South Africa Rugby
Axe falls on Tshume and Stones
Scrum.com
September 19, 2008
SARU Managing Director Jonathan Stones looks on during a SANZAR (the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the Australian Rugby Union) press conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on July 13, 2007 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Stones is also set to relinquish his role as Managing Director of Sanzar ©
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SA Rugby chairman Mpumelelo Tshume and Managing Director Jonathan Stones are to part company with the organisation.

Following a president's council meeting in Johannesburg on Friday, SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd confirmed the departure of the duo from the board of directors.

The board also announced that Stones will vacate his position as managing director of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd by "mutual consent" at the end of the month.

"The shareholders feel that the time has come for a parting of the ways," said South African Rugby Union president Regan Hoskins. "We want to hold amicable discussions with them over how that might be achieved, but there has been a breakdown in relationships that, unfortunately, cannot be repaired."

The announcement had been widely expected due to the pair's resistance to the proposed unification of SA Rugby and Saru while media reports also cited "allegations of unauthorised conduct".

Their relationship with Hoskins is also reported to have become strained over the last few months.

No further details were provided as to likely replacements with Stones' role as Managing Director of SANZAR also being vacated.

At the same meeting the board also decided to recommend that the South African Rugby Union should confine its Rugby World Cup bid to the 2019 tournament.

It was also confirmed that the proposed match between South Africa and Ireland in the northern hemisphere at the end of the season will not take place.

© Scrum.com

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