The Annual General Meeting of the Free State Rugby Union took place today on the 25^th of November 2020 at the Toyota Stadium.

It was under very difficult circumstances due to COVID-19 and the representatives of each club and association was trimmed back to one representative only.

Taking into consideration all the difficult circumstances the meeting went very well and the President Mr. Jerry Segwaba was unanimously re-elected as President for the next three years.

Another very positive development was the fact that the Chairman of the Board of the Directors of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty.) Ltd., Mr. Ryno Opperman was also unopposed (his term came to an end and he has been re-elected for 2 years).

Apart from that the meeting took note of the outstanding financial performances of the group that is the Free State Rugby Union and the Free State Cheetahs (Pty.) Ltd. for its year end March 2020 with a marginal profit.

It was also mentioned during the meeting that the COVID-19 year will pose new challenges for the financials going forward but the company and the union’s top structures are working very hard to manage the process through these turbulent times.

It was the last meeting that Mr. Harold Verster, the outgoing Managing Director attended after he has served Free State Rugby as President, Managing Director and also played for Free State.

The following officials were elected as the honorary members of 2021, namely:

Advocate Jannie Lubbe, Judge Ian v.d. Merwe, Piet von Solms, Jan Ackerman, Gerrit Coetzer, Joggie Jansen, Daan de Wet, Poelie Fourie, Roelie Krause, Judge Faan Hancke, Josie O'Brien, Corrie Strydom, Gysie Pienaar, Thys Nel and Vivian Minnaar.

The following officials were elected as the Executive Council of 2021, namely:

Thembela Sibizo, Fanie van Rooyen, Pearl Lebusho, Jan-Hendrik Cronje and Francois Retief.

Pearl Lebusho will be the first black female to be elected as a member of the Executive Council of the Free State Rugby Union.

The Free State Rugby Union is looking forward to the Carling Currie Cup competition and wishes the defending champions all of the best.