'There won't be sport in five years and there won't be the Springboks‚' warns SA Rugby chief Roux

SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux has warned that sport could die a slow and painful death in about five years time if the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) goes ahead with plans to implement the draft broadcasting regulations.

Roux offered the sobering view during his presentation on day two of the hearings on draft sports broadcasting service amendment regulations in Centurion on Tuesday morning where all the sporting codes are making presentations.

ICASA have declared their intention to amend the sport broadcasting services regulations of national sporting events that are of national importance to receive full live coverage on free-to-air.

But Roux said this move could kill rugby.

Events included in the proposed compulsory category for free to air are the Olympic Games‚ Paralympics‚ Fifa World Cup‚ Africa Cup of Nations (men and women)‚ Rugby World Cup‚ ICC Cricket World Cup‚ International Boxing Federations‚ national Netball‚ Commonwealth games and IAAF.

“Our doors will close in the next five years if these regulations are implemented‚” Roux told hearing chairperson Palesa Kadi while flanked by Saru president Mark Alexander and their legal team.

“Exclusivity is key in sport and the current regulations strike a good balance.

"But at this rate there won't be sport in five years and there won't be the Springboks.”

Roux added that a big chunk of their revenue comes from broadcasting rights because broadcasters are prepared to pay a premium to exclusively access content like the Springboks and Super Rugby matches.

He went on to say that 57 percent of their revenue comes from broadcasting‚ 26 percent from sponsorship and 17 percent from Tests‚ events and grants.

“Rugby is a business‚ we don’t receive money from government (0.3% to be fair)‚ we don’t have charitable status and we have zero donors‚" he said.

"We don’t have a rich uncle or a trust fund‚ we don’t pay dividends or make payment profits for shareholders.

"The income we earn is reinvested for the benefit of rugby and South Africans.

“Sponsorships will never cover the value of broadcasting revenue and without income and funding we will have no sport.

"Our plea is to protect the sport which is a national asset because it will not survive.

"We will not have funding to start grassroots projects and in sport around the world‚ exclusivity is the basis on which rights are sold.”

Boxing SA chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka also warned that the proposed regulations could have a devastating impact on their sport.

Premier Soccer League and SA Hockey representatives are expected to make their representations on Wednesday.