Western Province Rugby decision to be appealed
Embattled Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd was finally liquidated in the Western Cape High Court on 20 December… but the commercial partner in a major dispute with them has vowed that ‘the fight won’t end here’, notes a Sport24 report. Judge Dennis Davis, on behalf of Judge Ashley Binns-Ward, gave the final liquidation ruling after Binns-Ward reserved judgment. It was ordered that WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd – the business wing of the WP Rugby Union – not proceed with any contracts and that the company’s property be sold by public auction, public tender or private contract.
But Aerios, the company whose stated commercial focus is to sell sponsorship rights predominantly in sport and who have been in partnership with WP Rugby for several years, is claiming R72m from them for allegedly reneging on advertising rights deals. Aerios filed papers opposing the liquidation.
Their chief executive Costas Constantinou said the judgment was ‘really disappointing’ and that they had already submitted their leave to appeal. ‘Our intention is still to hold the directors (of WP Rugby) liable, and we will be putting in a damages claim – this fight won’t end. It is only the start.’ But WP Rugby responded: ‘The allegations levelled ... by Aerios (Pty) Limited were found to have no merit and its opposition based on fraud and an abuse of the court process was dismissed by Binns-Ward in his comprehensive judgment.
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