Western Province and Sharks officials have hit back in the wake of suggestions that some of South Africa's oldest rugby stadiums should be demolished.
Danny Jordaan, the Chief Executive of the 2010 Soccer World Cup organising committee, caused a political storm within sporting circles when he suggested at the weekend that the fate of some stadiums, including Durban's Absa Stadium and Newlands in Cape Town, have already been already decided.
While Eastern Cape officials have accepted that the New Nelson Mandela Stadium - inaugurated when the British and Irish Lions played the Southern Kings there last month - will replace the Boet Erasmus Stadium as Port Elizabeth's premier rugby venue, WP and Sharks officials have reacted angrily to suggestions their stadiums face the same fate.
The reaction of officials in Cape Town and Durban suggest there will be an emotional debate raging in the wake of Jordaan's statement.
Jordaan told journalists at the African Journalism Awards 2010 media debate on Friday that the decision to demolish the Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth would be followed, in time, by similar decisions in Cape Town and Durban.
Responding to a question from a Malawian journalist on whether or not the new stadiums in South Africa would be white elephants once the World Cup was over next year, Jordaan said the lifecycle of any stadium was 50 to 70 years and that Newlands and the Absa Stadium were reaching their sell-by date.
"This is an emotional debate that will go on for a long time, but who, once they have experienced the new, modern, sophisticated stadiums, will want to go back to the old ones?
"South Africa has made a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and if we win that, the games will most certainly be hosted in the new stadiums. If that happened, it would certainly help to move this debate along," he said.
However, Western Province Rugby Union president Tobie Titus reacted angrily to Jordaan's comments and told the Cape Times that Jordaan "cannot speak on behalf of rugby".
"What he is saying is all lies. The Western Province Council has already taken a decision months ago that we would not be moving out of Newlands to the Green Point Stadium," he said.
"I belong to rugby, not soccer. Danny has no right to say that rugby matches, including possible World Cup matches in 2015, will be hosted at Green Point. Rugby matches have to be hosted at the home union's venue, and in our case, that is Newlands. He cannot speak on behalf of rugby."
Rob Wagner, the managing director of the Western Province Rugby Union, said it was also the first he had heard of it.
"We own the stadium, there is no debt on it and it's probably one of the oldest rugby grounds in the world," he said. "It has heritage and tradition. Why would we want to demolish it? I can't understand how Jordaan could have said that."
Chief executive of the Sharks franchise, Brian Van Zyl, said the issue had not been raised with him.
"That's the first I've heard of it and its absolute nonsense," he told the Cape Times.
"The first section of our stadium was built in 1995 and since then there have been major renovations.
"Jordaan's opinion of the Absa Stadium is subjective. In any case, we have made a promise to all our stakeholders that before we make any decisions regarding this stadium, we will consult with them through a transparent process.
"To date, the indication from many of them is they don't want to move - I guess it could be considered an emotive issue, but it's about a culture."
Van Zyl said according to clause six of the South African Rugby Union's constitution, all international rugby matches would be played at rugby venues, which includes the World Cup.
"And I don't think that's about to change," he said.
President of the Eastern Province Rugby Union, Cheeky Watson, said the demolition of the Boet Erasmus stadium was "appropriate".
"The lease has run out there and we will be moving to the new stadium," he said.
Luncedo Njezula, the media spokesman for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, said plans for the future of the Boet Erasmus stadium included an international convention centre.
"The recommendation is to demolish the stadium, but we are waiting for the political decision on the matter.
"The idea is to build an international convention centre on the site, but we are waiting for the completion of two casino bids, which could include conference centres. So the final decision is on hold at the moment," he said. - rugby356