SA and EP rugby bosses are working hand-in-hand in an effort to find a cash-flush equity partner to boost the Elephants squad and give them the financial muscle needed to win promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.
This was revealed when SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer visited Gqeberha to announce the U20 Rugby Championship would be staying at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the next three years.
Obtaining an equity partner is vital if EP want to bolster their semi-professional squad with top-quality players and win promotion to the top-tier leagues.
Though Oberholzer kept his cards close to his chest, he said a good news story could be told shortly about an equity partner for EP.
Elephants coach Allister “Toetie” Coetzee says the playing field in the SA Cup is not level because his underfunded team are at a disadvantage when they face full-time professional sides.
EP ended seventh on the SA Cup log in the recently completed 2025 season and ended behind well-funded teams like the Pumas, Griquas, Cheetahs, Boland Cavaliers and Falcons.
Asked about prospects of an equity partner coming on board for EP, Oberholzer said: “We will do whatever we can to assist EP rugby, and I know people are talking about it [an equity partner.
“It is a bit too early to comment too much on that, though.
“Hopefully, there will be a good news story to be told soon.”
EP president George Malgas said he was excited about what the future held for rugby in the region.
“I can assure the rugby public out there and business in the region that EP have turned the corner and that we are in conversations with potential partners as it is,” he said.
“As Rian says, it is early days, but I am excited that it will happen and it will happen sooner than people anticipate.
“I think 2026 will look a lot different from what it is looking like right now.
“I want to echo what president Mark Alexander has said about rugby in this region.
“We really have done marvellously well and above expectations in the 2025 season, given where we were at the end of 2024.
“So in a short time we have managed to achieve quite a lot and I am very excited about what will come in the next few months.
“Watch this space.”
Coetzee says that if outside financial help is forthcoming, it will be possible to grow the Elephants team much quicker.
“EP are sitting with a lot of challenges and the playing fields are not level in the SA Cup yet,” he said.
“I’m using club players and I see the progress in this side since I took over.
“I know people are looking for results, but I told the EP board when I took on the job that it is going to be a process, and that is what people must realise.
“I would love to have a squad of 25 full-time players, and that requires money.
“This is a process and it will take two to three years to make sure EP gets into the Currie Cup.
“If it happens earlier, all the better.
“The big thing is you cannot compete against full-time franchises working from eight to four, compared to waiting for players to come from work at 5pm.
“Then you have to try to stay in the contest against professional teams.
“The board are really supporting me in this and they understand the plan and realise we can build on that.
“EP need more resources.
“Not just playing wise, but team management-wise as well.”
The next phase in EP's development will be the Currie Cup First Division competition and Coetzee will be gunning to go one step better than last season when the Elephants lost to Boland in the final after extra time.
The Herald
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