Lions boss says 'no thanks' to Bulls

REACTION: The Blue Bulls Company’s search for a new Chief Executive Officer continues.

Golden Lions Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli confirmed on Tuesday that he is not going accept an offer from the BBC.

Recent reports have listed Straeuli and Western Province Rugby Football Union CEO Paul Zacks as being on the Blue Bulls Company’s shortlist of candidates to replace Barend van Graan as CEO of the Pretoria franchise.

Straeuli told @rugby365com that - as he had said previously - he never applied for the job.

"They did approach me, but the negotiations never went any further," Straeuli said.

"I have a lot of respect for the Bulls and hope they find the right person," he added.

Straeuli reiterated a sentiment expressed by Altmann Allers, Golden Lions Rugby Union vice-president, when he told this website that the Lions CEO still has "unfinished business".

"I have worked closely with Rudolf and he has done excellent work as CEO here over the last four years," Allers told @rugby365com.

Allers said Straeuli still has a lot of work to do at the Lions.

"There are still few boxes to be ticked here at the Lions and I would be delighted if Rudolf can help us tick those boxes," said the Glasfit owner, who through Foxbell Investments, obtained a 49.9 percent equity shareholding in the Lions Rugby Company in 2011.

By Jan de Koning

@king365ed

@rugby365com