Rugby presidency candidates set to scrum in Jacaranda 94.2 studio

As a precursor to the election of the President of SARFU on 24 February, Kagiso Media is arranging a hard hitting 'meet the press debate' with the contenders, Brian van Rooyen and Oregan Hoskins facing some of the country's best Rugby journalists.

The live event will be recorded on Thursday 16 February 2006 at Jacaranda 94.2 studios at Montecasino from 15h00, with highlights being played to up to seven million listeners nationwide on Friday morning (17 February) in the breakfast shows on East Coast Radio 94-95fm in KZN, Jacaranda 94.2 in Gauteng, Heart 104.9 in Cape Town, Ofm 94-97fm in the Free State and Algoa 94-97fm. The debate will be presented and moderated by Kagiso Media's Group Head of Sport, Alan Khan and some of those firing uncomfortable questions to the pair will be Jacaranda 94.2 sports anchor, Trevor Kramer, Sunday Times' sports writer, Simnikiwe Xabanisa and FHM Editor Brendan Cooper.

"This is an unbelievable opportunity for listeners to tune in and get the story straight from the horse's mouth - no third hand reports or hearsay. Radio presents an incredibly powerful platform for debate and this one will go down in the record books," explains Omar Essack, Executive Director of Broadcasting at Kagiso Media.

Both van Rooyen and Hoskins have agreed to the controversial debate and are looking forward to presenting their ideas on how to run SA Rugby to the South African rugby public.

On the Rugby field, Brian van Rooyen and Oregan Hoskins were locks and flanks in their playing days and while they never met each other in a game, they are going head to head for the SARFU Presidency.

"South African Rugby has been dogged by rumour and political in-fighting. This pre-election debate on Kagiso Media's radio stations will give South Africans a unique opportunity to make up their own minds based on what the two candidates themselves have to say," adds debate facilitator, Alan Khan.

In numerous news reports Hoskins has been quoted as saying "the imminent fight for the presidency of the South African Rugby Union is not about the people in the board rooms, but about the players on the rugby fields. Rugby in this country can do with less controversy." Meanwhile Brian van Rooyen has vowed to fight off any attempt to unseat him as president of the SA Rugby Union.