Delighted EP Rugby Union (EPRU) president Andre Rademan has hailed a landmark decision by SA Rugby bosses to restore full voting rights to his union.
SA Rugby said the union had fulfilled all the criteria required by the mother body to complete its transition out of administration.
It was a red-letter day for EP on and off the field, with the Elephants scoring a maiden win in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge.
After losing their opening six matches, the EP’s Elephants beat the Border Bulldogs 26-14 in Mdantsane.
It was announced yesterday that the executive council of SA Rugby formally rescinded the imposition of sanctions under clause 28 of the SA Rugby constitution which suspends a member’s voting rights and places them administration.
“This is a big day for us and I want to congratulate my executive who have worked very hard to achieve this goal,” Rademan said.
“Since the new executive was voted in, we have all been working hard to get our voting rights back.
“I want to compliment all my members. Now EP rugby is back where it should be and we will continue to work hard.
“The next step for us is to get a winning team on the field and to get sponsors. Getting our voting rights back is a big moment for EP Rugby.
“Now we can have our say at SA Rugby general meetings.”
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said EP were back on track. under
“The winds of change are blowing through EP Rugby and the new structure and executive are making great strides,” Alexander said.
“They have been working for an extended period on turning around the union’s affairs and this decision completes the process.”
EPRU’s affairs had been placed into the administrative control of SA Rugby – at the union’s invitation – in April 2016 to help regularise the union’s affairs as it faced a number of financial challenges.
Control of the union’s dayto-day affairs was returned to the EPRU in April last year, and the formal lifting of the Clause 28 status completes the return to normality.