EP president banned for 2 years after calling SA Rugby ‘racist’

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Canon Maasdorp (Photo: Michael Green)

SA Rugby on Thursday suspended EP Rugby chairman Maasdorp Cannon for two years. Cannon called the organization a “racist establishment” in 2022. two years.

SA Rugby confirmed on Thursday that they have suspended Eastern Province Rugby Union chairman Maasdorp Cannon.

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In a statement released to the media, the national governing body said Cannon could not hold any position or participate in any rugby structure under the auspices of SA Rugby for the next two years.

Cannon was found guilty of violating the Constitution and the national body’s Code of Conduct after charges were brought against him following his explosive comments at the memorial service for former prop Godfrey Thorne in 2022 .

Cannon told mourners during his eulogy that the SARU was a “racist establishment”, that the Springbok emblem was “racist” and that SARU President Mark Alexander and his deputy, Francois Davids, were “sold”.

“Mr. Cannon appeared before an independent judicial committee for 14 months on six counts relating to a speech he gave in February 2022, during which he variously described the SARU as being a racist organization; its management as a ‘salesman’ SARU; and that the Springbok were an icon of racism. The comments were later published on social media and mainstream media,” the SA Rugby statement read.

“The three-person Judiciary Panel ruled that Mr. Cannon clearly violated the SARU Constitution and the SARU Code of Conduct with intent to discredit the SARU and was found guilty on those charges.

“Mr. Cannon has 15 days to appeal the sentence, if he wishes,” the statement concluded.

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