Former convict-turned-politician Gayton McKenzie has never been one to hold his opinions back, and now, South African Rugby (SA Rugby) is feeling the weight of his words.

Months of negotiations between SA Rugby and America’s Ackerley Sports Group (ASG) have failed to bring any concrete results, leaving McKenzie and others frustrated with the lack of progress.

Tension Among Rugby Unions and the Lack of Unity

The prolonged discussions have created tension among South Africa’s rugby unions.

McKenzie believes that the failure to reach an agreement has led to unnecessary division.

According to the Sports Minister, the time has come for SA Rugby to move on from this ongoing saga.

“I think the time has come for us to move on,” said McKenzie, urging SA Rugby to find alternative ways to generate revenue and end the prolonged conflict.

He emphasized the importance of fresh thinking, stating, “SA Rugby must think outside of the box.

I have faith in their leadership in terms of finding another alternative.”

A Better Proposal on the Table

McKenzie also revealed that he had seen another proposal from the Rupert Group, which he believes is superior to the ASG offer.

He is confident that the Rupert Group has already presented this idea to SA Rugby, urging all parties involved to come together and put an end to the bickering.

“I have seen the proposal. Those are esteemed businesspeople who have access to SA Rugby, and they must have spoken to them.

Guys must come together now because not even the unions are talking to each other,” McKenzie said, highlighting the urgent need for unity.

Minister McKenzie’s Push for Change Across South Africa’s Sports

Since being appointed as Sports Minister in July 2024, McKenzie has been pushing for change within South African sports, not just in rugby but across other disciplines such as swimming and athletics.

He has also promised the country exciting events, including the return of Formula 1 to the continent and Africa’s first UFC event, which will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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