Frustrated union bosses were reportedly shut down at an SA Rugby President’s Council meeting when raising concerns about an audit of the failed Ackerley Sports Group (ASG) equity bid.

SA rugby bosses ‘silenced’ on equity audit

Frustrated union bosses were reportedly shut down at an SA Rugby President’s Council meeting when raising concerns about an audit of the failed Ackerley Sports Group (ASG) equity bid.

News24 reports escalating tensions within South African rugby’s provincial administrative circles following the ASG deal saga.

Sources suggest unease over SARU CEO Rian Oberholzer’s directorship of Win By One, a private company linked to the failed negotiations.

The audit, to be conducted by Ernst & Young, will investigate the deal’s commission structures and governance processes.

According to News24, union presidents were effectively silenced at Monday’s meeting when attempting to question the audit’s parameters, with SARU president Mark Alexander allegedly declaring the investigation’s terms were non-negotiable and already determined by the executive committee.

“When they started to question Alexander about who would conduct the audit and what the terms of reference would be, they were told to just listen,” a source close to the matter was quoted by News24.

The audit’s scope will reportedly focus on two critical areas: the Win By One company structure and the disputed 15% commission arrangement.

Ernst & Young’s findings are understood to be scheduled for presentation within 10 days and again at a General Council meeting in early February.