The SA Rugby Union (Saru) on Thursday said it will probe alleged match-fixing at Western Cape clubs.
Saru president Oregan Hoskins said an attorney had been appointed to examine alleged attempts to fix the result of matches in Boland club rugby.
"Allegations that the results of matches may have been fixed -- or that an attempt was made to rig results -- are very serious indeed, no matter at what level of the game," Hoskins said in a statement.
"I want to make it clear that there has been no suggestion that betting was involved in these allegations. The accusation is that they relate to union politics, but that in no way lessens the seriousness of the allegation.
"Rugby is built on the ethos of a fair contest and it is repugnant to our game to think that that might not be the case."
He said no charges had been brought against any individuals.
"The investigating officer's role in the first instance will be to determine the merits of the evidence and present that to the CEO for possible action.
"At this stage it is difficult to say how long the investigation is likely to take, but these are serious charges and they urgently need resolving."