The International Rugby Board (IRB) is expected to respond late on Sunday or Monday to the petition that a number of former Springbok captains and leading players have handed to the president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) Oregan Hoskins and which has also been forwarded to the IRB by AfriForum.

It is reported by Sunday newspaper Rapport that Hoskins has confirmed from New Zealand that the IRB has indicated a response over the weekend or early next week to the petition that has been sent to them by AfriForum, the civil rights initiative of Solidarity.

The petition is part of a campaign launched by AfriForum and a group of former Springbok rugby captains and players.

It was signed by former captains Wynand Claassen, Hannes Marais, Johan Claassen, Abie Malan and Theuns Stofberg, and objected to interference in sport.

It was handed to Hoskins last Tuesday and drew a sharp reaction from minister of sport, Makhenkesi Stofile, who responded on Thursday by slamming the petition and the former captains as the "re-emergence of the erstwhile ambassadors of apartheid" in South African rugby.

AfriForum on Sunday confirmed that the organisation had sent a petition to the IRB in which it is officially requested to take a stand against political interference in rugby.

It is expected that the petition will be discussed on Sunday during the IRB's meeting in New Zealand.

The IRB, who had until now refrained from any comment on the transformation policies in South African rugby, are, according to Rapport, concerned that it could have a detrimental influence on world rugby.

IRB president, Bernard Lapasset en CEO Mike Miller recently visited South Africa.

According to Rapport they had discussions with local rugby administrators about the IRB's concerns regarding transformation and political interference in the sport in South Africa.

Former Springbok captains Divan Serfontein, Avril Malan and Nelie Smith and South Africa's Player of the Millennium Frik du Preez and other Springbok legends such as Gerrie Germishuizen, Krynauw Otto, Ewoud Malan, Ockie Oosthuizen, Richard Prentis, Daan du Plessis and Div Visser are amongst those who have since added their names to those taking a stand against political interference in rugby.

Sunday 17th February 2008