VS
Last night, one of our Authors, Just for Kicks, mailed me regarding the spreading spat between the Pro-HSM (Highbury Safika Media) crowd and the Pro-Joffers crowd (Greame Joffe and like-minded parties), for want of defining the parties better…
… and thrust in the middle is the dillemma of involvement of the Southern Kings in Super Rugby in 2013 versus possible relegation of the worst performing South African Super Rugby franchise, the Lions, as well as SARU’s apparent woeful handling of Super Rugby participation.
The matter has now escalated to a seemingly FREE-FOR-ALL !
The contents of this Article is long and sometimes laboured, but the serious South African rugby supporter would do well to read and listen to all of it, and form his or her own opinion about the subject matter.
It all started, well in broader terms, with well known radio personality, Greame Joffe, taking issue with Mark Keohane. This happened on Joffe’s online sportspodcast at Radio Today, called Sportsfire, regarding the biased reporting against the embattled Lions Rugby Union.
Rugby-Talk commented on this matter in a previous Article under the title A battle, I tell you, was fought here today. The Greame Joffe podcast can be heard in full at this LINK.
- Yesterday saw an Article by Mr Bonthuys (Bonty) at RUGBYBANTER.COM, under the title, The Keo Connection. (The Full Article appears below)
- This was followed by a telephonic interview by Darren Scott with Mark Keohane on BALLZ RADIO, (the online radio station), airing Mark Keohane’s viewpoints on the matter. (A link to the podcast of the interview follows below)
- Other folks also jumped on the bandwagon, including Ant Kaplan from AntsRant, once again washing the same dirty laundry and tumble drying it also in the process. (The Full Article appears below)
- Even our friend Morné of RUGGAWORLD, ventured his opinion on the “Kings Saga”. (The Full Article appears below)
All I know is that this is not how rugby is supposed to be run or reported on, and I hope that SARU makes the correct decisions on the matter later in May when this matter is debated at a Special General Meeting of SARU on the issues at hand.
OK, herewith the gory details:
RUGBYBANTER.COM – Bonty’s Article
The LINK
The Article:
Highbury Safika Media (HSM) is a publishing house boasting a portfolio of over 30 magazine titles and numerous online publications. Amongst these are SA Rugby Magazine and Keo.co.za – the website of Mark Keohane and other SA Rugby writers such as Ryan Vrede and Jon Cardinelli.
Keohane has been a public figure since his days as Springbok Communications Manager under the ill-fated reigns of both Harry Viljoen and Rudolph Streauli, until he resigned in protest over SARFU’s handling of the Geo Cronjé racism debacle involving Quinton Davids. Keohane went on to publish a book about the episode and the state of the Springboks in general, and was widely criticized by Springbok players (most notably Corné Krige) as deliberately attempting to sow division within their ranks and to undermine SA Rugby in general.
In recent times Keohane has been busying himself in the extensive business interests of HSM, as well as media relations of other entities, such as Jake White’s Winning Ways – a business partnership which ended in a heated law suit, kept hushed away out of the public sphere. Even more recently, however, HSM -and Mark Keohane in particular – were awarded the contract to manage the media, marketing and public relations of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The awarding of this contract was never put up for tender, as is standard government procedure, but was rather awarded directly to HSM (although Keohane states that normal application took place, the fact remains it should have gone to tender).
And this is where the Keo connection begins to reveal itself.
During his time at SA Rugby, Mark Keohane worked alongside the likes of Rian Oberholzer (President of SARFU), Songezo Nayo (Managing Director), Gary Grant (Marketing Director) and the current president of SASCOC – Gideon Sam (Springbok Team Manager).
All four names mentioned above are currently directors of sports marketing company Accelerate Sports, with Gideon Sam being appointed as Chairman. Gideon Sam also serves on the Lotto Distribution Board, but excused himself when dealing with the funding grant to SA Cycling, a grant from which Accelerate Sport received commission to the tune of R 26 million – a blatant conflict of interest.
Accelerate Sport, through their subsidiary Access Facilities and Leisure Management (AFLM), were also awarded the contract as operations manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is reported that this contract brings in a whopping R 600 000 a month to the coffers of Accelerate. It is the duty of AFLM to source events to be staged at the stadium to generate revenue and keep the stadium sustainable.
And here the connection between rugby and Accelerate begins to become clear.
The contract between AFLM and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro states that, above the R 600 000 a month, AFLM are to be awarded performance bonuses based on the revenue they generate, providing this amount exceeds R 12,5 million a year. The structure of this bonus is as follows:
The Operator will be paid 10% of any amount above R12.5 million but less than R15 million, and then:
· 12.5% of any amount in excess of R15 million but less than R20 million
· 15% of any amount in excess of R20 million but less than R25 million, and
· 20% of any amount in excess of R25 million.
It is thus blatantly clear that it is in the best interests of Accelerate to find events which will draw spectators, such as concerts etc.
But what better way to ensure constant revenue, week after week, than playing host to a top tier sports team. If only the Eastern Cape had one.
But wait, Accelerate have strong ties to SARU, they do after all boast an ex-president in their ranks. Would it at this point seem ludicrous to suggest that Oberholzer, Sam, Grant and Nayo used their previous connections to SARU to, excuse the pun, accelerate the Kings’ inclusion in Super Rugby so as to ensure that their business interest was being looked after, leading to SARU’s shock announcement at the Heyneke Meyer press conference about the Kings’ guaranteed inclusion in Super Rugby for 2013? Surely not.
So where does Mark Keohane fit into all this?
Keohane has recently stepped up his anti – Lions rhetoric in his articles, and while not directly naming the Kings in his most recent one, it is clear where his views emanate from. The vested interest he has in servicing his ex-colleagues at SARU (SASCOC contracts etc.) has clearly skewed the views of an already overly opinionated man.
But wait, there’s more.
After the establishment of the Kings, the son of Cheeky Watson – president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union (under which the Kings operate) – Luke, was brought back from Bath to play for the Kings. In May 2011 HSM (with Mark Keohane again at the forefront) announced that it had decided to enter into the field of player management, a first for the publishing company. Furthermore it was announced that their first client would be none other than Luke Watson. Queue the Mark Keohane propaganda machine.
The cover of the very next SA Rugby magazine was adorned by – yes, you guessed it – Luke Watson, with the rather flattering caption “Return of the King”. This was to be only the start of the Keohane marketing hype surrounding Watson and the Kings.
At the same press conference where SARU dropped the Kings bombshell on an unsuspecting audience, Ryan Vrede, a HSM journalist, asked Heyneke Meyer if Luke Watson – a player languishing in the second tier of SA Rugby and who hasn’t been in Bok contention since mid-2008 – was a contender for the position of Springbok captain. These blatant attempts by Keohane to force the name of Luke Watson into mainstream media while he has done nothing to get it there serves to illustrate the hidden agenda and inherent corrupt nature of a man who has lived off the rise and fall of others for far too long.
Not only has the media machine being rolling for Luke Watson, but others being managed under yet another Accelerate Sport company – In-Site Athlete Management – have been enjoying a rise in publicity in SA Rugby magazine as well. Willem Alberts received some ego stroking in May 2011, as did another In-Site managed player -Joe van Niekerk – in March 2012, with the article stating that he is playing the best rugby of his career at Toulon. Buttering him up for a big money move back to SA perhaps?
It is clear that Keo’s connection into Accelerate stretches deep, with an “I’ll scratch your back you scratch mine” policy which benefits both sides. Gideon Sam made sure he looked after Mark with the awarding of the SASCOC account, Mark in turn ensures that the business interests of Accelerate Sport and its stakeholders remains in the mainstream media, and they all walk away happy.
The reason why Keo has gone on a Lions bashing campaign of late should come as no surprise when taking the above into account. Mark Keohane is no longer a journalist; he hasn’t been for quite a while. He is a businessman with a platform to promote his interests and those of others close to him, a platform which he uses selflessly and without shame.
BALLZ RADIO – MARK KEOHANE INTERVIEW
The link to this rather long telephone conversation, can be found HERE, listen to it… compare it to what is said above, then go on!
AntsRant – Ant Kaplan’s Article – The Keo-Kings
The LINK
The Article:
*** Note *** I started this article strongly against Keo, having fallen victim to, and being exposed to a lot of the commentary on Twitter. I have tried to look at this whole issue as objectively as possible, something I’m not usually good at, being an emotional character.
So there is a Twar raging at the moment. First up, I’m not surprised, as Twitter is brittle like that. What I DO find amusing, is just how much can be said in 140 characters or less.
Briefly explained, some allegations have been levelled against one Mark Keohane (hereafter referred to as “Keo”) regarding his punting of the imminent inclusion of the Kings into the 2013 SupeRugby competition, along with his incessant bad-mouthing of the Lions poor form over the past (read: all) SupeRugby seasons, and lastly, his perceived bias towards the Kings for financial gain.
I’ll address the issues separately and provide my simple-minded insight into the issues that have stirred up a hornets nest.
Keo himself:
His website, www.keo.co.za is the only rugby website I regularly read. Sometimes it is to get rugby scores when I am not near a TV, sometimes it is to read match reviews, and other times it is to satisfy my yearning for rugby news stories.
Apparently Keo has a finger in a lot of pies. He exposed the farce that was the build-up to the fatal 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign, and then used that platform to launch his journalist career. I say well-played. He exposed some shit and benefitted from it. I see nothing wrong with that. Many people play that game, feeding off their two minutes in the limelight and turning it into a tangible profit.
On the flip-side, I am also in possession of a rather incriminating document that says some pretty shocking things about him as a person, but whatever personal evils one has, I am not judging here. Just leave my rugby alone.
The Two Twitter-Trios:
Like my use of alliteration? Good.
Keo has copped it big-time on Twitter of late, along with his fellow writers / editors, Simon Borchardt and Ryan Vrede. These three comprise the first Twitter-Trio. Now I’m no Twitter expert, but I believe that they took the wrong approach in handling this. They should have, collectively, decided on a unified response that would have shown them to be professional. Their responses of late have been disappointing, given that Keo was media liaison officer for the Boks before. He should know how to be a spin-doctor, and I believe he’s missed a trick here. Perhaps he believes that there is no such thing as bad publicity – that only works in Hollywood. This is South Africa, and this is rugby, OUR game.
The second Twitter-Trio comes in the form of Francois Bonthuys, Graeme Joffe, and someone very dear to me, Chris Swart. I need to make my friendship clear here, as it may affect my objectivity – I, however, hope it does not, and hope I am big enough to avoid taking sides through familiarity. I first caught wind of what may be coming when Chris started tweeting Keo on some rather disturbing allegations, and it seemed to stay there for a while. Then it spread to Ryan Vrede, and Simon Borchardt. Soon, Graeme Joffe waded in.
And then it happened. An article was written. The original article, by Francois Bonthuys, was published here, but was removed (probably under duress / pressure) and re-published here. The article tears into Keo and co. Read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Conspiracy? What conspiracy? (Seriously)
The article makes a series of allegations, but I actually fail to see what has actually been done wrong, or any kind of conspiracy.
A journalist has used his influence to further his income? That’s business, and is called a fair-go.
A bad business deal with Jake White? That’s also business, and many businesses fail.
A tender being awarded without the tender process being followed? If we are going to pick this one to pieces, we may as well go after any and all ANC-led cronyism. I am not agreeing with the process not being followed, and perhaps this could be looked into. Something to note here is that Keo-and-co’s conduct on Twitter does not inspire a sense of confidence, given that HSM will be handling the media, marketing and PR of SASCOC.
Keo is also linked (loosely, and via ex-colleagues) with Accelerate Sport, who manages Nelson Mandela Stadium. I don’t get what the conspiracy is here. If you have worked with people in business before, and you know that working with them works for you, or you believe that their business is good, sound and would work, why not help them out, from a punting point-of-view.
HSM announced it is moving into player-management and suddenly the Keo website is flooded with pro-Luke Watson articles? If my company had made that move and I had a platform like the Keo website to promote a player I was managing, I’d use it as often as I can. I can understand the pro-Luke Watson articles from a business point-of-view.
Out of principle, I cannot stand Luke Watson myself, and would never have taken him on as a client. I would rather chew off my own arm than have to deal with the political shenanigans and negative aura that surrounds anyone in the Watson family. I cannot find it in my heart to forgive what he said about the Springbok jersey, and I also remember reading in John Smit’s book that Luke was a cancer in the team.
But that’s me. Keo may see things differently to me, and that is his choice – not mine.
Another point to consider when talking about biased journalism: I hardly see any pro-ANC journalism on the News24 website. I also hardly see any pro-DA journalism in The Sowetan website. Why are we not taking on these giants of the internet for being biased? Because if we don’t like what we are reading, we go somewhere else and find what we are looking for, that’s why. The internet is free-to-all and free-thinking, full of opinions, and no-one is forced to go to any one website for all their requirements, be it sport, news or gossip. Keo has used his platform (which he owns and is entitled to write what he wants), to promote his own content. Again, who wouldn’t, when it comes down to looking after one’s own pocket?
The Watsons:
Hmmm. So Luke Watson is playing first-division Vodacom Cup rugby. I can see where the apparent-conspiracy may be here. He leaves SA in shame, comes back, plays for a second-rate team that gets promoted to SupeRugby, looks good because all the other players look bad, and gets a Bok call-up.
Here in Australia, we don’t get any Vodacom cup coverage, so I have no idea if he’s playing well or not. I DO know that I couldn’t judge him fairly when playing, as my hatred for what he did runs far too deep. So I’ll just leave it at a “no comment”.
Keo’s Lions-bashing
The Lions have been abysmal for the past few seasons of SupeRugby – there can be no denying it. Lions-bashing by all and sundry should be expected – just because someone appears to have other agendas in their reporting makes it look worse than it actually is.
Honestly, the Lions don’t deserve to be playing in this competition. But that doesn’t mean that the Kings do either, which brings me to the next point.
The Kings
I cannot, for the life of me, comprehend the decision made by SARU to include the Kings in the SupeRugby competition from 2013. It just blows my mind. Here we have a second-division rugby team being promised a place in (arguably) the world’s most difficult and competitive non-international rugby competition. One thing that is being punted is that the Kings would buy players and get onto the rugby band-wagon. With what money? Why can that money not be invested in getting the existing Lions sorted out, rather than starting fresh at another union?
The Kings, based on current form, do not deserve a place in SupeRugby.
If there is a business-decision behind the inclusion of the Kings in 2013, it is a very sad, dark day for South African sports.
And what’s this about the Cats?
A combined Free State and Lions team? Really? It doesn’t sound right to me – it sounds like a logistical nightmare, not to mention having to unify two unions and the upheaval that will be experienced by players, supporters and support staff.
No. Just no.
We have been down this path with the Cats and it failed (although they managed to contest one “Super Rugby” semi-final in 2001).
So, no. Just no.
So what’s the solution, hey?
Well, it’s simple. The most simple of solutions would be to allow the best-performing, non-SupeRugby team to be the token 5th South African SupeRugby team. This makes sense, right?
Well, it does and it doesn’t.
You see, the winner of the promotion to SupeRugby may only be decided on the night of the final of the Currie Cup.
As an example, let’s say the Kings and Griquas play in the final (or don’t, in which case it comes down to log position). Both are non-SupeRugby-playing teams. The winner of this game gets promoted.
How long does it take for a team to prepare for a SupeRugby tournament? Aside from extra training, there are corporate deals, sponsorships, branding, fixture dates, travel arrangements, and so many more things to arrange that it doesn’t make sense to have a ”floating” 5th spot that could change year-on-year. There is just not enough time to create the hype.
So I proposed a solution, and then argue myself out of it.
I will probably take a lot of flak for my thoughts on this blog. I do not question the motives of the writers of the original article that brought this to the surface – all I have done is look at this as objectively as I could, and I cannot find fault with someone pursuing their own agendas – just don’t interfere my rugby-watching experience.
RUGGAWORLD – Morné’s Article – King for a day
The LINK
The Article:
The Southern Kings are far from assured of Super Rugby participation in 2013.
As this Kings saga continues to unfold I am rather surprised by all the media reports stating that the Kings are currently the only franchise guaranteed of a spot in next year’s competition, with one of the remaining 5 having to make way for them.
It is not that I don’t understand these reports, I just cannot believe that people are so gullible!
Not soon after we heard that the general council voted unanimously for the Kings inclusion, a letter from the current five franchises surfaced in the media soon afterwards stating that; “None of the existing franchises shall be prejudiced by such inclusion [of the Kings] in any way whatsoever; none of the existing franchises shall be eliminated from the tournament in 2013 or at any stage thereafter as a result of the inclusion of the Kings.”
This prompted SA Rugby to hastily try and arrange a meeting with their SANZAR partners (New Zealand and Australia) to propose a change in the current format to include a 6th South African franchise – a suggestion shot down numerous times by NZAR stating there can be no change in the current, 15-team conference format until 2015 when the broadcast deal comes to an end.
The meeting (scheduled for some time in March) of course also never took place, as the delegation selected to present the case felt they did not have enough information to present a good case.
It has now been reported that SA Rugby has advised the current 5 franchises, as-well as the Kings, that a meeting will take place between all the parties to try and sort this mess out later this month. Exactly what the outcome of this meeting will be is anyone’s guess as there was no agenda attached to the email by SA Rugby sent to the unions.
Readers of this site might understand why all of this has a very familiar look and feel to it…
When we started out here at RuggaWorld one of the hottest topics was that of the Southern Spears, the Kings you know now in all but name. Their CEO at the time, Tony McKeever, was well known to many on this site and he even posted his own comments, thoughts and news here. And it is what unfolded in 2005 through to 2006 (and many years following) that has me thinking SA Rugby (who still has the same President in place since the 2005 fiasco) will again somehow find a way to screw the Kings over.
The believe currently in the Kings ‘guaranteed’ participation in 2013 is based on the fact that the general council voted unanimously in favour of this in January this year. To me personally, that means about as much as what my horoscope tells me every morning in the paper… Let me explain.
In June of 2005 SA Rugby not only voted unanimously for the Spears entrenchment in the Currie Cup Premier division of 2006, but also guaranteed Super Rugby participation in 2007 and 2008 in addition to financially assist them up to then (Super Rugby inclusion) and find them sponsors.
This went further where this decision was ratified in December of 2005 culminating in the Spears actually signing a franchise participation agreement in 2006! But wait, there is more (as they would say on Verimark)! This agreement itself was found valid in a court of law in June 2006 when a judge ruled that the agreement was binding and that SA Rugby should make good on their promises.
Of course what followed was some of the best back-hand dealings to dissolve the Spears but that is another story. The point here is; a silly vote recorded in the minutes of a SARU general council meaning which for some reason have most believing the Kings are ‘guaranteed’ participation in 2013 means absolutely nothing in my view.
As in 2006, none of the current 5 franchises will back down and give up millions of Rands of income from a share of the broadcasting deal not to mention the sponsorship money they get from just playing in the competition. If you don’t believe me, read the letter they sent to SA Rugby following the meeting in January to include the Kings.
The problem SA Rugby sits with is the criteria they will use in order to eliminate any of the current 5 teams. More than half-way through the season a decision that the ‘lowest’ ranking franchise is to get the boot will see a ton of litigation thrown in the direction of SA Rugby. A decision to play a promotion/relegation match will not fly with the Kings who with their current player resources cannot make it past the quarter finals of the Vodacom Cup.
Another option could be to institute a condition to have all franchises comply with a minimum financial reserve in order to qualify for a franchise license (which are up for grabs at the end of this year actually) but that will also be a hard sell given the Kings themselves might not be much better off financially than the Lions.
You see boys and girls, when it comes down to it I see the same gutless approach by SA Rugby now which I did in 2006. They are quite simply incapable of making tough decisions and would rather try and play a situation out than take responsibility for it. And they are solely responsible for this mess using the Kings or Eastern Cape region as their banner whenever they try and win favour with government or government backing for something (like a Rugby World Cup bid).
I feel for the Kings, I really do. SA Rugby owes them this – but like the Spears in 2006, they will too not see the light of Super Rugby, at least not in 2013. At least they were Kings for a day in January…
My Viewpoint
Some of what is said and alleged makes one think, does’nt it?
Whatever is said above, whatever inferences are made about interests in or wanting to promote the Southern Kings or wanting the Lions to fail and be relegated, the darker side of rugby journalism, rugby politics and shady connections between parties for the lure of money and power and / or the manipulation of the rugby playing field… SARU stands at the core of all of this.
SARU also stands at the solution to all of this.
I have no doubt SARU is responsible for a large amount of the uncertainty, the hoooo haaaa, the furore… and the dillemma. They are the only ones holding the keys to bring South African Rugby out of this mess as clean as possible.
More than that, SARU carries the hopes and aspirations of rugby in this beautiful country squarely on their shoulders, and they have the clear DUTY and OBLIGATION to see that the correct decisions are made from hereon in regarding the Southern Kings as well as the other SA Super Rugby franchises!
SARU has the duty to protect the Lions and prevent their downfall, similarly they have the duty to make rugby stronger and representative in the Southern and Eastern Cape and to do EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER, everything humanly possible, to further the interests of rugby, and rugby alone, in South Africa.
That is their mandate, that is why SARU exists and why we have to tolerate them, however difficult it might be at times!
The buck stops with THEM!
Forget about favours for friends, forget about self-interest, forget about promises made, forget about bribery and corruption… just make the RIGHT DECISIONS in the interests of the game in South Africa we so adore!
Of course I have my own viewpoints about the parties involved and discussed, and of course I read between the lines, of course I hear the blunt denials!
I make up my own mind though, and I have indeed made up my mind about this issue and others… I ask you to do the same!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Article and in the contents of the LINKS provided in this Article, does not necessarily represent the viewpoints of this website (Rugby-Talk) or of any of it’s Authors or Proprietors. The viewpoints of commentators on this Article also do not represent the viewpoints of this website or of any of it’s Authors or Proprietors.
We urge you, the rugby public, to be responsible in formulating and expressing your views on the matter… but for goodness sakes do have your say and do have an opinion!
@ superBul:
@ grootblousmile:
I agree and disagree with you both. GBS I disagree with you about the Lions, and agree with Supers. We must be honest. Potentially the Lions were the wealthiest union around, They have cocked it up to a large degree, and should pay the consequences. Any team winning only 8 or so of their last 60 odd matches (not sure of the exact win/loss ratio doesn’t deserve to be there. However, that does not mean that that the Golden Lions should be thrown on the scrapheap. They are the ones with the 115 year history, not the Lions in the S15 competition. They had no history, they have been poor, and in any promotion/relegation, should, and would be relegated. That doesn’t send the Lions union to the scrapheap, like all the other unions, they would simply play at a lower level.
Howver, as I have gone on ad infinitum, there is no proton/relegation system in place, there is no system to bring in another team, or expel a team, therefore in my mind it is wrong to push the Lions out, just as it is wrong to bring the Kings in in their place. This is where ARU should be culpable. The Lions cannot function properly at any level when they simply do not know what is going to happen. Sponsorship is a nightmare, who will sign a contract knowing that you may end up with a quarter of the exposure you were expecting. How can they perform, plan and sort out their financial affairs with this going on. This is where SARU should have stepped in and helped.
By the same token, how can the Kings build a formidable team, when they don’t know for sure that they are going to be in the comp definitely. Again no sponsorship[. Players won’t sign till they know for sure. Thus they will carry on being mediocre, and languishing at the bottom of the local league.
So I am neither for or against either franchise, but for the system. Remember – it is possible (unlikely, as I said yesterday) that the Lions could win all their matches with bonus points, the Bulls could lose everything and they could be facing the barrel under the current idea. The fallout then?????
I don’t care how poor a team is/has been, you cannot just kick them out without any proper system or warning. And the Lions have not had neither – officially. They met NOT be allowed to be dropped. All the unions came out after that stupid vote saying that no current franchise would be dropped. I hope they stick to their guns.
31 @ Just For Kicks:
I hear you… but I have a problem if one looks at it simplistically…
Relegating the Lions from Super Rugby, with their shaky financial situation in mind, WILL push them over the financial edge.
They will not just become another Vodacom Cup / Currie Cup Union…. they WILL be liquidated, somewhere in the not so distant future… they WILL vanish…
Is THAT the ultimate solution?
Is there not some middle ground, which could save them?
I proposed ONE such alternative, a freegin ungodly merger between the Kings and Lions – let’s call it a “POSSIBLE SCENARIO” – to save the Lions and uplift the Southern Kings, simultaneously…. for both to be alive and possibly competative in 3 years time.
Not ideal, not by a long shot…
Ohter ideas?
I’ve been racking my brains to think of other possible solutions, and in my working career I’ve had to manufacture working solutions for many people and entities, saving some pretty dire situations in many instances…
I like to see myself as somebody who provides answers, rather than someone who detroys or gives up in the process…. and I have a problem giving up without a fight!
Let’s face it, here on R-T and elsewhere, or those poor farkers sitting at home… Lions supporters to the core… hell even my wife, Handbriekie, would be without a rugby side to support!
Does the answer lie in finding a spot for one or two SA sides in the Northern Hemisphere Competitions like the Amlin Cup, or does the plan to make the Southern Kings participate in a cross-continental competition with American and Canadian sides hold the answer?
We’ve had an Article here on Rugby-Talk, exposing plans for the Southern Kings’ 3 Home Unions to take part in just such a competition, hell it was in an advanced stage of planning, till SARU dumped the poo in January or February making the announcement that the Southern Kings WILL be in Super Rugby in 2013.
That Competition was due to be called the Super 6, hell they had a Logo, where and between whom it was to be played, the whole nine yards… I’ll find the actual Article and post a link to it…
Here’s the link, read it carefully… Article placed on 10 February this year: http://www.rugby-talk.com/2012/02/sarus-super-rugby-riddle-solved-in-a-day/
@ grootblousmile:I think you’re missing my point, it’s not about the Lions or Kings, it’s about SARU for me. Here we are arguing about the Lions going out, Kings coming in etc. But not about SARU’s cock up. They are the ones at the heart of this, and no one seems to be focussing on them. Below is a piece penned by David vd Merwe on his blog – Daves view – on the Amlin Cup scenario:
With the Lions vs Southern Kings dilemma that is facing SARU, and that has the whole of the SA rugby public debating, it has been mentioned that maybe the Lions should play in the Amlin Challenge Cup. This might just be a viable answer to their seeming imminent demise, but is it really practical? Well let’s look at this option and you can decide for yourself.
The Amlin Challenge Cup is a second tier competition for rugby clubs and teams in Europe that doesn’t make it into the Heineken Cup or falls short of making the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup. The set up currently is as follows:
8 teams from France, 6 teams from England and 4 teams from Italy are joined by a team each from Ireland, Wales and Romania. Portugal or Spain has the last birth depending on qualification. (See diagram for qualifying below). Subtractions are made for the countries that win the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup. The 20 teams are setup in 5 pools of 4 each. Home and way games against the teams in the pool are played. The winners of each pool goes to the quarter final with the 3rd to 5th best runners up in the Heineken Cup making up the other 3 teams.
Now for the Lions to play in the Amlin Challenge either France, England or Italy will have to give up a place for one of their teams in the competition. The other option is for the Lions to play a qualifying competition against the teams from Portugal and Spain to take that spot from them. The ERC will also have to agree to the Lions joining. Let’s presume that France agrees to go with only 7 teams and the ERC agrees to allow the Lions in to the competition, what does this mean for the Lions?
Well first and foremost we must remember that the South African rugby season runs from February to November at the moment with Super Rugby and Vodacom Cup being played from February till they conclude in May and August. Then the Currie Cup starts in August and Runs till end of October with the year end test tours following this. The Rugby Championship is played in September and October and winter test tours in June. The European Season runs from September to July. The Amlin Challenge is played during and concurrent with the various countries domestic club competitions and only breaks for the year end tours and what we call winter tours.
The Lions will have to decide if they want to play their home games in the Amlin Cup here in South Africa or at a neutral venue in Europe. If they decide on Europe this will mean that they will have to have two teams. One for the Amlin Challenge and one for the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions in SA. Over and above this it will impact them in the latter two competitions or the Amlin Challenge as their will be weekends that they have two games. And then their is the question of making players available for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Looking at all this it will be a logistical nightmare to compete in an European competition purely due to the amount of traveling involved or having to teams. For a Union already struggling financially it just seems impossible to do this.
My conclusion: it makes as match sense for the Lions to play in the Amlin Challenge, as it does for me to work in Cape Town and stay in Johannesburg traveling to work every day. The cost and logistics involve is just to great. It is the same as having them join up with the Cheetahs to reunite the Cats Franchise of yesteryear. Unless SARU comes to their aid I just can’t see this happening.
33 @ Just For Kicks:
Of course I agree it’s SARU’s farkup in the first place.
We agree on that…
Where we seem to miss each other is that you want the Lions to be relegated out of Super Rugby, in terms of their bad performance this year and those of the previous years, whilst I want alternatives to be explored and found first.
If taking part in a European Competition is not viable (for the Kings or Lions)… what about CREATING a new Southern Hemisphere competition… maybe with teams from Samoa, Tonga & Fiji involved…
… or what about the Super 6 Competition then, which WAS ON THE CARDS… with the Kings Home Unions going ahead with that to build their squad till 2015 or 2016… or for the Lions and their Home Unions replacing the Kings Unions and them competing in the Super 6…
Simple relegation, with nothing else in place… would probably be SARU’s decision, but that is plain wrong!
34@ grootblousmile:We need to sit down with a beer!!!!! I don’t want the Lions relegated at all – at least in this manner. They must stay. and it is up to the other unions, who came out themselves and said that no team would be dropped, to stand their ground. Lions must NOT be allowed to be relegated by SARU.
If, however (hypothetically speaking), we had a UK soccer premiership promo/relegation style system already in place, and had been going for a few years, and teams had been going up and down as they do in the premiership, then, and only THEN would I have no problem in Lions being relegated on the performance if they were bottom of the log. But in this scenario we would be expecting it, and wouldn’t have the same issues.
But as we don’t have any system in place, it is grossly unfair for any team to just be booted out. So I agree 100% with your final sentiment, it is just wrong.
Helloooooo RT’s, my rugby weekend has just started, and my picks are in (made them on Sunday already!)
Must just find a way to bunk work on Saturday, and it will be a perfect ending to the week for me.
So, laat die byle huil en die pikke hik hier op RT……GOOI MIELIES!!!!!
35 @ Just For Kicks:
OK, finally we’re on the same page… well at least in the same chapter of a very long book…. hahaha
A relegation system can only function, like you rightly point out, with good communication and very early warning.
Let’s take SA Rugby as example… if they want to institute a Relegation system for Super Rugby, ALL the terms and a very clear path to Relegation must be mapped out. Prior warning of implimentation must be at least in 2 or more years from date of announcement of the new system, giving franchises the opportunity to contract with players, coaches, support staff, sponsors, Suite Holders… and the whole bang shoot in a manner which governs the eventuality of relegation.
Doing this will also give players the option to contract with possible relegation in mind, which will give them certain escape clauses to consider, alternative clubs or Unions or overseas options to work into deals… and would give surety and security in their lives… do I buy a house, do I marry, do I start a family, do I take a chance with this franchise or do I move to another…
Sponsors can invest their money wiser, with more information available.
Franchises can also map out a financial model, suiting the new system and the possibility of relegation.
So yeah… the 5 Super Rugby Unions must stand together for now, and push this mad Southern Kings inclusion half-baked kak dished up by SARU into it’s moer! At the same time these current Super Rugby Franchises must help develop alternatives… so that when a team is eventually relegated in terms of a new future system of relegation, that the nett effect on that relegated side is minimised. This can only be done if another prime competition is developed to run at the same time as Super Rugby.
**********************
Another possibility to help alleviate the situation, is to EVENTUALLY (in years to come) intergrate the Currie Cup into the Super Rugby Domestic Rounds…..
Here’s how I see it:
Say for instance Super Rugby stays at 15 sides, 3 Countries / Conferences…
Each year the 3 Countries specify which 5 sides – UNIONS in SA’s case (as opposed to Franchises – it is anyway effectively the top 5 Unions) take part in Super Rugby and constitutes their Conference.
SA’s 7 best Currie Cup sides (7 out of 14 Unions – The 5 Super Rugby Conference Unions PLUS 2 strongest of the remaining 9 SA Unions) could then play each other [whether home and away or just one game… one can formulate something] in between the 5 Super Rugby Conference sides’ cross-ocean games with ALL the other Super Rugby sides, not just some like at present (whilst the 2 non-Super Rugby sides of each country takes part in whatever ancillary new Competition to keep them busy and their strenght up)…. and the competition could last the whole freegin year, with a June Test window break and an END OF YEAR TOURS break PLUS their annual December holiday break.
The 7-side Home Unions leg can then be the Currie Cup, of which part (those of 5 sides against each other) can also count for Super Rugby.
What we immediately have then is all the Springbok players back in Currie Cup, the 2 sides besides the 5 SA Conference Super Rugby sides are kept in the loop and with opportunity to graduate from their ancillery competition into Super Rugby and for the No 6 and No 7 Currie Cup performing sides to go down or stay in the Ancillery Competition for the next year.
This will be possible, because there will be no Currie Cup late in the year, no ITM Cup in NZ… and those months will be available for play.
… but it’ll take someone with monsterous brass balls to engineer the format and convince or bully the other SANZAR members into the deal….
Broadcasters should be happy because their Super Rugby pie then spreads right accross the whole season, with more international francise matches, heavy freegin local derbies, and of course a bite at a new pie… the ancillery competition between Teams No 6 and No 7 of the 3 SANZAR countries and possible other entrants from Argentina, USA, SAMOA, Tonga, Fiji, Canada, Japan….
36 @ Pietman:
Hello Piet Byle…. of is dit Piet Pikke!
@ grootblousmile
Jisja bruvva!
Gaan na ete so bietjie hier lees en saampraat.
Ek verstaan die hele Kings-mania nog nie so lekker nie, klink na n f@kappie in wording; met nepotisme, politieke/ persoonlike gewin en eiewaan as hoofbestanddele…….en Oos-Kaapse rugby as die groot verloorder.
37@ grootblousmile:Ja, you legal eagles with the gift of the gab explain it so well!!!! Really like your idea, I would only add that the S15 goes back to the old format, and fark the conference system!!!!!
39 @ Pietman:
Ja…. in kort gestel dit gaan een moerse Royal Fokkop wees, as dinge gaan soos dit nou gaan.
Die bestanddele vir die Tjors-Mix is klaar daar…. en die mengsel gaan so kak geur hê!
…. en 2 jaar later sit ons sonder rugby in die Oos Kaap, en die Leeuwens is poer in hulle moere saam met die suur mynwater wat oor die pavement en by die freegin dreine afjaag daar in Doornfontein, tussen die pondokke, Nigeriërs, straatlopers, pypslapers, hoere, druggies, drug dealers, hoenderpootjies en kak en hare!
40 @ Just For Kicks:
For farking sure!
40 @ Just For Kicks:
I think SARU must co-opt me and task me to go do the negotiations….
I’m no roll-over like flip-floppie Marinos!
I’ll charge them little, only a couple million Euro plus a small persentage of the overall purse… for the duration of the competitions…. hehehe
@ Just For Kicks:
Tx for bringing this matter to our site’s attention, appreciated bru.
Might as well keep it all ‘in house’ rather than a new post. Now Mitchell is waging in.
superxv.com
Struggling Lions Super Rugby coach John Mitchell has slammed the South African Rugby Union for their handling of the Southern Kings’ entry into Super Rugby next year.
The Southern Kings have been guaranteed a place in next year’s tournament after Saru’s general council voted unanimously to include back in January.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union were one of the 14 Unions that voted in favour of the Kings being included even though their inclusion could come at the Lions expense.
While SARU has guaranteed the Kings inclusion they have not yet agreed on how this will be achieved without one of the existing teams dropping out.
The 2012 Super Rugby season is well beyond the half way point but SARU have yet to agree on who will drop out and how the team that drops out will be decided.
Ordinarily in a situation like this when a team wants promotion into a league they would play a promotion and relegation match with the last placed team in the league but as the Kings have been guaranteed a place next season the last placed South African team is expected to drop out.
John Mitchell’s Lions are currently the last placed South African team having scored 14 points – eight of which came as a result of their byes.
“Nothing has been defined in terms of the future,” Mitchell told SportLive.
“But the Lions have been around for 120 years and it is up to Saru to stop blackmailing people and hanging a noose out there and to rather allow them to get on with things.”
Mitchell went on to state that SARU had created a “ridiculous situation for itself”.
The Lions coach believes that solution to the problem is for the Lions and the Cheetahs to merge again as they did between 1998 and 2006 when they played as the Cats.
The two teams split again in 2006 when Super Rugby was expanded from 12 teams to 14.
“If you want to be the best team a merger with the Cheetahs is the way to go,” Mitchell said.
“But if you want to create a team that is going to be better and you want to become a serious challenger, a merger is a decent decision.
“It depends whether you want to continue to accept mediocrity and just hang in there and be part of the competition, or if you want to win.”
Mitchell says that the Lions has struggled this season as they do not have the depth to compete but a merge with the Cheetahs would create more depth.
“If the Lions were at full strength and playing with the same team that won the Currie Cup last year, we would have been more competitive in this year’s competition, but we still don’t have the depth to maintain and sustain performances to win the title – and neither do the Cheetahs.
“If you amalgamated the best players from both franchises you would have a serious group, and with strong leadership and a good team culture, they could achieve anything.”
While Mitchell is keen on the idea of a merge the Golden Lions are against it and the Cheetahs ruled out another merge earlier in the year.
I don’t know much, if anything, about this debacle unfolding down in the EC, so I will keep my eyes pierced for any news from PissAnt and TonyM.
They are the boytjies ‘in the know’ here.
But what I DO know is that Mr. Cheeky Watson announced some two years ago, when he became President or something down there, that he was “proud to be involved with South Africa’s first ‘black rugby franchise'”.
That statement I remember as clearly as if he had said it five minutes ago.
What happened to that, where are the Kings’ black stakeholders and players?
Or am I missing something here?
Another interesting article on the Watsons, the Kings and the Sponsors. Its long, I warn you.
Bwanachris – Blogspot.
Let it be known, I spent six years of my life at Woodridge College near Port Elizabeth and I consider my loyalty to the region unquestionable.
I then studied at UCT and the glory years of Western Province rugby captured my heart and passion for the side. I have been a loyal fan ever since. There hasn’t been a side like the five-year consecutive Currie Cup champions since but that isn’t what sport is all about. It’s about loyalty, through both the good and the bad times.
And boy have there been some bad times. In 2008, a former Grey High School (huge Woodridge rivals) pupil came out with the expected anti-Springbok rant that landed him the nickname “Puke”. We all know the story, anyone that doesn’t has been living under a stone, so I won’t digress much here.
This event transformed my LOYALTY. I could never support a side that had the name ‘L.Watson’ in its line-up again.
I unashamedly bought the Sharks apparel (now at the bottom of the Zambezi) and attended the Currie Cup Final with @ShonaKelland and really enjoyed the atmosphere and passion the Shark Tank offers.
There was still that nagging thought, though. I loved my Western Province dearly but I could not support them and this pained my heart.
Then came the great news. Watson signed for Bath and WP and I kissed, had make-up sex and the passion was back. I could support my side without the shame of a man that disgraced rugby and the Springbok emblem.
Not only did Western Province and the Stormers improve, they became championship winners and final contenders. They failed, but my loyalty could never be questioned and my heart and soul will forever remain at Newlands (if things stay there).
I’m going to digress a little to cricket here. Western Province, in the days of Peter Kirsten, Garth le Roux, Stephen Jeffries, Denys Hobson, Omar Henry, Roy Pienaar, Adrian Kuiper , Lawrence Seeff and Darryl Cullinan, were a fantastic side. They tore away my allegiance to the Eastern Cape as they stood up and battled the unbeatable Mean Machine. I spent days away from lectures absorbing the battle, the cut and thrust and counter attack. This was the best cricket I had seen. I had many mates that I played with and against (and attended the EP Academy with) beginning to make a mark. No pun intended, Mark Rushmere was going to be the next big thing. The thing was, he was doing it for Eastern Province and in great partnerships with other colleagues from the academy, such as Phillip Amm, Dave Ferrant, Vlam Michau, Bryan Lones, Gary McKinnon, Dave Callaghan and Karl Bauermeister.
Despite the familiar names, I had personally done battle with and against and respected, my loyalty remained with Western Province and that remained the case until recently.
In this time, Eastern Province would be the marginal side. The side that had all the potential but just couldn’t hold out and pull off the big wins. They didn’t have that heart of a champion or a leader that could stand firm under pressure and gel the side.
Then came Kotie Grove, a quiet, unassuming man and what any cricketer would think, a nerd. They’d be right, he is a professor at NMMU and lives for cricket. Not just cricket, EP CRICKET.
We have all seen the American movies, the football and baseball movies about a young kid with brilliant potential. I think Kotie drew his inspiration from them. He slowly started to put the plans in place, as the scouts do in those movies.
He identified a leader for battle. We all know Kepler Wessels turned out to be the Warrior but Kotie personally began to identify the army Kepler needed and provided the depth for generations ahead.
Kotie went to the school games, watched the academy nets, chatted to the youngsters after matches and then went to their homes. He sold the idea of Eastern Province to them, in a time when cricket was still a very amateur game.
Players got bursaries and scholarships, first class coaches and players were brought in as mentors and Kepler instilled fitness and discipline in abundance.
This is a great sporting success story, the legacy continues and the Chevrolet Warriors are still competitive, over 20 years after the master plan was dreamed up.
You can probably see where I am heading here .
My question is, do the Watson’s have the same plan in mind ?
The answer is NO.
They cannot and will never get the Eastern Cape public and parents to buy into the union and it’s future.
Luke Watson and his father are not revered. They don’t warrant respect like the great names of Port Elizabeth. I’m referring to administrators like Dakin, Ferrant and Rushmere, that ran the cricket union with honour in good and bad times.
Watson will never be forgiven or forgotten for his outburst. He has never apologised or expressed remorse.
No matter what or how his PR agent Mark Keohane tries to spin this, he NEVER deserves a place or thought of selection for the Springboks.
Death by dishonour. The public will never forgive you, Luke. Now move on.
This is exactly why the EP Kings will fail. The parents don’t buy in but the Kings have attempted to spin this as they have engaged the services of former Springbok, Robbie Kempson.
I have no personal problem with Rob – he was a great Springbok and WP legend and, as a former tight forward, I can appreciate the blood and sweat he shed for many Springbok victories in a position where there is never any glory.
I do feel Rob isn’t in the mould of Kotie Grove, however. I don’t know how many school games Rob has been to.
The Eastern Cape boasts 3 of the top rugby schools in the country. They play their matches on Saturdays. Incidentally, Rob spends his Saturdays on the touchline for Supersport, giving his opinion for a total of three minutes. I don’t begrudge the man – he is entitled to a salary and income.
What I don’t see and hear is his presence at the schools, giving coaching sessions and mentoring talent.
It’s hearsay of course but he isn’t visiting the homes of parents.
He isn’t getting sponsors to buy in and most importantly, there does not appear to be a partnership between the union, SARU and NMM University.
He isn’t identifying stars from underprivileged backgrounds and securing them scholarships at schools rich in rugby tradition. This is where it all begins.
From the cold barefoot under 11s on a Saturday morning come the next generation of champions. We all played at this level and it isn’t rocket science to see which kids are a lot better than the chasing pack. There have to be eyes and ears watching games such as these.
Kempson and the Union cite the lack of money to retain the stars. I’m going to go back to Kotie here and ask “how did he do it?”.
Kempson himself, in his capacity as director of the academy, has the licence to go out and sell his product.
Does he sell it ?
There are the big sponsors, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors. They represent the image of Eastern Province. The Blue Collar workers from “Spanner Valley” – Uitenhage and Despatch. These hard men are the base of many years of Eastern Province history.
The greatest man ever to don a Springbok jersey Danie Gerber is from here, born with a spanner in his hand; as blue collar as you can get.
Why aren’t these sponsors buying in? Why do Chevrolet prefer the cricket brand when it isn’t really a blue collar sport ?
My guess, and it is a calculated guess, is they do not see eye-to-eye with the administration nor see any synergy with their brand and the EP Kings. I don’t blame them at all. Who wants their brand associated with a family that could fall out with them at any time and be the subject of a “Puke” association?
Without a brand buying in, Robbie, unfortunately, is going to fail. He has thrown his hands up already.
Without corporate sponsorship and a business plan that appeals to the brand and synergy, there will never be an Eastern Province side that is embraced by the rugby public.
It is that simple.
The seeds of development take many years to grow into mighty oaks. In my opinion, these seeds are being sewn or rather cast on barren ground. The fertile ground is the parents and children.
They decide where the next generation of children develop professionally as sportsmen. Without this fertile ground, this effort will be fruitless, infertile and a total waste of money.
There isn’t transformation and there won’t be in future. Despite the Watson family links to the ANC, this gimmick isn’t about the betterment of EP Rugby for generations.
Can it be fixed ?
Yes it can.
The Watson administration has to go first.
They aren’t going to spark a region into life with a franchise the area doesn’t buy into. They aren’t, as they proclaim, going to buy a new side.They have no money to.
They may claim they will have the money with the Super Rugby TV rights and income but who are they going to buy?
Their last attempt at luring big names to the region, still couldn’t get them out of the B-league of the Currie Cup.
South Africa has a pool of players that can compete to a maximum of 150. This isn’t five sides, it is three squads.
We have perennially had two of the five sides in the bottom section of the log and this pains my heart.
No matter who the EP Kings draft and select, they will get hammered.
This is not what the EP public want to see. They want winners the hard way.
Despite EP Rugby disappointing the region for 40 years, they’re not suddenly going to spark to life and form a formidable army and home fortress.
Their case hasn’t been helped at all by Mark Keohane and his cronies at Highbury Safika Media. The rhetoric he has sewed has brought venom and hate and now this venom is unfairly directed at a rugby franchise .
I would love to see a Chelsea-type transformation happen in Port Elizabeth. The fact is they don’t have the money to do so.
The BEE business concept may be pushed and prodded into this but what will they see on the field? Will there be black stars? Probably not. Will they have the spare cash for the massive signings and salaries?
Definitely not.
Eastern Province is strangled as long as the Watson administration is in power. I would love to be proved wrong but I won’t be.
Okay, I wasn’t going to say any more about this, but this one turned up from iamjohhnyking, and is another international view of the whole saga. Take it as you will:
I am not hereby referencing the iamjonnyking clan, although we can be calamitous, and we do want to invade your #supe world, South Africa – some time, at least.
No, we take this posting pitstop at a past-time that ponders to procrastinates, and at times, even prevaricates; I think I could “P” everywhere in this piece, as I postulate on.
Yes, this is a pool party, where even the P-Divvy will likely ventilate at some point – precisely!
Okay, this is not an adult edition of Sesame Street; time to P-free.
As many of you will have grasped if you have lingered over words without end, while this scribe finds his residence under the same skyline, the long white cloud distinguishes my home.
Therefore, I offer this preview as a means to affirm my assumptions as I enter the discussion of the Kings in the #supeRUG world; they are a long way from your South African world.
Watching, reading, and reflecting on this subject that has a number of rabbit’s to trail, it is clear that some larger than life characters colour, much for many, in what is discussed on this subject that definitely matters.
This subject is much like the bride who expects it will be, the once spoken about long-term engagement has now become the real-time living arrangement, with the promise of tomorrow sounding more like the reality of today.
You know the story, the Spears promised a #supe new home and rugby status, only to be put down with the sweetest of treats, now finding a second coming in the Kings, with SARU again promising to be the faithful husband. However, the bed-wetting has returned, with many thinking it is only a matter of time before the sheets get soiled again. Unfaithful. A bride left at the altar; dressed for success; somebody else’s.
Somebody is crying into their pillow as a future dream becomes a nightmare. Let us not forget this dark and dingy destination for one. Sombre.
The talk remains that the Kings place is already a fait accompli, and you know the French, with the Lions the side for the chopper – ejector seat. Nobody is favoured if we refrain from the obvious; the Lions have too frequently found love in a broom cupboard; swept away by this level of competition. In the now neatly arranged South African Conference, Mitchell and Spencer haven’t been able to put the finishing touches together, even as injuries haven’t helped. Louis just too Luyt.
This is where the discussion can easily become tangential, and I will join you for a time.
This is NOT about 12 Teams
While you may legitimately decry the unfair nature of the conference arrangement, which does impinge on the conclusion, the numbers do affirm that 15 teams also means a closer competition – more away wins and a reducing gap in a contest – both marks that bear witness to a better competition, in my opinion. Aussie teams still derby in 12; not as often, but sleep is healing.
For all the talk about 12 teams in SupeRugby, such only works where the Currie Cup and NPC/ITM Cup have preference. You may talk about an Aussie conspiracy, but we have now joined their worldview, and we ain’t looking back. What were our historic rugby homes will still very much live on, as the ITM Cup has proven in previous years, but they are now well and truly domesticated – Rest in “P” – not again.
This is NOT a Keohane/Watson Question
Those who make it such exhibit clear marks of making-to-creating a fatal category error. This question is being framed by some as a popularity contest on Mark Keohane, Luke and Cheeky Watson. The result of this tactic is the creation of a straw man; classic when one party wants to win a debate; easy to defeat a straw man that does not exist. This is disingenuous, with the result that it distorts the locus of this issue. This type of tactic encourages the reigning assumption of the masses to get on board, which works if many prove invigorated by the question.
Let me also state it this way; for all the talk about “supposed” wrongdoings by Keohane in particular, even if these are proven to be true, this is still a separate question to the legitimacy of the Kings in SupeRugby. While some media will talk about the mud’s viscosity, it should not stick.
Even if – hypothetically – Keohane is proven to be acting illegally, the Kings question is nowhere impinged by his actions, as his actions are separate. Again, no one should be asking you to like any of these protagonists. Such matters are beyond the point. While we can point to the genesis of this SARU decision that predates any potential Keohane conflict as basis for this position, the inherent logical connections in this situation also make this clear.
Don’t be confused by this issue.
Why is this important?
Because it helps to take more of the heat out of the debate, and most importantly in my opinion, because this better exemplifies a clear correspondence in the context. I am not consumed with pushing anyone’s case from my New Zealand home.
And again, the question of the Kings is not the same question as one’s opinion on the like-ability or fitness of Keohane and Co. It is time for South Africans to drop this line of reasoning in regard to the Kings, as it corrupts; assuming you want to approach this subject on an even footing.
A Solution?
You think I could arrive at that in a little over a Thousand words?
Okay, I lied, it is alot over that word count, and I do have a cunning plan – you can play, pin the tail on the weasel.
You could give SARU the same number of years and we could be onto a winner, which is to say, this organisation is sitting in the hot seat. They have made promises in the past that are now becoming the present, even when the gift still awaits to given.
Why is this important?
Because it helps to take more of the heat out of the debate, and most importantly in my opinion, because this better exemplifies a clear correspondence in the context. I am not consumed with pushing anyone’s case from my New Zealand home.
And again, the question of the Kings is not the same question as one’s opinion on the like-ability or fitness of Keohane and Co. It is time for South Africans to drop this line of reasoning in regard to the Kings, as it corrupts; assuming you want to approach this subject on an even footing.
A Solution?
You think I could arrive at that in a little over a Thousand words?
Okay, I lied, it is alot over that word count, and I do have a cunning plan – you can play, pin the tail on the weasel.
You could give SARU the same number of years and we could be onto a winner, which is to say, this organisation is sitting in the hot seat. They have made promises in the past that are now becoming the present, even when the gift still awaits to given.
An iamjonnyking Solution
Personally, I would take a more pragmatic view in the present, grounded in the reigning assumption that SupeRugby is NOW the dominant “local” rugby competition in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
This means that fundamentally, this competition is on a growth curve – phat boy.
If SupeRugby stops at 15, someone has dropped the ball.
I expect a scenario where another team will join the Australian Conference from Asia and another team will join the New Zealand Conference from the Americas, into the future, thereby making, you guessed it, 6 teams in each Conference, if the Kings are also JUST added.
If this is the long-term plan, on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand contingent, I would have placated this South African dilemma, [1] in light of this plan, [2] the African numbers impacting on the Television deal, and [3] the ability to keep a, they-owe-me, for a later date.
This would have taken some creative accounting, in terms of the breakdown in the competition, but this Kings side could have been guaranteed to play every Australian and New Zealand side; another coup for honest John O’Neill and his thriving conference.
The result is that SANZAR would also have given SARU and the South African 6 an opportunity to witness what this extra team looks like in reality, but with a limited expectancy of some two years, before the next deal is signed. SARU could even put some quality control outcomes in place for all 6 teams, placing all under notice that their future proof of life is to be connected with performance.
Everyone placed on a somewhat even footing.
Somebody call, SANZAR!
Today, talk is the Kings are already in SupeRugby 2013, and while the dawning of a new side with a Canterbury connection does offer something for this King, the promise of a tomorrow seems a question that is still very much future.
Will love mean marriage for these Kings? They may have the ring to prove it, but the Return of the King is much more middle earth – I know, loved this ending as well.
There is still much to say on this subject, but that is enough from me; this bill from Aotearoa now worth my crown.
These various hypothesis and conspiracy theories are enough to give anyone a migraine.
However, the headache is SARU’s, not anyone of the six South African Super Rugby franchises.
In the case of the Kings – is it EP Kings or Southern Kings?
If it is Southern Kings – where are Border and SWD in this as equal shareholders and participants, in this Eastern Cape franchise that is intended to uplift the region – not the Mandela Bay Metro.
Where is the solidarity of all 3 Unions in this?
The IRB met yesterday & today – the franchises meet on 17 May and there can be only one proper outcome.
Appoint or nominate a competent sub-committee at the next SARU Exco to do a risk assessment and due diligence on the financial viablity, or not, of excluding one or more, of the existing South African rugby franchises in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Have that report back – by consulting all stakeholders – and report back a proper well thought out alternative plan of introducing the Eastern Cape to Super Rugby without disrupting all South African Rugby at enormous cost and humiliation.
Those who know me will realise that I am a VERY loyal LIONS supporter.
I was part of the long drawn out actions that eventually got Professor Jannie Ferreira ousted at the helm of the GLRU, and I have spent more hours alongside and on a cold almost dark Rugby pitch coaching kids from the (former?)non white townships of the East Rand than I care to remember.
However, as a Lions supporter, I have to be practical and say, on the form of the last 3 years, the Lions do not deserve to be in the Super Rugby competition.
They haven’t been competetive since they broke away from Cats, and their win ratio is dismal.
Having said that, I just can’t see the Kings faring any better at all. In fact, I think it’ll be a rout week after week, and will eventually be an even bigger embarresment to SA Rugby than the continual mediocrity of the Lions.
If John Mitchell is of the opinion that neither the Lions or Cheetahs have enough depth to be competetive at Super Rugby level, then I’m afraid the problem is far deeper than can be sorted out in the space of 2 – 3 seasons, and I suggest that Mr Mitchell should read Francois Pienaar’s autobiography.
Piennaar makes the comparison between the major Rugby playing nations and their potential player pools, pointing out that SA has a potential player pool second only to England amongst the IRB founder Nations.
That both countries have their unique problems in terms of Rugby Development is without question, but from personal experience I can tell you that in my 6 years as an admistrator at a “coloured” club in Johannesburg, we did not recieve ANY money in terms of a development budget, either from SARU or the GLRU.
I’m sure that both of these venerable bodies will point to a line on a balance sheet and tell all and sundry that they are spending millions on Rugby Development. I just wish they’d show the 18 year old kid who has to walk 7 km’s from Zonkezizwe to Edenpark to practice on a field lighted by 3 temporary spotlights, and then walk home again without the “luxury” of a hot shower where those millions are going.
RUGBY DEVELOPMENT in Johannesburg is a myth. You’ve got more chance of finding a Unicorn at Ellis Park Train Station after a game.
WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT, HOW WILL ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE REGARDING TRUE PLAYER DEPTH.
Having said that, I have to quaestion whether there’s any real development happening in PE.
The Kings team is just as lilly white as the majority of the other 13 Provincial sides in the country.
The only exception that I have seen is the Border Bulldogs, who seem at least to be trying to develop and nurture their local talent.
Perhaps they haven’t got the mix right yet in order to win more than they lose, but have the Lions and Kings?
Enough of my soap box rhetoric.
The answer to Super Rugby participation can’t be solved in the wave of a wand, but will in all likelihood be “solved” with the flash of a pen on a piece of paper.
All I know, is that I’m sick and tired of seeing a South African team (sometimes 2) in the bottom 3 of the Super Rugby log.
SARU WILL NOT MAKE A CHOICE. THEY HAVE A YELLOW STREAK THAT’S LONGER THAN THE LIONS WOODEN SPOON WINNING STREAK, and on top of that Hoskins cannot be trusted.
WTF, give the Kings a shot. At least it’ll give the Lions supporters someone to laugh at, something they haven’t been able to do for nearly 10% of a century!
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