Despite the absence of a title sponsor, the Cheetahs players have all remained on a full salary.
Free State Rugby Union President Harold Verster, speaking to rugby365.com on Wednesday, dismissed rumours that the Cheetahs had been on reduced salaries of 60 percent because of the sponsorship issue as “absolutely untrue”.
And they have also retained all their top players – like Springboks Juan Smith, Heinrich Brüssow and Ashley Johnson.
Even though there is just over a month to go to the start of the expanded Super Rugby season, the Cheetahs are still without a title sponsor.
However, Verster is confident they will resolve the issue in the next week or two.
“We are making progress with our sponsors and have already signed a number of associate sponsorships,” Verster told rugby365.com.
“Our title sponsor has not been finalised, but we are in negotiation with people,” the FSRU boss said, adding: “I will be in Johannesburg on Thursday to talk to some institutions and we hope to finalise this in the next week or two.”
He scoffed at the rumours that the players were on reduced salaries as a result of the absence of a main sponsor.
“The full salaries [for all the players] are still guaranteed.
“It is worth remembering that sponsorships are not our only or main income.
“At the Free State Cheetahs [the team in Currie Cup and other minor competitions] sponsorships make up only about 10 percent of their turnover. At Super Rugby level sponsorships make up a larger portion, because there are fewer sources of income in that aspect and it makes up about 50 percent of the turnover.”
Verster added that the FSRU do have enough in the bank to see them through till the sponsorship issue is resolved.
Apart from having retained the services of key players Juan Smith, Brüssow, Johnson and Frans Viljoen, the Cheetahs have also made a number of significant recruitments during the off-season.
Ryno Benjamin is back from Sevens duty, Andries Strauss has returned to Bloemfontein in a swap with Meyer Bosman, who has joined the Sharks, Philip Burger is back from France and lock Wilhelm Steenkamp has joined from the Bulls.
They have not renewed the contracts of two of their seasoned locks – Barend Pieterse, who has moved to the Kings, and David de Villiers, who has joined the Lions.
The Cheetahs play their first Super 15 game on February 19, against the Sharks.
Article Coutesy of Rugby365 editor Jan de Koning
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Smoke?
Fire?
Beginning of the end?
little birdy told me that the Cheetahs have actually halved their sponsorship requirements… they were looking for R20 Millin and will now take 10.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Jeez, that will just about cover Habana and Fourie
Maybe we can pick up Brussow for half price?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : jeez… nice to have a billionaire, isn’t it?
The Cheetahs play their first Super 15 game on February 19, against the Sharks.
Guess Jan didn’t get the memo from SARU….
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Per annum?
@Ben (Comment 7) : si…
Maybe the Sharks should sponsor the cheetahs. And when ever there is a star on the rise we just transfer him to our own ranks.
The mind boggles.
How much did they get for Mapoe?
Pieterse joined the Kings?
This guy is in and out of retirement more often than I go in and out of the fridge for food.
“It is worth remembering that sponsorships are not our only or main income.
They musta read the idea about the groot koeksister kompetisie of 2011.
Barend Pieterse?
@robdylan (Comment 14) : One and the same. Luftwaffe as he used to be called.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
Your headline is a lot like Facebook statuses you hate.
Always warms the cockles of my heart to hear that Verster is in a spot of bother.
@Big Fish (Comment 16) :
That thought did cross my mind, but then decided that the 1st line of the article does provide enough info.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Memo?
I must missed it as well.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : it’s Super Rugby, not Super 15
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
Oh??? Have they issued a directive that it should be reffered to as Super Rugby rather than S15?
Verster or Reynecke!!
Who is more incompetent??
@wpw (Comment 21) :
Verster.
Reynecke and his team have sponsors.
@wpw (Comment 21) : brian van zyl is most incompetent.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Would be cooler to have a trophy
@Megatron (Comment 23) :
@Farlington (Comment 4) : We`ve got plenty of loosies, just offer Ebersohn a roof over his head and we`re set for super 15!!
i honestly think this is the best squad we’ve had since 2007, actually better in a lot of positions.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : yup. Will forward
@Megatron (Comment 23) : would you like some cheese to go with that whine?
Happy Birthday lurker, wherever you are!
however you look at it – not good for rugga. I guess Vodacom is bit overcommitted when it comes to rugby but I would not think that it is so difficult to find a sponsor.
Talking about that. any news on King’s Park sponsor??
@klempie (Comment 30) : Damn it… This is so hard to say in front of everyone… Thank you for remembering.
has everyone forgotten that not so long ago the sharks only got a sponsor on their jerseys a matter of days before the super tournament started. if i recall it was red that jump in and took over canon’s spot. this could also be a good marketing tool. delay the announcement until just before kick off so bored journo’s can speculate, then jump in with the announcement and all those journo’s feel obliged to conclude their tale of woe.
i was just getting worried when will we start to hear from the Cheets
i think we spoke to soon