Kings stay confident
27 Oct 2009
EPRFU president Cheeky Watson tells SA Rugby magazine why the Kings can be a Super Rugby success.
What players have you recruited in the past few months since playing the British & Irish Lions?
De Wet Barry has been playing for EP in the Currie Cup First Division, while we have also signed Jaco van Schalkwyk, who has returned from Roma in Italy. We have brought in promising Sharks loose forward Warren Whiteley, as well as guys who hail from this region, such as flyhalf Wesley Dunlop – who came from the Sharks Academy – wingers Rocco Jansen [Bulls] and Howard Noble [Cheetahs], as well as former UCT fetcher Enoch Panya. We have started the building process without hampering the director of rugby’s plans, as he obviously has players he wants to sign.
Why haven’t you announced a director of rugby yet?
It’s basically confirmed that Alan Solomons will take the role, we are just waiting for Sanzar’s confirmation of the 15th franchise. We can only clarify it then. It’s a similar situation regarding the players we hope to sign, as they can only advertise themselves once we officially have a Super Rugby franchise. All our planning is being done as though we are 100% certain that we will become the 15th team in Super Rugby. [Assistant coach] Robbie Kempson is with us on a full-time basis, and he’s in constant contact with Solly. Gareth Wright has come on board as our kicking coach and will be handling technical issues. Solly will make changes in the future, but he will be coming into a stable environment.
There has been much in-fighting between the rival groups for the Melbourne franchise. How does that strengthen the Kings’ Super Rugby bid?
It does give us a sense of optimism, but I don’t like to comment on their issues. We
must also bear in mind that there are some wily people in Australia, and you never know if they are just throwing out a red herring, or whether there is genuine dissension and dissatisfaction among the parties.
The appointment of an MD is also crucial in the process of getting the Kings up and running. How’s that going?
That process is at a sensitive stage, and I imagine it will be someone within the system here – we are not trying to reinvent the wheel. It will be someone who has the total support of the rugby community here, as well as someone who the general rugby public will be happy with. That person will have aggressive business principles and will be given leeway like never before, as we are embarking on a fresh start.
The Kings have aspirations of playing in next year’s Currie Cup Premier Division. Can you see that happening?
We are still discussing that with SA Rugby, but I can’t imagine there would be any resistance. About 20 years ago, the Currie Cup was rearranged to bring Natal in, when they were known as the Banana Boys. The Sharks have never looked back, and we all know how successful they are as a franchise. It’s vitally important for the success of this region that we have a franchise playing in the Currie Cup, so SA Rugby will have to think out of the box. The three unions – EP, Border and SWD – will also have to be happy to let their stars play for the Kings in the Premier Division.
Have you managed to secure any major sponsors, to ensure the sustained success of the Kings franchise?
With the current turnaround in EP rugby, there is tremendous business confidence within the region. At one of our recent matches against SWD at the EPRFU Stadium there was the biggest crowd seen in 10 years – 8 000 fans turned up. There is a lot of interest, but obviously the big sponsors which are really going to turn things around and get us on an even footing will only come to the fore once the franchise is granted.
By Grant Ball
– This article first appeared in the October issue of SA Rugby magazine
24 Comments
27 Oct 2009, 08:54 am
A bit of a nothing interview.
27 Oct 2009, 08:57 am
I am so excited at the prospect of the E Cape getting a franchise….go Cheeky!!!
27 Oct 2009, 09:04 am
Is this mag out?
27 Oct 2009, 09:05 am
oh wait I have it
27 Oct 2009, 09:33 am
Funny how all the in this supposedly “Transformation orientated” team are white…De We barry=White, Robbie Kempson=White, Jaco Van Schalkwyk=White, CHEEKY WATSON=WHITE!!!!
WTF is up with these people, if you want to do transformation, bloody well do it. But don’t say its all about bringing in more blacks and then have only frigging whites coming in…
So Silly…
27 Oct 2009, 09:59 am
#5 ThaiCheetah: clearly you didn’t reald luke watson’s transcript from his illicitly recorded @ the Ubumbo Rugby Club…if you did you wouldn’t gaaning aan like you are…
27 Oct 2009, 10:27 am
cheeks the only way into super rugby is to rejoin with the Sharks – the King Sharks.
27 Oct 2009, 11:22 am
There’s no doubt about it,the SWD+EP+Border need this team,but let them crawl in the CCup first before you let them run with the big dogs in the S15.Throwing them in at the deep wont work as they will certainly be woodenspooners for a good couple of years.Not too long ago the Bulls were in that situation.But look what happened once Heyneke eventually got the blue machine running in top gear…it didnt happen overnight and Cheeky them should be prepared to work for their place amongst SA Rugby’s elite teams.
27 Oct 2009, 12:46 pm
Cheeky is on the right path here, its all about the money,, money get you the players, money gets you the team required to be competitive, we need a draft system. I think playing in the CC will help, however shouldn’t be the measurement, to measure their success. Lets get past our provincialism and support SA rugby, we still have the CC to support our regional sides..
About time the Lions and the Cheetahs became one again give the space to the Kings, hell they couldn’t do any worse for the 1st year the Lions and Cheetahs have been down there for years even with all the money available to them .
I think SARU has a responsibility to get rugby down to the Eastern Cape it is really the only potential growth area for the sport,
27 Oct 2009, 14:29 pm
5. ThaiCheetah : you are whats wrong with SOME people in SA !!
I have to ask does transformation mean non white involvement only ? thats ridiculous transformation begins with attitude my friend and should also begin at grassroots
27 Oct 2009, 15:07 pm
#10 Wezzo777: a lot of non-blacks are in desperate need of transformation!
27 Oct 2009, 15:31 pm
I think the Force greatly damaged Australian rugby. Their viewing numbers are way down because the fourth franchise has weakened all their teams.
Let this be a warning to those who want to create franchise out of thin air. When’s the last time the Kings won the Currie Cup (rhetorical question)? We already have several teams at the bottom of the log on an annual basis, and historically SA teams haven’t been lighting up Super tournaments.
I would suggest including the Kings in the South African conference, with the top 5 teams in the conference moving on to the rest of the competition. However, they should not get financial support from SARU, otherwise they could weaken the other SA teams.
27 Oct 2009, 16:04 pm
#12 coherence:
Is that a fact?
That the Force is the reason audiences in rugby in Aus is down?
Or is it just your opinion?
Rugby in Western Australia (Perth) is not nearly as strong in playing numbers and viewing audience for rugby as it is in the SEC.
And your final paragraph…
So all other franchises and unions should get financial support, grants and profit from SA Rugby (as they do) but not the Kings?
makes a lot of sense that.
27 Oct 2009, 16:14 pm
Not another we demand article and comments. The Lions will be a force to contend with next year and by signing **** Muir it shows the commitment of the GLRU TO PUT THEIR SHIP IN ORDER.
As for the Kings, well ask yourself why is the Eastern Cape not the powerhouse they used to be. The answer is simple, corruption and mismanagement of their funds, and some of you want to give them more money.
Ok Cheeky, so you want to transform and empower the EP rugby stating that there is a load of talented players in the area. Prove it and only use local BLACK players next year and not one whitey, if they win I will gladly say I am sorry for doudting your intentions.
27 Oct 2009, 16:23 pm
#14 Wanderer:
Heard the same thing from the Lions and WP for 5 years now…
Next year they will turn a corner…
And I will remind you, the Lions are as guilty of mismanaging funds as EP. Kevin de Klerk, the guy you now call president of the union ordered an independent audit 2 years ago.
The union could not even produce financial statements.
And if selecting only local black players will endear you to the Kings, then only local, demographically correct players chosen by all the other unions should endear you to them as-well.
27 Oct 2009, 16:23 pm
The main reason why audience numbers in Australia are down is because their top teams are not nearly as succesful as they used to be. Is it a coincidence that the decline of the Waratahs and Brumbies occured around the same time the Force was included?
“So all other franchises and unions should get financial support, grants and profit from SA Rugby (as they do) but not the Kings?”
In that case I would suggest that the Kings get support proportional to their stay in the competition. If they are able to make it past the first round of the Super 15, then they should get as much support as the other teams that make it past the first round.
Having said this, how much does SARU support top five unions compared to how much they support SARU?
Whose supporters are filling the stadiums during the Super 15 and Currie Cup to generate the revenue in the first place? Isn’t it more the case of the top five unions helping SARU, than the other way around?
On the other hand, PE doesn’t even have enough local support for their team to make it past the Currie Cup first division. Now, if they are in the same class as the Lions and the Cheetahs (which I doubt), then this should manifest itself if they are include in the South African conference.
27 Oct 2009, 16:27 pm
#16 coherence:
A study done by Australian rugby no-where lists the creation of the Force as any possible reason for the decline in numbers and revenue.
So yes, it is coincidence.
SARU negotiates TV rights deals, money is distributed proportinally amongst participating franchises.
SA Rugby as a whole contributes to the viewing numbers. To which SA Rugby and its SANZAR partners negotiate.
The fact that we had 3 franchises in the bottom half of the Super rugby comp every year never compromised this. Nor should the inclusion of the Kings change this at all.
27 Oct 2009, 16:33 pm
@Pissant, At least the Lions are not bankrupt and the same KDK is at the helm of the GLRU.
I would support any naturalized born South African playing for the Lions, white and black. My point is let the Kings play CC next year and see if they get past the play offs then scream for a place in the S15.
27 Oct 2009, 16:39 pm
#17 PissAnt:
“A study done by Australian rugby no-where lists the creation of the Force as any possible reason for the decline in numbers and revenue.”
What factors are listed in the study? Is a decline in the performance of their top Super teams included? If this factor is not taken into consideration, then they have missed a trick.
It’s obvious that poorer results by the Waratahs and the Brumbies are a big factor in reduced revenue. They used to regularly make the finals, and sometimes win the competition. Now they can’t even make the semifinals.
If the decline of the Brumbies and Waratahs is at all considered a factor for reduced audience and revenue, then this is the equivalent of the Force being a factor. Other Australian teams would be performing better if their talent hadn’t been diluted.
“SA Rugby as a whole contributes to the viewing numbers.”
I would argue that this statement is naive. The worse the Super 14 teams perform the less people are going to watch them. If you have statistics disproving this, I would be glad to see them. However, I consider it to be obvious that revenue is related to performance on the field.
If the Super 14 teams don’t perform, where’s the money going to come from?
27 Oct 2009, 19:21 pm
#18 Wanderer:
What do you class as bankrupt?
Normal balance sheet calculations where your income is less than your expenses?
Then you might be in for quite a surprise…
#19 coherence:
What is naive is that you seem to think poor performance has a massive influence on actual revenue generated.
It is a factor, of course, but not as massive as you might think if we apply simple logic that SA has at best, one team in the top 4 since the competition’s inception, where NZ has 2 even 3.
Yet our numbers even per in relation far exceeds theirs.
The study was done by people who do brand health checks, people much more clever than me.
They check the popularity of the brand, why it works, why it does not work.
These guys get paid not to miss tricks, that is left for naive supporters.
27 Oct 2009, 21:57 pm
# 16 coherence, suggest you read the piece again, Cheeky even made comment about the biggest crowd in 10 years being 8000 this might sound insignificant to you, however in the context of EP rugby this was amazing, the reason for the increase was directly due to the change of attitude during the CC 1st div season (not form the start) Cheeky got business involved, class players & coaches to turn out. If you want to talk about wavering crowd numbers, look at Coca Cola Park 12 year of nothing, I was at the Shark tank for the semi-final against the Cheetahs it was sad to see the small turn out.. so don’t be naïve to say EP doesn’t have the crowds, they have the crowds the just don’t have the side at the moment, even the bulls suffer when their big stars are out of the competitions there are often tens of thousands empty places. However with SARU’s commitments they can expect to have quality rugby at the new PE stadium soon and when I get down to PE I’d be glad to go around & watch it there.
27 Oct 2009, 22:02 pm
Almost like interviewing Piet Snor:
“Gareth Wright has come on board as our kicking coach” LoL
“We must also bear in mind that there are some wily people in Australia, and you never know if they are just throwing out a red herring”,
And the star players ….
27 Oct 2009, 22:50 pm
#20 PissAnt:
SA has better numbers than Aus and NZ because there is more inherent demand for rugby in the region. This is the same reason the top five unions in SA can outspend the smaller unions – because there is more inherent demand for rugby in their cities.
When I say performance is an important factor in revenue, I am applying this statement with respect to a constant team, or group of teams, with respect to time. Therefore the inherent demand is irrelevant because the team, or group of teams, are a constant. Performance is the main important factor, because this is the cause for changing revenue over time.
By increasing the number of teams, you do not increase the inherent demand much, because there isn’t much more demand in PE compared to the five other cities. However, you might reduce performance if you reduce the talent available to the original five teams. On the other hand, if Australia gets an extra team it may significantly increase performance (while keeping inherent demand about the same). The Lions and Cheetahs might win twice as many games as a result!
@ Thistle
I didn’t read the article because I don’t see why I should care what Cheeky Watson has to say. However, you have just supported my point by saying 8000 was the biggest crowd PE has had in 10 years. It just shows you how little demand there is in the city.
2 Nov 2009, 13:43 pm
if the region can’t compete in the 1st division of the curry cup, how are they going to compete in the super 14. Surely if there is any business logic behind the franchise, you concentrate your money and effort into showing that you are capable of making the ABSA cup premier division first and then put effort into making the super 14? I’m not seeing any of the home grown talent they always speak off?? I understand that the Southern Kings wont be made up from just EP players, but none of the other franchises in the area that will hopefully contribute players, is any better. Prove you can compete locally first so you dont embarrass yourself internationally.
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