Return of the King
17 May 2011
SA Rugby magazine reveals how Luke Watson’s move to the EP Kings transpired and his reasons behind it.
Watson returning was not a predetermined Kings plan. Luke’s decision to go to the Kings was self-made and self-motivated and it had nothing to do with his father, Cheeky, being the president of the EPRFU. The drive to get Luke to Port Elizabeth came from Kings director of rugby and head coach Alan Solomons.
‘He is a brilliant player and those who have played with him speak about his exceptional and inspirational leadership and about his ability to make things happen,’ said Solomons before approaching Luke.
‘I had heard so many good things about Solly’s passion and love for the game that it only made the decision [to join EP] easier,’ says Watson in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, which goes on sale this week. ‘Once I met him I felt even more comforted that we shared an idealism for what the Kings should represent and a practicality about what they have to achieve as a team and a region.
‘I am not back in South Africa to prove anything to anyone or to myself. I am in Port Elizabeth to make a contribution, to a team, to a region and ultimately to
a country.’
Also in the new issue:
– Keo on why Rassie Erasmus will benefit from being with the Boks
– Why Francois Hougaard should replace Bryan Habana in the Springbok side
– Jaque Fourie’s communication skills and size set him apart from the rest
– Duane Vermeulen puts fear into opponents’ hearts
– Kieran Read capped off an outstanding 2010 season by being named New Zealand’s Player of the Year, But his sights are set even higher in 2011
– In a year and a half, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has transformed the Reds from also-rans to Super Rugby title contenders
– Quade Cooper on the Reds’ revival, his attacking innovations, and the battle for the Wallabies No 10 jersey
– The Mobile Eye device has given goal-kickers like James O’Connor a new perspective
– How the University of Cape Town broke their Varsity Cup curse
– Rudi Coetzee has justified Perpignan’s decision to sign him from bankrupt Bourgoin
– Ruan Pienaar’s stint with Ulster has given him a harder edge
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259 Comments
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18 May 2011, 14:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-250: Ha ha Transie, name calling will not get you anywhere! And what exactly did the “Kings” do to earn sponsorships? Now it’s the administrators who earn your drivel? Why don’t you answer the question? Why should the Kings be entered into Super Rugby at the expense of the Cheetahs, or any other SA team. What have they done to deserve that? Have they got the neccessary sponsors? You are going around in circles my friend, and then you try and bulldoze your argument through by calling people names, and by “fracking” Ha ha! Sorry Bud, your AA arguments won’t beat logic!
The kings are welcome to play Super Rugby, but not at anybody else’s expense, unless they work their way up through to CC , and then if implemented Promotion/Relegation!
Anything else is not a rugby solution, it’s politics!
18 May 2011, 14:27 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-250: Lol… Megatron, you need to take your own advice: “but inane derisive comments will get that treatment all the time.”…
Talking about administrators, EP hasn’t been too notable for its administrative success the past couple of what… decades?
How does it go, lets pass the parcel of team names – “Mighty” elephants, Spears, Kings… Just to name a few.
How much dosh has been pumped into the “hotbed of black rugby” only to suddenly transmute into Benzies, one or two houses (non-RDP) or just vanish into sweet thin air…
Cheetah4eva has called your bulldust and it is excellent that every victory for the Toyota Cheetahs is a big up yours for the muddled mess that is SARU and all the Cheeky lackeys…
Just one word for the corrupt: VRRRRRRYSSSSSSTAAAAAT!!!
You may take that as meaning “fark you”!!!
18 May 2011, 14:48 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-252: Ashleigh Johnson, last weekend’s hero – Captain of the Spears ; Rory Duncan – last man to lead the Cheetahs to silverware – Captain of the Kings; Kabamba Floors, Bevan Fortuin – Sprinfbok “Cheetahs” players of colour – we all know where they are really from; Fabian Juries, Lionel Mapoe; Jongi Nokwe the list goes on. I’m not sure the Cheetahs can name one player of colour that has represented them at the highest level that has not had their roots in the EC.
So if you want to talk politics, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, the only politics is the laager mentality that has protected a bunch of underperforming embarrasing teams for years.
Australia has included the the force and the Rebels to rxpand the game; every section of a very large country is represented by a team. Thats why the game will expand and grow. But in SA we have the 2 whipping boys of Super rugby within spitting distance of each other and no representation between Kokstad and Mossel Bay. Must be a genius who thinks the country is represented or that there are no players or suppporters in that area. Go figure.
18 May 2011, 15:06 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-245:
Looks like the English Premiership coaching hierarchy and G.Henry are finally singing off the same hymn page, Lord Barry
now everyone thinks Our Wayne is incompetent. How on Earth that cretin, ****’erill and his mate, O’Conner, have repeatedly got away with their filth-laden attacks on various referees this & last season is beyond me. B.Venter gets banned for 10 weeks, for far less, whilst these 2 idiots remain on the sidelines. The tails wagging the dog and bringing rugbys previously good reputation down to the lowest football denominator.
18 May 2011, 16:15 pm
@Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-251: @Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-251: @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-252: no need for all this frothing at the mouth boys
SARU hasn’t said anywhere that the Cheetahs will be replaced so where does Cheetahs4eva’s anxiety stem from? hahaha
18 May 2011, 16:22 pm
cheetahs4eva: your first comment on this thread #31 was derisive & insulting to the EP Kings, why?
What have the Kings done to you?
19 May 2011, 08:24 am
@kevin w(kevin w)-253: Ha Ha Kevie, clearly you haven’t been around long!! We can actually give you quite a comprehensive list of greaat players that played their rugby in the Free state. Born and bred too!
That wasn’t the point, nor was the argument based on who comes from where! The debate was around the supposed concept of letting the Kings, who fail to even gain promotion to CC Premier division, entry to Super rugby at the expense of an existing franchise, as has been bandied about!
Just a quick list off the top of my head!
Andre Venter, Brendan Venter, Reuben Kruger, Jannie de Beer, Gysie Pienaar, Pieter Muller, Helgard Muller, Adriaan Strauss, Michael Claasens, Henry Honiball (I know born in Natal)
So stop making a toffee out of yourself, you may get chewed on! Ha Ha
22 May 2011, 15:29 pm
He is still, and always will be, a **********
22 May 2011, 15:30 pm
@Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-257: The baby Boks even beat them the other day.. the same team that is not featuring in a tournament because the KINGS replaced a NATIONAL team? WTF????
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