The Southern Kings may tour Argentina during the course of next year.This is one of the plans that Cheeky Watson, the driving force behind the emerging South Eastern Cape franchise, has discussed with SA Rugby.
Watson said on Tuesday that just because the Kings were not named the 15th Super Rugby franchise, doesn’t mean that everything must now be scrapped.
“There is still co-operation with SA Rugby to get the franchise on its feet. Besides the Argentinean tour, they are also looking at other possibilities. The Kings may play in the International Rugby Board’s Nations Cup (in which the Emerging Springboks have taken part).”
Watson also said there have been dealings with various countries over the possibility of playing a few friendly matches.
“The goal is still to play Super Rugby in 2011, with the matches next year being used as preparation,” said Watson.
Watson also said that he would like the president of Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRFU) – of which he currently occupies the role – like SA Rugby, to have a tenure of four years.
He is convinced, after being the head of EPRFU for just a year, that it will be better for the stability of the union.
“In the first year that you take over, you try to fix what is wrong and create new structures or improve on those that are already in existence,” he said.
“But in your second year you must once again get everything ready for an election. It just makes sense to be in control of the union for four years, then you can accomplish so much more.”
According to Watson, he wouldn’t mind if the EPRFU holds its elections sooner, rather than later.
“But then it has to be decided from the start that the management that is elected will be elected for the next four years. This is not about me, but what is best for the union,” said Watson.
Watson is relatively satisfied with what he and his management team have achieved in their first year.
“We were not always popular because we took a couple of tough decisions, but they were all in favour of the union,” he said.
“With regard to the rugby itself, we have succeeded in establishing a complete representative team and I believe that it can only get better as we go forward.”
Maybe Cheecky is going about things the right way… play the Southern Kings against some opposition first to see where the shortcommings are, develop the Team and Team ethos…. gear up to bigger things, so to speak..
GBS @ 1.
Why tour other countries to gain game time?
They should be measuring themselves against the established S14 franchises. If they do well against the Lions and Cheetahs, it would give them a good yardstick to measure themselves against.
A four year term is really something of a double edged sword as the GLRU found out. The previous President asked for, and received a four year term, but when the Exco’ failed to produce the goods it all becomes a bit of an ugly spectacle to have them replaced with votes of no confidence etc etc.
A compromise that was discussed at various bodies within the GLRU was to have a four year term of office, but where Office Bearers could be asked to step down by the Chairman’s Council after two years if they had not performed adequately. It was also suggested that the Exco’ should be split into two halves with elections of each half every two years. (I’m not sure if that sounds right)
Anyway, whilst a two year term is too short in terms of any turnaround, if not managed correctly, four years can be an awful long and torturous time.
2@ Scrumdown – I agree about the 4-year term thing….
About playing overseas opposition, I see it as a positive. Think about it, we complain about too many games per season already for top players, so should they play all their games here, it will add to that burden. At the same time, some games have to be played here to build a fan-base and to measure against the Lions and Cheetahs ect….
Vote
What would constitute a successful 2010 Soccer World Cup campaign for Bafana Bafana?
32 %
A goal
1 %
A clean sheet
3 %
A draw
11 %
A victory
29 %
Progression out of the group stage
11 %
Reaching the quarter-finals
5 %
Reaching the semi-finals
2 %
Reaching the final
6 %
Winning the tournament
I had to post this , sorry i know we are anti Soccer but the vote giving the most to the goal being scored regarded as a success gave me a good laugh.
Maybe the Kings should play the likes of The Eagles, The Cavaliers, The Griffons, etc, then try and play some friendly matches against the CC teams…. including Bulls, Sharks, Province etc.
That way they can really measure themselves, and save SA Rugby loads of money by touring to other countries.
sB, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!Moet saam stem!
About the schedule of the Kings, I think there are a couple of things that has to be taken into consideration…
Playing any of the “big 5” teams, the Kings will gt their asses handed to them. Playing the Griffons ect might be too easy.
Not only that, but between the VC and CC I don’t see MUCH of a space for the Kings to play a few friendlies against SA teams.
The tour Of Argentina is not a bad idea, but I think rather than play in the Nations Cup they could have gone on and toured Europe and play a few games against the bottom ranked teams from various countries.
Anyway, I for one am VERY happy to see that the Kings are keeping things going. What I want to see next is for the Lions and WP to get their SHiZ straightened out and the Grikwas to step up and maybe even make a few buys.
SA Rugby needs more STRONG teams. It would be better if we have a Currie Cup in which the teams in the premier division are all either evenly matched or at least VERY competitive. (These teams being the Big 5 and then the Kings and Grikwas)
Cheeky you tit!!! You had big plans for your son and look were he ended up………..Now you have big plans for this pathetic franchize…………….ai tog!!!
Mirrag Kwagga gestreepte pampier perd
I’m sorry, evrything Watson touches, ends up to nothing and everything in controversy.
I don’t trust him, and believes nokkol what he says.
superBul, ek wil net weer se…
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
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