EP Rugby’s bitter power struggle intensified on Monday when prominent Gqeberha businessman Willem Oliphant announced he would be entering the race to become the embattled union’s next president.
At this stage, it is expected voters will have to decide between Oliphant, EP’s acting president George Malgas and Gerald Antonie on November 30.
EP Rugby officials said nominations closed on November 22 and would be delivered to the union in sealed envelopes.
In recent months, EP has been torn apart by infighting and court battles, with rival groups headed by Malgas and Antonie vying for power.
EP’s clubs decided to hold early elections and elect a permanent president in a bid to bring stability to the union.
Oliphant, the MD of Gap Management, has enjoyed a long association with rugby and was the Southern Kings manager when they played Super Rugby in 2013.
He has also been involved in SA Rugby structures as team manager for the SA U20 teams for several years.
Oliphant has also been involved with Springbok training camps and served as a liaison official for various international touring teams
He is a former director of Despatch Rugby Club, for whom he also played.
Oliphant also served as the manager of the SA A team for the Saxion SA and French Barbarians tournaments.
“My lifelong passion and love for rugby are the key drivers behind my involvement in the game,” Oliphant said.
“I believe EP has the potential to play a more significant role in SA Rugby than it did during the early years after unification.
“It is possible to turn things around, however, I understand we need to create a conducive environment for sponsors and potential investors to partner with the union.
“The main asset of EP is its deep and substantial potential player pool who have a proven rugby tradition.
“I grew up in the Eastern Cape and played schoolboy and club rugby in Despatch. This is where the love for the game started.
“During my varsity days at Kovsies [University of the Free State] I stayed involved with club rugby.
“I have always been involved in schools and clubs and supporting them.
“EP is one of the oldest rugby unions in the country and has a rich history and I want to bring justice to this rugby tradition.
“The game in both the white and black community was formally organised for the first time during the last decades of the 19th century, and we will shortly celebrate 150 years of organised rugby in the province
“2025 will mark 100 years since the formation of the Eastern Province Bantu Rugby Football Board [later known as the EP African Rugby Union].
“2026 will mark 140 years since the formation of the EP Coloured Rugby Football Board [later known as the EP Saru].
If selected, Oliphant says key in his agenda will be to:
• Strengthen provincial teams to become more competitive.
• Ensure resources will be available to manage and improve the community game (schools & clubs).
• Revitalise the Eastern Cape franchise.
• Document, celebrate and promote all EP Rugby traditions [SARB, SARA, Saru, and so on ].
• Provide more opportunity platforms for the region’s rugby legends to make a sustainable contribution to the rebuilding of EP rugby.
• Stabilise the union — governance and administration.
• Get sponsors and investors on board.
• Be competitive in SA Rugby competitions.
• Forge a strong link between clubs, educational institutions, the union and franchise.
• Promote EP’s rugby heritage to the benefit of all.
• Establish strong relations with key stakeholders in and outside the province.
• Establish meaningful opportunity pathways for players, officials and administrators.
• Further strengthen and advance women’s rugby.
• Establish proper advisory structures to ensure veterans’ involvement in EP affairs.
HeraldLIVE
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