Kings confident in Kiwi investment
30 May 2012
Alan Solomons says newly-appointed New Zealand coaches Matt Sexton and Brad Mooar will help create a ‘world-class management team’ for the Southern Kings.
With the promise of Super Rugby participation in 2013, the Kings are already establishing the necessary structures to ensure they will be competitive in their debut campaign.
One of those steps that is nearly completed is the make-up of the coaching staff. Former Christchurch-based coaches Sexton and Mooar have been roped in as head coach and skills coach respectively.
These appointments have been questioned by the public and pundits as they will take charge of a South African team. This is not the first time that the Kings have employed foreign manpower as prop Clint Newland, lock Ross Kennedy (both New Zealand) and wing Paul Perez (Samoa) have featured in previous seasons.
However, Solomons, who is now director of rugby, argued that a squad member’s ability, and not his nationality, should be the main criteria.
‘Rugby is an international sport,’ Solomons told keo.co.za. ‘If you look at the Sharks, they have John Plumtree as a head coach and Frederic Michalak as a player. They come from New Zealand and France respectively. John Mitchell, who is also from New Zealand, coached the Lions to a Currie Cup title. James Haskell, who is from England, is doing very well for the Highlanders. New Zealand coach Laurie Mains also coached the Cats when they were successful in Super Rugby.
‘I’ve coached Matt as a player [at Ulster] and have been in close contact with him during his transition into coaching. He’s done very well and is highly rated at all levels in New Zealand. He’s also a master in coaching set pieces as a former hooker. Brad has worked very closely with Matt, and together, they will help create a world-class management team.’
The Kiwi duo will travel to South Africa on 10 July as they start their respective roles on 15 July, ahead of the EP Kings’ Currie Cup First Division campaign. They will be helped by David Maidza (assistant coach) and Phil Mack (strength and conditioning coach).
‘We will also name two more specialist coaches on Monday and I will also provide input,’ added Solomons. ‘The Currie Cup will help Mike, Brad and the other coaches to settle in. They will also take charge of the Southern Kings in Super Rugby.’
In terms of player recruitment, Solomons revealed the Kings are looking to sign players before next season: ‘We are hoping to sign players with Super Rugby experience. More will be revealed later in the year. We are aiming to be competitive,’ said Solomons.
This brings up the query of what is being done for transformation, which is the main reason why the EP region has been given Super Rugby participation. Solomons stressed that this process has already begun.
‘The sad reality is that our best senior players of colour are playing for other franchises. Lwazi Mvovo is at the Sharks, the Ndungane twins are at the Bulls and Sharks respectively and Siya Kolisi is at the Stormers. If we could get all those players back, there wouldn’t be transformation issues in our senior team,’ said Solomons.
‘Our academy is up and running. Ninety-five percent of those players are from the Eastern Cape, and 55% of them are players of colour. Eight of our juniors have been rewarded contracts this year and five of them are players of colour.’
By Gareth Duncan
286 Comments
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31 May 2012, 09:58 am
@KC(KC)-246: If what you say is correct, then how do they justify dropping the Lions, the area which is been eroded by poofball. If they can explain that then I will be happy. SARU are nothing but yes men, how far do you want my pants around my ankles men, so the politician can give them one.
31 May 2012, 10:00 am
Actually HG ,Kanko,Daniels,Dyzell,Kokkert and Sykes are all from the Eastern Cape.
As is Terror Mthembu,Luwazi Mvovu and Sithole.
31 May 2012, 10:02 am
@KC(KC)-246: So why then does Hoskens, SARU President no less say this: “The reason our organisation took this bold decision to include the Kings in Super rugby is transformation,”
Its got nothing to do with the ignorant sheeple of the EC… It has to do with Govt guarantees for future RWC bids, money for the White Liberation Martyrs of PE, and to look as if SARU is “doing” Transformation…
Whatever the fck it is (I have even asked “experts” such as megatron to define “transformation” in a rugby context and I have never, ever receive a straight, definitive answer… its been a couple of years too)
31 May 2012, 10:04 am
Mark Andrews,Os du Randt,Hennie Le Roux,Andre Vos, all from Eastern Cape
31 May 2012, 10:05 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-207: Like a typical farken waBenzi… When faced with a different and difficult POV then its “kwerekwere mlungu, fuckoff to the nordic regions… if you so “choose… Africa is for Africans”, eh?
31 May 2012, 10:07 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-247: they’re at the Bulls/Lions you numbskull, both Potgieters and the likes of Killian would’ve been in that catchment area.
31 May 2012, 10:09 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-255: you seem to be moaning incessantly like a gerbil is stuck in your arse, so you might get relief up north
31 May 2012, 10:10 am
@mad eye(mad eye)-252: And so… Why does it matter… EC produces rugby players… So do other provinces. Players who grew up in one province do play in other provinces…
What about the many Players who grew up in Gauteng, Lions country, and who are playing for other Provinces or overseas…?
Why is this a zero sum game…
31 May 2012, 10:12 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-257: I have all the relief I need right here… Its called Comic Relief… Laughing at Stupid South Africans, especially those from SARU, EC and Lions….
And best of all lilly liberal self proclaiming progressive Keolings…
I also have a a huge laugh at Sharksworld “experts”….
31 May 2012, 10:12 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-255: we know your kind, big on talk and nada on action…always like laws but only if you get to make them, otherwise you moan incessantly.
31 May 2012, 10:14 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-259: now carry on laughing
31 May 2012, 10:14 am
@umkhonto(umkhonto)-251: i don’t know the answer to your question. perhaps it’s because they’re at the bottom of the table right now, and they need the space.
i’m not saying the way it’s been handled by saru is exemplary
31 May 2012, 10:15 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-256: What catchment area, fckwit?
How do you like your “Black rugby identity” defined for you by SARU Whiteys and White Liberation “Martyrs”?
31 May 2012, 10:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-260: So, what law are we talking about here… The law of “transformation” as manifest in the “inclusion” of the Kings in Super Rugby?
Or is it the law of “Cry racist”?
Or is it the law of “SARU blunder and shoot SA rugby in the foot”…
Luvving this cacophony of fckups and fantastical stories that sheeple swallow hook line and sinker…
31 May 2012, 10:20 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-253: maybe it’s to give the small boy a chance to watch big rugby
i’m certainly no genius when it comes to figuring out what people actually mean when they talk
i think the end motive is good (bringing big rugby to the EC), but the method is influenced by other individual agendas
31 May 2012, 10:22 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-263: you can put all the labels you want on HG, we don’t give a f.uck. moangats like you who know-it-all don’t contribute zilch. feel free to label the Kings anything you want.
31 May 2012, 10:25 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-263: do you even know where Despatch is or you’re just spewing cancerous bile out of your mouth?
31 May 2012, 10:27 am
@KC(KC)-265: It is and will be good to have big Rugby in the EC… The PE crowd is one of the best rugby crowds in SA eg All Black game last year, the Spears vs BI Lions, Venue for SA Sevens… The PE Stadium is a fantastic venue…
The Kings however in their current SARU “Transformative” zero sum game guise is not good for the region or for SA Rugby… SA Rugby says to SA Public to bear with them – they have had since 2005 and before to sort this **** out… Suddenly a decision is made for inclusion that will result in another region losing out. Now thinking people must “bear” with these fckers while lying journos push their connection laden agendas and obfuscate the real issue here: The ineptness and incompetence of a cowardly SARU.
31 May 2012, 10:30 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-266: I label the Kings:
a SARU Verwoedian separate development “Transformative” unsustainable fuckup…
A Big Lie.
Howzat?
31 May 2012, 10:33 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-267: The place where Darling comes from… and Domkrag…among others Toyota Club Championship Legends… Well known “white” team from the Eastern Cape… Quite close to Motherwell, well know “Black” team from the Eastern Cape… All from the one-horse metropolis of Uitenhage, yeah?
You poor dumfck…
31 May 2012, 10:34 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-267: Arguing with Gat is like arguing with a magot.
31 May 2012, 10:44 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-270: so when i mention that the Potgieters & Killian would’ve been in the Despatch catchment why are you acting like a domdoos?
31 May 2012, 10:48 am
Tranny you Keo plant,
There is no defensive argument for the Kings,
if the South African Soccer league comprised of 5 clubs playing in a Tri nations tournament,and regularly gathering crowds in the 20,000 region,at 7 different ,for 15 weeks.
Now along comes a business conglomerate and they decide that what is needed is a white team,but they don’t have one yet.
But they are working at it and on that promise,one of the 5 traditional clubs must drop out and this black/but promised to be white one day team gets automatic acceptance.
How would you feel as an Orlando Pirates fan towards Whitey United
31 May 2012, 10:50 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-272: And all of your codswallop has to do what with my post 247…?
Reach, laaitie, reach….
Noma bepha futhi…
31 May 2012, 11:09 am
Boys, Boys Boys…………..all we hear about is the EP Kings and Southern Kings and Alan Solomons going hell for leather in recruiting Kiwis & Poms in a spending frenzy pre 13 July – when the SARU Executive Council meet to rule on the admission or not, of the Kings in 2013.
Where are the Border players and support staff, where are the SWD Eagles players and support staff or is this one man’s folly of creating an empire built on a promise made by oily administrators who will say anything in front of Parliament to get a smile and a nod and a wink and to lobby for votes for next year.
There is much water to flow and then there will be the tears – so the Kiwis and their families better not pack too soon for PE.
All this hoo-ha lies solely at the door of SARU.
31 May 2012, 11:31 am
H.G are you a very large ex Natal prop,with Zimbabwe roots and a foul temper.
31 May 2012, 12:11 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-276:
no.
he is a very large ex natal synchronised swimmer with grey roots and foul breath.
31 May 2012, 12:12 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-276: Not a prop mal oog… but slight temper…
31 May 2012, 12:14 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-277: Farkoff you neo-colonial cricketing cnut.
31 May 2012, 12:16 pm
Not the man responsible for the 10 minute battle of Kingspark,with the New Zealand Cavaliers then.
You sure as hell sound like him.
31 May 2012, 12:22 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-280: Hehe… Mal oog, you sound like someone awful familiar too…
31 May 2012, 12:29 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-280: Battle of Kings Park – beats the battle of Tucuman hands down… Graham Hefer ran like the wind to the tunnel with Cavaliers chasing him like a swarm of buzzing farken bees
31 May 2012, 12:37 pm
Yeah It is you ,you give these ******** hell here especially the fucken Stormers and the Keo staff moonlighting as posters.
31 May 2012, 12:42 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-279:
31 May 2012, 12:50 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-283: Yeah… its easy to see through these fcukers and their agendas…
Good for a laugh.
31 May 2012, 13:01 pm
Kings will be SA’s version of a mercenary team,and their competitiveness in this competition will rely on how big their wallets are.
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