Controversial former South African rugby boss Louis Luyt, who was ousted after forcing President Nelson Mandela to go to court, suffered a new defeat yesterday as the country's rugby union approved far-reaching constitutional changes.

The South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) won the 75 per cent majority it required to limit the power of the union's president, reduce the size of the powerful executive committee and provide for the addition of four "specialist" members to the executive.

The amendments are in line with an agreement made between SARFU and the National Sports Council (NSC) following Luyt's forced resignation in May. The four specialists, yet to be chosen, will be co-opted in agreement with the NSC.