South African Rugby officials have confirmed that the Southern Kings will play Super Rugby and that the Lions will sit it out for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
This will be for one year, whereupon promotion / relegation matches will be played, home and away, between the Lions and the bottom-placed SA Super Rugby Franchise, to see who plays the following year.
Cheeky Watson says that the voting went 23-6 in favour of the Southern Kings.
“All provinces have been consistently in support of the need for an Eastern Cape team in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition – Hoskins
“Our goal is to have 6 strong franchises covering the whole of South Africa, this decision keeps all of them in play on an annual basis – Jurie Roux
Jurie Roux: “We also canvassed Super 15 players before the season, through the Players’ Association, and this was their preferred mechanism”
Southern Kings CEO, Anele Pamba, confirms that they are in discussions with overseas players and some local (non-Lions) players. They will probably reveal names next Friday.
The 1st ‘BIG ‘ signing for the Southern Kings – Demetri Catrakilis has just announced he has signed for the Kings.
Cheeky Watson is very unhappy with the outcome of the 1 year deal, and says the Southern Kings will lodge an appeal against the ruling and ask for the 3-year guarantee promised by SARU.
“We are extremely disappointed at this result,” De Klerk said.
“This is a very unfortunate decision, which will result in a team taking part in a competition without needing to qualify on rugby merits,” he said of the decision to award the Kings a place in the competition.
The Lions boss stopped short of attacking SARU in his statement, but it is very clear they are not happy.
“We will take time to consider this decision and then to plan our response that best protects our players, staff, stakeholders and supporters,” De Klerk added.
More to follow…
SARU press release
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Thursday confirmed South Africa’s participants in Vodacom Super Rugby at a General Meeting of the member provinces.
The top four teams in the South African Conference in 2012 (DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls, The Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs) will join the Southern Kings in the 2013 tournament.
The teams were confirmed after the General Meeting accepted a proposal first tabled by the Executive Council in January. The proposal was that: “The franchise occupying the lowest log position of the five franchises at the end of 2012 would be relegated.”
The MTN Lions, who finished bottom of the South African Conference, will have the chance to regain their status in 12 months’ time. The Executive Council had previously determined that the bottom team in 2013 would play in a two-legged promotion and relegation series against the relegated franchise. The promotion/relegation series will also be in place in 2014 and 2015 – at which point the broadcast contract expires.
“All rugby provinces have been consistently in support of the need for an Eastern Cape team in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU. “That decision was first taken in 2005 but their inclusion has twice been postponed.
“We made a commitment to the Kings to include them in 2013 and rugby has delivered on that commitment. The franchise represents more clubs than any other region – apart from the Stormers – and contains numerous leading rugby schools. It has been starved of top-class rugby competition for a decade and a half and now it has the chance to show what it can do.”
Mr Hoskins said that SANZAR’s decision to grant the 15th franchise to Melbourne in 2011 – rather than the Southern Kings – had created a dilemma for SARU. He said that the organisation and players had wanted a “rugby solution” to accommodate six franchises in five places and this had been delivered, as challenging as it was for the relegated team.
“The provinces asked for a rugby solution and we believe that this was the fairest and most transparent method to respond to what is undoubtedly a less than ideal situation,” he said. “We also canvassed Vodacom Super Rugby players before the start of the season, through the Players’ Association, and this was their preferred mechanism.Jurie Roux, the CEO of SARU, said that the decision to apply a promotion and relegation system from 2013 was standard practice in sport.
“We operate promotion and relegation in all our Absa Currie Cup competitions, with the bottom-placed team being relegated unless it wins a play off,” said Roux. “Our strategic goal is to have six strong franchises covering the whole of South Africa and this decision keeps all of them in play on an annual basis.”
Cheeky’s response:
planet rugby.com
SARU announced on Thursday that the Kings would play in the 2013 Super Rugby competition, with the Lions dropping out for at least one year.
“I think it is a ludicrous decision,” Watson said after the decision was made at a SARU general council meeting in Cape Town.
“It doesn’t make sense in rugby, not in business, not in the church.
“It doesn’t make sense in any sector of society that you are sitting with a scenario that you are in Super Rugby for one year and expected to achieve.
“But I think we, as the South Eastern Cape, play the hand that we are dealt and we make the best of it.”
SARU confirmed that the promotion/relegation playoff would also be in place in 2014 and 2015, at which point the broadcast rights contract expired and a different format could be considered.
SARU president Oregan Hoskins said the decision to include an Eastern Cape franchise in the Super Rugby tournament was first made in 2005, but was twice postponed.
“All rugby provinces have been consistently in support of the need for an Eastern Cape team in the Super Rugby competition,” Hoskins said.
“We made a commitment to the Kings to include them in 2013 and rugby has delivered on that commitment.
“The franchise represents more clubs than any other region — apart from the Stormers — and contains numerous leading rugby schools.
“It has been starved of top-class rugby competition for a decade-and-a-half and now it has the chance to show what it can do.”
so saru het nou eiteindelik uit die kas gekom en bevestig wat ons al laaaaaaankal weet,hulle is die anc se bunnies
Votes 23-6, hmmmmmm….
Might look like a ‘high score’ right now, but wait for scores on the pitch next year!
“The top four teams in the SA Conference…..will join the Southern Kings in the 2013 tournament”.
They make it sound as if the Kings were already there and the rest are only coming to the party now!
Anyway, good luck to our first ‘black rugby franchise’, as Cheeky called it (whatever that may imply).
How are the Lions going to play that relegation match at the end of next year, with only their ABSA and VodaCup players I suppose?
How iare the Lions going to play the relegation game
@ smallies72:
Wel, daai ‘bunnies’ gaan n moerse klomp belastinggeld vreet om spelers te koop, hoor my lied!
Borge sal nie naby Watson gesien wil wees nie….
Where is TonyM when you need him….can’t wait to hear his views on this.
Tragiese dag vir rugby in SA, en ‘n blye dag vir ANC politiek en al die rugby administrateurs en unies wat so diep in hulle holle ingekruip het.
Hier is ‘n span wat nie eers die tweede afdeling van CB kan wen nie, maar daar is hul in die super 15 deur politieke inmenging.
Ek is heeltemal ten gunste dat OP weer ‘n rugbykrag word en hul kanse kry, maar dan moet hul die weg bewandel van rugby, nie politiek nie. Natal/Sharks het hul opgespeel tot een van ons beste unies, nie politiek misbruik daarvoor nie.
As hul promosie relugasie wedstryde gehou het tussen die Leeus en OP Queens om te bepaal wie speel volgende jaar in die super 15, sou dit nog sin gemaak het, maar hierdie hele affêre laat nou ‘n suur smaak in die mond.
Sterkte aan die Leeus vir die tye wat nou voorlê.
I fear we haven’t heard the end of this, there will be a few lawyers licking their lips in JHB this lunch time
I wonder how many true Tranvaal supporter expected any other decision, it was clear to me way back when the first announcement was made that the Kings will play Super rugby in 2013.
I know my dear brother in law feel relieved, no more bashing his team around, but still sad, the big old mane lion has died.
Now we might see a lot of player movements, almost like dancing on the grave. It makes me feel sick.
Kakakakatarakis just signed for the Kings
Ek hoop die Lions wen vanjaar die Curriebeker!!!
@ superBul:
Oh the Irony. Bulls supporter getting sick about player movement and ripping other unions players…..
@ Spooony:
I dont need to explain myself to you, the Lion supporters know how i feel about my neighbors.
Ok, so the following player are more than welcome to phone Naka:
Both the locks who played on Saturday, especially the oke who was at the Waratah’s
Josh Strauss, Derick Minnie and Whitely
Elton Jantjies
Jaco Taute
The rest can go to the WP.
@ Loosehead:You were doing so well there, just got ‘Naka’ and ‘WP’ the wrong way round
13
@ Just For Kicks:
So next year I support the Crusaders.
I hope the Lions sue SARU for loss of income, because:
1) We will lose our sponsors.
2) Coca Cola will pull their naming rights for Ellis Park.
3) Suite holders will pull out of their contracts with GLRU/Ellis Park. They bought their suites on the understanding that there would be Super Rugby at the stadium.
4) Gate takings and TV rights will be lost.
So Jurie Roux and all the unions that voted against the Lions, I have no respect for you.
@ superBul:
What Lions supporters? Your a fan. What you feel is irrelevant cause the Union your supporting do not give a crap. Like everyone say its proffesional rugby, money rugby get over it.
Do you think the Lions got no compensation for their troubles? I would think again. They actually can come out stronger financially out of this where thry can make even more money player loans to other unions. So basically they sold 15th spot for more than what the others is getting playing Super Rugby. Yes its bad for Lions supporters but already economically fragile they can now cement their financial position and build.
@ Lion4ever:
I am curious how the voting went, I believe the “senior unions” have two votes each, is that right? If so, then only the Lions and two other of the ‘big five’ voted against?
@ Spooony:
Are you saying the Lions are getting a big payday in the process? How much and howcome?
@ Lion4ever:
@15 Crusaders?!!!!!!
Nee, o hel broer.
Dan liewer Jake se span vir my, al is dit Ozzies.
@ Piet-Springbok-Jan:I too would love to know who voted for/against – If the Big 5 get 2 votes, I wonder if there was a bit of fence sitting and voting each way with their 2 votes.
@ Lion4ever:
Anyway, this whole debacle will be over end of next year. Cheeky and little Lucas would have pocketed their ‘earnings’ by then, and the Kings will be KO’d in the relegation match!(by the Blue Bulls
)
@ Piet-Springbok-Jan:
aaah Merchandising remember its a franchise and the Industry is huge. But the Lions are being looked after by SARU. The Bull and WP by the Mac Group basically and Freestate and the Sharks by wait….. for it wait for SUPERSPORT! Yes merchandising make more dough than anything else. Contracts was signed in when the tv deal was signed. Why do you think the Cheetahs and Lions wanted to split? Because they had to share and it left the Lions losing money and in the end chucked of in the red. Butch James salary is more than Bryan Habana! All the Unions not playing Super Rugby get compisation. But to stop a breach of contract you buy it out. To see the picture and the cash SARU works with look for the 2011 review pdf from them it got bank statements cash flow everything in it. Surprisingly the Kings cash flow was at 0.
I see TonyM is here, hopefully he will join us to shed some light on the goings on in those dark hallways of SA rugby called SARU.
@ Piet-Springbok-Jan:
Right here……………..joining the rugby illuminati
Press conference with Jurie Roux and Oregan Hoskins now on. –
Roux – we are looking to secure a sixth berth in due course
Hoskins – Lions will be assisted financially, how, still to be discussed.
Roux – Lions will continue to receive franchise payment
Hoskins – Still talking to Sanzar partners on getting sixth franchise involved
Feel for the Lions. Just can’t see a massive City like Joburg without a S15 team. Also really how are Kings going to perform next year? They don’t even play in the Currie Cup? I know it is important to have the Eastern Cape involved in Super Rugby, but feel they should have worked their way there by playing Currie Cup first. It really defeats the real reason to have them in. I thought to bring the Kings in was for the people of the Eastern Cape to get to play not for them to be buying players from everywhere. Look I know the Sharks do it, but here we need the untapped talent of the Eastern Cape to be getting a chance. That means bringing them into Currie Cup first and getting them ready with a really good team. They gonna get beat probably worse than the Lions have next year. Just don’t see them being ready for the tough S15.
Roux – Kings have asked for the chance and it’s up to them to show they can survive
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