No relegation for South African Super 14 teams

The last-placed South African team in this year's Super 14 will not face relegation after a decision by the country's rugby union today.

South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced that the Southern Spears -- the Eastern Cape-based club that was scheduled to play in the 2007 competition at the expense of the country's worst Super 14 team -- were not ready to take the step.

"The SA rugby board of directors has decided to halt the participation of the Southern Spears in the Super 14 next year," said a statement from the union.

"Instead, we will put measures in place to help the franchise and the region reach acceptable levels of readiness."

However, Spears chief executive Tony McKeever contested the announcement.

"This decision is flawed because there is a legally binding document that was signed off on June 8 last year," he said.

"Whether SARU feels that they took the wrong decision or not they have obligated themselves. Only one member of the board has been to watch us play, no one has spoken to us and no one bothered to see us until a few weeks ago.

"We have to consider legal action to protect ourselves against legal action as we have obligations to sponsors and other parties."

SARU insisted they were ready in the event of court action. "We have a defendable case," said SARU deputy president Koos Basson.

"The Spears will have to carefully consider legal action but if they do pursue a legal course we will react accordingly."

- REUTERS