ultimatum’ that they remove Paul Treu from the system or it may pull out as a sponsor.
It was reported that Marais wanted Treu to replace Gert Smal as the union’s Director of Rugby.
On Monday those rumours gained further traction with additional reports that the Stormers players had an ’emergency meeting’ on Sunday – chaired by captain Siya Kolisi – with suggestions that the players are so unhappy they have ‘not ruled out’ going on strike.
However, Megan Collinicos, the Marketing Director for DHL, denied that they are getting involved in the saga.
“DHL are committed title sponsors and partners to Western Province & the Stormers,” Collinicos told @rugby365com in a statement.
“As longstanding members of ‘The DHL Newlands Faithful’, we continue to engage and support Western Province Rugby on their journey to create a platform for success, which is our commitment to the players and coaching staff.
“All team management (and player) decisions fall under WP Rugby’s mandate directly.”
She denied there was ever any threat to pull out of the WPRFU and the Stormers over the Paul Treu saga.
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
