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Many rugby supporters in the Eastern Cape Province are jumping for joy following a decision by the executive of the South Africa Rugby Union to grant the Southern Kings franchise a slot in the Super Rugby next year – at the expense of the Lions.
However, judging by feedback on local blogs, news media and talk shows, Lions fans – and administrators – are of course, seething.
They are harshly criticising SA rugby authorities for sounding the Lions’ death knell as it regards Super Rugby participation next year. Even the Lions powers-that-be are unhappy that the Kings franchise have been awarded a slot without, “having to work for it”.
Kevin de Klerk, president of the Lions Rugby, say they have accepted the decision in principle, but it is grossly unfair that the Lions should bow out in this fashion.
But memories can be short sometimes. The Kings were promised a Super Rugby slot about seven years ago, but that never materialised up until now, for obvious reasons.
Eastern Province at the time did not have the players, financial, and management capacity to play in such a huge competition; there was also a changing of the guard at SA rugby union headquarters in Johannesburg.
Oregan Hoskins stepped into the breach as SA rugby union president and had to carefully evaluate the promise made to the Kings by his predecessors, as he would not have been party to it. At about the same time, in stepped former top rugby player and crusader for non-racial sport in the Eastern Cape Province, Daniel ‘Cheeky’ Watson.
In his new role of EP Rugby president, Watson started putting the pressure back onto SA rugby union regarding Super Rugby participation. Watson certainly got the ball rolling again with SARU eventually giving the Eastern Province rugby union the assurance that it would have a representative in Super Rugby from 2013.
This followed the EP rugby union’s turnaround under Watson’s leadership. However this promise was still clouded in controversy up to a week ago, when the final decision was made, through a unanimous vote which sees the Kings one of the SA representatives in the Super Rugby next season – in place of the Lions.
The Lions probably have reason to feel aggrieved about having to sit on the sidelines next season. They were unaware that a decision of such magnitude would be dropped on them in such dramatic fashion. There is also much to lose by sitting out the Super Rugby in terms of money and sponsorships. A figure of 50 million Rand (around AU$5.7 million) in losses has been bandied about in the local media.
The Lions also feel that a promotion-relegation match is the way to go to decide any franchise’s fate in any high-profile competition.
The meeting where the vote to decide the Kings’ future in Super Rugby was taken was postponed several times. Eastern Province rugby authorities as well as their fans thought that SA rugby union authorities were merely using delaying tactics so a way could be found to scupper the word-of-mouth agreement.
Reports then surfaced, before the official announcement that Kings have been given the nod, that Cheeky Watson’s union were ready to accept a settlement of 40-million Rand, in return for not being included in the competition. The reports also stated that the Lions-EP Kings would merge their operations for the Super Rugby tournament. But Watson rubbished the reports in the build-up to the final meeting – and all of it proved to be mere mischievous rumour-mongering.
Watson is however not happy with the fact that the Kings have only been guaranteed Super Rugby status for one year only. The bottom South African team in the Super Rugby will play a promotion-relegation match against the Lions at the end of next season, to decide who will play and who sits out the competition in 2014.
Watson, though over the moon that the hard work has paid off, is furious with the one-season only arrangement. Watson believes SA Rugby authorities have already sounded the Kings’ death knell by guaranteeing them a slot for only one season, and are expecting them to do the impossible in their first season – retaining their Super Rugby status.
It is already a late start for the Kings. Sponsors still have to be secured as well as player contracts.
Then there is the all-important management structure, marketing, technical team, etc. – and there are frantic days ahead before the season kicks off. Watson has already lodged a dispute with the SA rugby union with regards to the one-season commitment awarded to the Kings. He believes they need at least two seasons.
Conversely, the Lions are also said to be weighing up their options regarding possible legal action about their non-participation next year.
The Kings are in fact competing in the Currie Cup First Division (a step down from the elite Currie Cup) and frantic efforts are afoot to secure big-name players who can beef up the squad for the major step up to Super Rugby. There is talk that excess players from the Lions might be given the go-ahead to sign up for the Kings.
Western Province’s Demetri Catrekillis is on the verge of signing up and there is talk that the Kings are luring the likes of Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who has come under the tutelage of former Lions assistant coach, Carlos Spencer.
New Kings coach, Matt Sexton, formerly of Canterbury Crusaders has already arrived from New Zealand, while ex-Stormers coach Alan Solomons is head of the technical staff.
Kings supporters are of course cock-a-hoop over the developments – and rightfully so. But many are also realistic, saying the odds are stacked against the Kings to retain their Super Rugby status next season. Can they prove the doomsayers wrong?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.