Cheeky Watson
EP Rugby President, Cheeky Watson, held a media conference at the EP Rugby offices on Wednesday afternoon as financial issues continue to plague the union.
“This has never been about Cheeky Watson, it is about the Kings, it has always been about the Kings,” said Watson.
Watson said it was important to take note of the press release from SA Rugby issued on Tuesday 17 November 2015.
“There has always been a Plan B; I put the call in to SARU to come and bring stability, so that we can stop hemorrhaging players and focus on our preparations for Super Rugby,” he said.
Watson said he was constantly engaging with SA Rugby, including Rugby boss, Oregan Hoskins, and that the details around the implementation of the assistance still needed to be fleshed out.
“The cash flow crisis we have experienced is like a Greek tragedy. We want to thank SARU for stepping in to assist and we welcome whatever contributions they bring,” he said.
Watson said part of the intervention envisioned was to have members of the SARU mobi-unit come down to assist in support roles and bolster the Southern Kings coaching staff.
Addressing the issue of non-payment, Watson said that the junior team players had been paid their salaries on Wednesday, but that the senior players and staff were still owed.
“The funding for the junior players comes from broadcasting rights received by the union from SA Rugby,” he said.
Asked if he would step down following the controversy around the sponsorship that has to date not materialised, Watson said he had no intention of doing so, but repeated that the position was never about him.
Pushed about a possible vote of no confidence being sought against him by certain club structures, Watson said: “I’m not holding onto this position. If someone wants to step in, by all means,” he said.
Watson said he was still confident that the funding from the R 200 Million sponsorship would materialise, but said he did not want to commit to any new timelines.
“I have already broken every timeline given. I am nervous to come up with another,” he said.
Asked why business was so reluctant to invest in EP Rugby, Watson said he was not sure, but that this was an ongoing problem that had existed for all the years that he has been involved in rugby since 1976.
Asked what he would say to the Kings supporters who were losing faith, Watson said there was a difference between supporters and fans and that supporters stayed through the bad times as well as the good.
“We have had phenomenal support in the past, breaking records in both our debut Super Rugby season and before that at the promotion / relegation match against the Pumas in 2010, that saw a sold out stadium,” he said.
Watson said the best way that supporters could assist the Southern Kings was to get bums on seats at the stadium next year and to buy replica apparel.
“There is so much negativity as a whole, we need to get behind the city and our sports teams, regardless of who is mayor or president, we need to build up and be positive,” he said.
(Sport24)
Brent Janse van Rensburg announced as head coach:
Brent Janse van Rensburg
Brent Janse van Rensburg has been appointed as head coach of the Southern Kings for the upcoming Super Rugby season.
The appointment was confirmed by the Eastern Province Rugby president Cheeky Watson.
Janse van Rensburg coached the EP Kings during the past Currie Cup season where they finished 7th on the Log out of 8 teams.
Although no support staff have yet to be announced, it is expected that the Southern Kings will receive assistance from SARU regarding coaching and support staff as per an announcement made yesterday.
Prior to his 1st Currie Cup season in charge of the EP Kings, Janse van Rensburg spent time as the defence coach at the franchise as well as head coach of the NMMU Madibaz in the Varsity Cup.
(Sport24)
Use of Fringe and Loan Players:
The Southern Kings will “loan” some fringe players from other franchises when they make their return to Super Rugby next year.
This was 1 of several declarations by Eastern Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson, when he addressed the media after his fund-raising trip to Australia.
Watson described the decision by SARU to step in and take over control of the Kings as “Plan B”.
“I put the call in to SARU to come and bring stability, so that we can stop haemorrhaging players and focus on our preparations for Super Rugby,” he said.
Watson said he was constantly engaging with SARU, including President Oregan Hoskins, and that the details around the implementation of the assistance still needed to be fleshed out.
“One is never happy to lose any players,” he said of the departure of wing Luther Obi, utility back Sylvian Mahuza, loose forward Tim Agaba, centre Tim Whitehead and prop Lizo Gqoboka – who all terminated their contracts with the franchise.
Watson said he had already been in discussions with some of the other unions around gaining access to fringe players on loan to the union ahead of the tournament.
“Unions have indicated that they will make fringe players available.
“What I have found is that given the opportunity, these players will rise to the occasion,” he said.
Watson said he was confident that there was still enough time to get a team together ahead of the Super Rugby tournament next year.
“It all depends on what players we can get, but all players on loan will be up to speed on conditioning,” he said.
(rugby365)