The Southern Kings franchise, in a statement, requested that the SA Rugby Union (SARU) need to urgently confirm the Southern Kings’ Super Rugby participation from 2011.
The statement rejects the proposal for Super Rugby participation from 2013 by entrenching one of the Southern Kings partners in the Currie Cup or through a series of friendly matches.
“We are not prepared to wait and will do everything in our power to ensure that Super Rugby becomes a reality in the region from no later than 2011,” said Southern Kings CEO, Stephan Pretorius. The full statement reads: The Southern Kings franchise remains determined in its quest to bring Super Rugby to the Eastern and Southern Cape from 2011.
The presidents of the three provinces that comprise the Southern Kings -Cheeky Watson of the Eastern Province Rugby Union, Bantu Ondala (Acting) of the Border Rugby Union and Hennie Baartman of the South Western Districts Rugby Union – met in Port Elizabeth on Sunday April 18 to reaffirm their commitment to making Super Rugby participation a reality in the region from 2011.
The meeting discussed a number of issues that remain critical to the Southern Kings’ participation in the Super 15 competition from 2011.
“The three partner unions have reiterated that the franchise is ready to participate in the Sanzar Super 15 tournament from 2011,” said Southern Kings CEO, Stephan Pretorius.
“The meeting expressed concern at the apparent stalling tactics employed by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) since 2005, which seek to delay the franchise’s entry into Super Rugby until the 2013 season,” Pretorius said.
In 2009, the SARU leadership indicated that the Southern Kings would participate in Super Rugby from 2011. As recently as January 2010, Saru changed its position, stating that the Southern Kings could play from 2012.
The latest SARU position is that the Southern Kings must be prepared for participation from 2013.
The Southern Kings leadership agreed that this was a delaying tactic by Saru in the hope that Super Rugby was expanded to 18 teams in 2013, which would allow for a sixth South African franchise.
The Southern Kings leadership finds this situation unacceptable and believes it to be detrimental to rugby, not only in the Southern Kings region, but in South Africa. This is specifically in relation to the creation of opportunities for black players and broadening the support base for the game.
When the Southern Kings submitted a bid to SANZAR in September 2009 – to be included in the expanded Super 15 tournament – the franchise proved beyond doubt, and to the satisfaction of SARU and SANZAR that it would be ready to participate from 2011.
The meeting on Sunday confirmed that nothing had changed since the submission of that bid document and that the franchise remained convinced that it would be ready by the start of the 2011 season.
The Southern Kings leadership took note of the poor performance of some of the existing South African Super Rugby franchises and was adamant that the Southern Kings deserved to be given a similar opportunity to take part in the expanded Super 15 from 2011.
The meeting expressed disappointment that the Southern Kings’ readiness to compete in Super Rugby was regularly called into question, yet the poor performance of the Lions and the Cheetahs, in particular, continued to go unquestioned.
“The Southern Kings expressed concern over SARU’s apparent protection of the Lions and Cheetahs franchises – which have consistently performed poorly since the onset of the Super 14 in 2006 and presently occupy the 13th and 14th places in the 2010 Super 14 standings.
The Southern Kings leadership described this situation as “unacceptable” adding that SARU needed to act decisively to rectify the situation. The Southern Kings reiterated that the time was now appropriate for the franchise to be given the opportunity to participate in Super Rugby.
The Southern Kings do not believe it is possible to effectively prepare for Super Rugby participation from 2013 by entrenching one of the Southern Kings partners in the Currie Cup or through a series of friendly matches. SARU needs to urgently confirm the Southern Kings’ Super Rugby participation from 2011, which will allow the franchise to immediately activate sponsorships and, using this funding, begin contracting a squad that is of Super Rugby standard.
“We are not prepared to wait and will do everything in our power to ensure that Super Rugby becomes a reality in the region from no later than 2011,” Pretorius concluded.
Ek weet nie hoekom SARU nie maar die Kings volgende jaar kans gee nie. Hulle kan tog nie swakker as die Lions doen nie, so die Lions en Cheetas moet maar uitspeel om te kyk wie gaan plek maak.
Maar dan sal hulle beslis moet CC rugby vanjaar speel om hul spelers te ontwikkel.
KP ek weet nie of hulle soos die Rebels gaan manne koop van orals nie? Dan wonder ek wat dit die streek sal help. Se maar hulle word toegelaat om 15 spelers te koop dan al die moeite vir 15 plaaslike spelers.
0/9 is swak, en ek is seker dat die kings nie slegter as 0/9 kan doen nie. Drop die Leeus en gee vir die Kings ‘n kans.
Wonder of die leeus die Cheetahs sal wen? Waar speel hulle?
Difficult scenario…. but what else can be done but let the Southern Kings show us how useless or good they can be.
Someone, the other day mentioned what it would cost though… close on 100 mil, considering 40 players have to be contracted and management staff, operational expenses for a year…. big sponsors are needed and they will only comit with assurances that they will get milage of a few years running… et cettera et cettera…
Maybe SARU is stalling for the financial side of things…. think about it, the Lions or Cheetahs will be in financial shit as well… possibly losing Key Sponsors…
In other words, it’s not just DROP ONE, and let another play…. there are far reaching ramifications…. huge ones.
Vodacom Cheetahs v Auto & General Lions GWK Park, Kimberley 15:00
Bulls: 9 + 8 + 4 + 7 + 6+ 10 + 14 + 8 + 12 = 78
Above are the penalties the Bulls conceded this year
Pick the games where Joubert reffed.
Refs stats reports
Possession
(i) Chiefs vs Stormers
Penalties conceded: 1921
Chiefs: 14
Stormers: 7
Reasons for the penalties:
Chiefs:
Tackle: 6 (Elliot, Lauaki, Bruce, Toby Smith*, Nanai-Williams, Messam)
Offside: 1 (Lauaki*)
Scrums: 6 (Afeaki* 2, Toby Smith 3, Kamo)
Discipline: 1 (White – air tackle)
That is an inordinately high number of scrum penalties.
Stormers:
Tackle: 5 (François Louw 2, Moller, Fondse*, Naqelevuki)
Offside: 1 (Habana)
Discipline: 1 (Liebenberg – obstruction)
The Stormers missed an easy penalty kick at goal.
Free kicks conceded
Chiefs: 2 (scrums)
Stormers: 1 (scrum)
Line-outs
Chiefs: 10 (1 lost)
Stormers: 8 (1 lost)
Scrums
Chiefs: 7 (2 reset, 2 collapses, 2 free kicks, 1 penalty)
Stormers: 10 (5 resets, 6 collapses, 52 penalties, 1 free kick)
Drop-outs
Chiefs: 1
Stormers: 0
Stoppages: 65
10 / 14 / 12 ?
(v) Reds vs Bulls
Penalties conceded: 25
Reds: 13
Bulls: 12
Reasons for the penalties:
Reds:
Tackle: 8 (Anthony Faingaa, Cooper, Ioane 2, Davies, Weeks, Houston, Chambers & Higginbotham)
Scrums: 1 (Daley)
Discipline: 3 (Humphries – obstruction; Humphries – maul infringement; Chamber – high tackle)
Undetermined: a penalty at 76 minutes
Bulls:
Tackle: 5 (Steenkamp, Matfield, Potgieter*, Du Preez, Stegmann)
Offside: 1 (Stegmann)
Scrums: 2 (Kruger* 2)
Discipline: 4 (Olivier – high tackle; Matfield – collapsing maul; Steyn – high tackle; Stegmann* – man without ball)
The Reds missed two penalty kicks at goal, the Bulls one.
In two and a half matches, Deon Stegmann of the Bulls has been penalised 11 times. He has cost his team 22 points, including the cancellation of a try.
Free kicks conceded
Reds: 0 (scrums)
Bulls: 2 (1 scrum, 1 mark)
Line-outs
Reds: 13 (1 lost, 1 quick)
Bulls: 13 (1 lost)
Scrums
Reds: 6 (1 reset, 1 collapse, 1 lost, 1 free kick)
Bulls: 6 (2 resets, 4 collapses, 3 penalties, 1 wheel)
Drop-outs
Reds: 1
Bulls: 1
Stoppages: 60
(vi) Lions vs Sharks
Penalties conceded: 22
Lions: 12
Sharks: 10
Reasons for the penalties:
Lions:
Tackle: 5 (Van Dyk, Van Heerden, Muller, Minnie, Stoltz)
Scrum: 3 (Muller* 2, Janse van Rensburg)
Discipline: 3 (Clever – +10; Franco van der Merwe – man without ball; Minnie – man without ball)
Undetermined: A penalty early in the first half
Sharks:
Tackle: 4 (Deysel*, Bismarck du Plessis, Pienaar, Kockott)
Offside: 2 (Alberts, Goode*)
Scrum: 1 (Smit)
Discipline: 3 (Terblanche – dissent; Botes* – early tackle; Smit – obstruction)
The Lions missed a penalty kick at goal.
Free kicks conceded
Lions: 0
Sharks: 0
Line-outs
Lions: 16 (1 lost, 1 quick)
Sharks: 21 (2 lost)
Scrums
Lions: 8 (3 reset, 1 collapse, 1 penalty)
Sharks: 7 (2 resets, 1 collapse)
Drop-outs
Lions: 1
Sharks: 0
Stoppages: 80
9
14 & 12
En hy het glo in die voorseisoen die Bulle bygestaan met die reels en interpretasies.
Wonder wie het hom de moer in gemaak.
Dink jy hy target die bulls, of is dit net co-incidence?
Het nie die naweek se wedstryd van die bulle gesien nie.
Nee ek weet nie , maar ek sien in die Engelse Sondag koerant het n reporter dit uitgewys. vroeer laasweek het iemand genoem dat die besoekende span die jaar meer penalties afstaan as wat hy tuis afstaan. Dit lyk of die refs reageer op die skare en die week se pers.
Maar om eerlik te wees ek het nog nie die stats goed bekyk nie.
Draft heinreich, juan, baywatch to the other franchises to strengthen sa’s cause and send them back to the provinces for the currie cup. We could then actually have 3 teams realistically challenging for higher honours.
i cant imagine auto and general being to pleased sponsoring the lions. It can easily be done@gbs
Wez 14,
I reckon we already actually have three teams more than able of attaining top honors.
It’s a 4th team that needs serious thought and reinforcement.
The Irish Millionaire.
Mick, from Dublin ,appeared on
‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’
and towards the end of the program
had already won 500,000 pounds.
“You’ve done very well so far,”
said Chris Tarrant,
the show’s presenter,
“but for a million pounds
you’ve only got one life-line left –
phone a friend.
Everything is riding on this question…..
will you go for it?”
“Sure,” said Mick. “I’ll have a go!”
“Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest?
a) Sparrow
b) Thrush,
c) Magpie,
d) Cuckoo?”
“I haven’t got a clue.” said Mick,
”so I’ll use last lifeline and phone my friend Paddy back home in Dublin .”
Mick called up his mate, and told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.
“Fookin hell, Mick!” cried Paddy. “Dat’s simple…….
It’s a cuckoo.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m fookin sure.”
Mick hung up the phone and told Chris,
“I’ll go wit Cuckoo as my answer.”
“Is that your final answer?” asked Chris.
“Dat it is, Sir.”
There was a long – long pause, and then the presenter screamed, “Cuckoo is the correct answer!
Mick, you’ve won 1 million pounds!”
The next night,
Mick invited Paddy to their local pub to buy him a drink.
“Tell me, Paddy?
How in Heaven’s name did you know it was da Cuckoo that doesn’t build its own nest?”
“Because he lives in a Fookin clock!”
Good night then, sleep tight
Kings playing Super Rugby will be a bigger joke than the Lions. It will just be a step in backwards.
@ 19 ignore the “in”
Rugbybal, all we can do is wait and see… I still say that Saru should include the Kings in the Currie Cup effective immediately.
I have said this a million times, and I will say it again. Merge the three Unions (Border, SWD and EP)for the upcoming Currie Cup. Yes, I know that the teams are already “settled” but that’s something that Saru has to deal with.
Next, I don’t know how many of you remember, or how true it was, but apparently back when the bids were put in in Sept last year, the Kings had a more stable financial setting base than the Rebels. So why can’t they by Marius Joubert, BJ and Joe van Niekerk, who are all apparently playing really well in Euro, to build the squad around.
Btw, if we want to compare standars… who can ell me what was the score for the Lions and Kings against the B&I Lions last year?
Lions 10-74 B&I Lions
Kings 8-20 B&I Lions
Honestly THIS is the only reasonable standard by which we can compare the teams… this is, strictly speaking the only fair comparison. To say that the Kings will do worse than the Lions in the Super 14 is based on what??? Bias? Yet to say that the Kings did better than the Lions against the Brits is FACT, and by extension we can derive that given the same opponents the Kings will do better than the Lions. Its not much to go by, but its all to go by, and that’s what counts?
More all 🙂
If the kings are so confident – why not have a play off & the top 5 teams particiapte in S14.
@21 Greenpoint-gunner How many players that played for the Kings are contracted by the Kings? Kings did not have a team to face the BI Lions therefore they begged, borrowed and stole some players for one game.
I think you mention a very good point that the Kings need to play Currie Cup. Going from nothing to Super Rugby is a failure waiting to happen. They need to prove themselves first. Currie Cup and then Super Rugby.
It’s not that I don’t want the Kings to ever play super rugby, I just think that pushing them in next year won’t work. IMHO.
23 – Huh?
The sentiments we have for the established teams, brand names like Lions, Cheetahs make it difficult for me to imagine playing the Super 14 without them. But we will lose more by not getting the Kings/Spears in, a lot more.
Kylie Batt@23
Russian??????
All RT”s beware, DON’T CLICK ON THIS NIC!!!!!!
We once had a clown from Voldy’s (I suspect it was SanLangkoppen), when you clicked on his name music and dancing started and one couldn’t close the darned thing, had to restart your pc.
Pietman i took it off will consult with GBS later.
Morning my friend, hoe gaan dit
Pietman, sien die post is nou weg. Jy ken van die tricksters op die net, jy was mos al gebogger so jaar terug onthou ek.
What do Pietman say about the possibility of the Lions not playing S14 rugby in future?
And another thing did Dick Muir ruined his Springbok Coaching career with his Lions job?
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