SA Rugby, trade union ‘make progress’ on broadcast rights

SA Rugby on Friday concluded a meeting held over two days in Cape Town with South Africa's Ministry of Sport and Recreation and the country's biggest trade union, Cosatu, over television broadcast rights.

Earlier this week, Cosatu threatened protest action at Saturday's Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Cape Town and the trade union's Western Cape secretary Tony Ehrenreich said his organisation are unhappy with South African broadcaster DSTV’s monopoly over rugby’s broadcast rights in that country.

But SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux feels that progression was made between the various parties at the meeting.

"The meetings were held in a very good spirit and we definitely made progress in terms of our dialogue on the topic of broadcast rights," he said

"We have existing agreements in place regarding the broadcasting of rugby in South Africa, which are within the regulatory framework which governs this.

"If it was not for the revenue generated from these deals, rugby as a sport in our country would not be able to survive. It allows us to stay in the game.

"We agreed to meet again with all the relevant stakeholders and to engage with them in terms of the mechanics of the broadcasting of local rugby matches in future, as well as the funding of sport.

"As SA Rugby, we are always supportive of and open to dialogue on important issues regarding our sport here in South Africa."