Kings, Saru set for standoff
16 Jan 2013
The Kings are still hoping to have more than two foreigners available for their debut Super Rugby season.
Current regulations state that all South African Super Rugby teams are only allowed two foreign players in their tournament squad.
Last year, the Kings sent a request to Saru for this restriction to be lifted, which would allow the Eastern Cape franchise to put together a competitive squad, as their current crop of players lack international experience. The plea was rejected.
Earlier this month, the Kings named a 40-man squad, which included five foreigners – French hooker Virgil Lacombe, Argentine flank Tomas Leonardi, Kenyan utility forward Daniel Adongo, New Zealand utility back Hadleigh Parkes and Argentine scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo.
Keo.co.za recently contacted Saru with regards to the Kings’ situation, and the national union confirmed that it has not changed its stance on the foreign player rule for any Super Rugby team.
However, EPRFU president Cheeky Watson still believes there is a chance that his franchise will be accommodated despite there being just four and a half weeks before the tournament kicks off.
‘The matter is still under advisement and is being debated,’ Watson told this site.
In terms of transformation, there are only nine South African players of colour in the Kings’ 40-man squad, which is less than what the EP Kings used during their title-winning Currie Cup First Division campaign (14 players of colour in a 41-man squad).
There are also no players called up from neighbouring unions SWD and Border.
However, Watson said Saru’s handling of the Super Rugby saga last year – which saw the Lions relegated and the Kings’ promotion confirmed in August – put them in a tough predicament.
‘While I agree that the number of players of colour could have been higher, one must remember that there have been a substantial number of challenges to the Southern Kings in the build up to the season, including the way in which the opportunity was finally presented to us,’ said Watson.
‘The short notice we were given meant it became impossible for us to bring back players of colour from other regions as they had already signed contracts with other unions. One must also keep in mind the fact that the majority of players of colour in the other unions come from the Eastern Cape.’
The Kings did manage to lure South African centre Ronnie Cooke to PE after a five-year stint in France with Brive and Grenoble. Cooke was a member of the Baby Boks team that won the U21 World Championship in 2005. The 28-year-old also played for the Leopards, Cheetahs and Griquas before his trip to Europe.
The Kings start their Super Rugby campaign against the Force in PE on 23 February.
Kings 40-man Super Rugby squad:
Forwards – Rynier Bernardo, David Bullbring, Kevin Buys, Cornell du Preez, Jacques Engelbrecht, Jaco Engels, Schalk Ferreira, Boetie Britz, Ross Geldenhuys, Lizo Gqoboka, Virgil Lacombe, Tomas Leonardi, Bandise Maku, Edgar Marutlulle, Mpho Mbiyozo, Darron Nell, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Steven Sykes, Wimpie van der Walt, Luke Watson (c).
Backs – Demetri Catrakilis, Ronnie Cooke, Wesley Dunlop, Siyanda Grey, Johan Herbst, Michael Killian, SP Marais, Scott Mathie, Waylon Murray, Hadleigh Parkes, Sergeal Petersen, Marcello Sampson, Shakes Soyizwapi, Wayne Stevens, Andries Strauss, Elrich van Vuuren, Shaun Venter, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead.
By Gareth Duncan
128 Comments
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16 Jan 2013, 21:45 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-97:
And something special for any ex Lion playing for them?
16 Jan 2013, 21:53 pm
@victoriabok-101: Oh yes, a double pansella would be most appropiate in those circumstances.
16 Jan 2013, 21:55 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-102:
Photoshopped photos of the culprit with Bakkies’ wife?
Blackmail them with photos of them in the shower with John Mitchell?
16 Jan 2013, 22:01 pm
@victoriabok-103: Even better, photos of them shaking hands with Daddy Puke.
16 Jan 2013, 22:02 pm
@victoriabok-100: i didnt think they were sought after but look at the movie “the cove” and you will get the picture bud.
i have stomach churning pic from this week of a long liner i know (have seen him there) from the inhambane area cutting up a dolphin.
apparently they lay their nets in gunjata bay itself, right in the middle of tourism and the lodge operators went out, collected the nets and burnt them on the beach.
the police then arrived and confiscated the lodge operators vehicles, fined them 50,000 mets ( about R13 ,000) and made them buy the fishermen brand new nets.
wnbb would be proud but when the tourists dissapear he will squeal like a shabangu at an anglo christmas party.
16 Jan 2013, 22:12 pm
@The Rangerman-105: Now I want to vomit.
16 Jan 2013, 22:14 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-106: sorry.
16 Jan 2013, 22:15 pm
@The Rangerman-105:
Don’t worry the **** are dying out, their population is aging rapidly, no kids and no immigrants
A steady diet of Whale and Dolphin meat full of heavy metals would do the trick
16 Jan 2013, 22:49 pm
@The Rangerman-96: was it 200 000 “black players” or just registered players?!
16 Jan 2013, 22:54 pm
@Ranger: do you know who at the christmas party used Anglo’s 50yr plan – that they submitted in their application for mining rights – as arsewipes?
17 Jan 2013, 00:38 am
@Transformation-110: You aren’t making sense. You been suiping skokiaan again ?
17 Jan 2013, 08:18 am
Ja transie wasnt it cosatu and their pig allies the anc?
17 Jan 2013, 08:47 am
@Ranger:how far along are Anglo in their “50yr plan”?
17 Jan 2013, 10:42 am
This is a long wankfest over hating someone.
17 Jan 2013, 11:10 am
@skunk-114: yes,
some are weighed down by heavy baggage …
17 Jan 2013, 11:15 am
@skunk-114: Dusky is stuck in the Arctic zones…. Wankfestingwithlikemindedgents is all he has.
17 Jan 2013, 12:37 pm
It is new year and all the hatred continues. Gee, man you would think the Watsons murdered someone when reading some of the stuff here.
Give Cheeky a break, he is bringing something positive in a sea of negativity in EC. He is rebuilding rugby in this region and surely that must be applauded by all except some peeved Lions supporters, which is understandable to a certain extent. He has rolled up his arms and done something positive. Why would someone be agaist that except for reasons other than rugby. If people should be upset then they must vent it with Saru and leave this man and his team do the impossible for the Eastern Cape in 2013 super rugby please!!!
17 Jan 2013, 12:38 pm
I’m supporting Saru all the way on this one.
17 Jan 2013, 13:52 pm
Politicians and sport in South Africa – nothing new. I guess it will always be there considering the legacy of our recent past. It is not ideal but it will always be there unpalatable as it is!!!
17 Jan 2013, 16:49 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-116: I haven’t been with your mom again – so I am not stuck in an Arctic zone.
17 Jan 2013, 16:51 pm
@Transformation-113: Djy suip hom darrie een van die battery acid ne ? Djy maak hom saam die trekker tire ?
17 Jan 2013, 16:56 pm
@Dusky-120:
Nee sies man
17 Jan 2013, 16:58 pm
@Peter Mkata-117:
> leave this man
He runs his big mouth off an any opportunity and we have to shut up?
Bite me
17 Jan 2013, 16:59 pm
@Peter Mkata-117:
> and his team do the impossible for the Eastern Cape in 2013 super rugby please!!!
Oh no it’s possible, cricket scores agains the Entitlement Queens are very possible and actually a reality you have to deal with
17 Jan 2013, 17:03 pm
@Peter Mkata-117:
> He has rolled up his arms and done something positive.
Granted, but he only cleaned up EP Rugby after his fellow comrades stole everything and properly f.ked up the Mighty Elephants
> Why would someone be agaist that except for reasons other than rugby
Because he’s in it for the money, maybe he’s tired of his tenderpreneur activities and want to steal money in a different way
17 Jan 2013, 19:55 pm
@victoriabok-125:
Eish, lost cause. Oogklappies are effective.
17 Jan 2013, 19:59 pm
@Peter Mkata-126:
Just because someone differs from your opinion doesn’t make them racists, communists or aliens
Grow up will you?
18 Jan 2013, 17:26 pm
@Peter Mkata-117:
> He has rolled up his arms
WTF?
What does it mean?
EC slang for rolling a fat one?
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