CEO of the team that will join the Super 14 in 2007, The Southern Spears, Tony McKeever has furiously called on Saru president Brian van Rooyen not to amend a President’s Council decision that would see the Eastern Cape franchise replace the lowest-placed South African side in next year’s Super 14. The five South African Franchises have formed a coalition in an attempt to thwart the Spears’ inclusion in next years competition. “I cannot believe what I am hearing. Their presidents agreed to this and they are not in a position to renege on the decision taken by the President’s Council,” McKeever said in the South African newspaper the Cape Argus. “It is nauseating for them to say we are poaching players. They have been taking ours for years and alienating themselves as real dinosaurs for the good of South African rugby. “This document that has been tabled for (today) was agreed in principle and they cannot now just turn around and sing a different tune. We have already assembled a squad, we went out and found a R15m sponsor (sports clothing firm ISC) and we have set up a PE base. “It’s now up to SA Rugby to have the balls to stand up to these dinosaurs and for Brian van Rooyen to put his foot down,” said McKeever. The Argus has quoted an unnamed source from one of the five SA unions saying “It’s ridiculous that the Spears, who are clearly not yet even ready to be competitive in the Currie Cup, can just walk into next year’s Super 14 at the expense of one of the other sides,” said one top rugby official. The offiicial made the statements on condition that he was kept anonymous. Another anonymous top SA rugby administrator described the decision to give the Spears Super 14 status as both “premature and ridiculous”. “Nowhere in sport would you find a team punching so far above their weight. Before they are even considered for the Super 14, they should prove that they can be competitive in the Currie Cup. We could end up with a situation where the Spears finish sixth or seventh in the Currie Cup but still get to play in the Super 14.” “That means that not only would one of us (the Big Five) have to make way for the Spears, but we would also have to hand over players whose salaries we pay and are on our books. There is no way we can accept this.” SARU Ceo has stated that the decision to exclude the Spears from next years Super 14 can only be overturned by the presidents council and not the CEO’s of the Unions. Prinsloo however would not confirm that the Spears would be playing in the Super 14 next year. SARU then issued the following statement. Chief Executive Officers of the Vodacom Bulls, Vodacom Stormers, Vodacom Cheetahs, Cats, Sharks and the Southern Spears met with senior SA Rugby management today to discuss matters relating to the Participation Agreement for the forthcoming Vodacom Super 14 season. The parties reached consensus on a number of issues, particularly on the commercial programme for the tournament during 2006. On the matter of automatic promotion and relegation, the parties decided – after a constructive debate – that the question should be further discussed after consultations with the Board of Directors of SA Rugby. Just who will appear as South Africa’s 5th Super 14 team is still up in the air.