Saru denies Kings request
27 Jan 2013
Saru has turned down the Southern King’s request to include five foreigners in their Super Rugby squad.
At the beginning of January, the Kings named a 40-man squad including five foreigners. Kings officials were, at that point, adamant that Saru would bend the rules and allow South Africa’s newest franchise to field all five players.
But according to Rapport, Saru has officially turned down the Kings’ request, and they will only be allowed to play two foreigners in the coming Super Rugby competition.
The foreign recruits are Tomas Leonardi and Nicolas Vergallo (both Argentina), Daniel Adongo (Kenya), Virgile Lacombe (France) and Hadleigh Parkes (New Zealand). It is believed Adongo is considering taking out South African citizenship.
Kings president Cheeky Watson said that the Eastern Cape franchise had not been officially informed about Saru’s decision.
‘If this is the case, we will accept and abide by the decision of SA Rugby. We know that the region has never been fed with a silver spoon, and have no reason to expect any different going into our debut Super Rugby season,’ Watson said.
‘The path for this region to get a Super Rugby franchise has been fraught with challenges, and yet, despite all the odds, we have overcome them and Super Rugby is a reality, with our first game against Western Force less than a month away.
‘We accept that this opportunity comes from a loaded deck of cards, but the bigger the challenge, the bigger the task, the bigger the team and the overall success.
‘We will not be releasing any of our foreign players, however, as there are still ample opportunities within our structures for them to contribute.’
303 Comments
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27 Jan 2013, 09:19 am
no issue we shall moer alles regardless.
27 Jan 2013, 09:49 am
Fair call!!! The whole drive behind the Kings is transformation and exposure of that region so whats the point filling a already predominantly white team into a foreighn one too.
27 Jan 2013, 10:00 am
These entitles political harlots just hired 3 mercernaries who will be playing Vodacom cup rugby – LOL what a waste of money.
So instead of SARU bending the rules it will be Cheeky bending over to pay these foreigners.
27 Jan 2013, 10:36 am
I think the 2 Argentinians are the most needed & should be included in the squad.
Yip, play the other 3 in the Vodacom Cup & keep them active & in reserve as potential cover for injuries to the 2 Pumas.
Is there a foreign player limitation applicable to the July/Aug Super Rugby promo play-offs? If not, all 5 of them (or those of the 5 still fit & in form) come the play-offs, could conceivably be in the match-day squads for the play-offs. Whilst the 1st season in Super Rugby will be a very important learning experience opportunity for the Kings, one cannot realistically expect more than 2 or 3 victories for the Kings in their 1st season. That will almost certainly not be enough to spare them the wooden spoon. That makes the play-offs the most important games of the season for the Kings – everything is a progression towards that crescendo – and as said, depending on the play-off rules all their foreigners may be available for the all-important play-offs.
Go Kings!
{Keo/Tank can you establish & advise the promo play-off rules regarding these 5 foreign players? Thx}
27 Jan 2013, 10:37 am
Looking at those foreign recruits mentioned in this article….
No team was worried even if they fielded all of them.
Keep those oranges fresh….
27 Jan 2013, 12:02 pm
Why are important issues like these, left to the last minute it seems. This habit of putting the cart before the horse seems to be a trait amongst the Rugby administrators in the Republic.
27 Jan 2013, 12:02 pm
What idiots.
Can’t blame SARU for telling them to shove it. If this is how they run a business, they won’t last long.
Here I was hoping the Kings might actually hang on and become at least mildly competitive in a few years. Not when they’re paying big bucks for players they won’t use…
27 Jan 2013, 12:15 pm
Ha! Bunch of plonkers who should never be anywhere near s15. Hope the get pumped up the naught ever game!!! Will be the first time ever I will not give a saffa team a shout……
27 Jan 2013, 12:24 pm
It only a speculation at this point by the Rapport
That rag tag Kings team is a SARU’s creation, so it isn’t clear if they really prevented the strengthening of their own embarrassment ‘brain child’?
It also means that the Kings themselves feel they are so inadequate for the SR level and failed to attract to their roster some meaningful players from the huge SA reservoir.
27 Jan 2013, 12:25 pm
@Te Rangatira-6: Leadership is sorely lacking in SA rugby and other enterprises that are not in private hands.
27 Jan 2013, 12:26 pm
I though Adongo was playing in NZ.
27 Jan 2013, 12:30 pm
@stormer in a teacup-10:
Yes….the same could be said over here, not so much in Rugby but in other enterprises where they play around with money that is not their own…albeit funding from the poor tax payer.
27 Jan 2013, 12:31 pm
Yeah he played a few games for Counties manukau, but really is a B grade player! Plodered around the park but did nothing special, should stick to body building, they don’t gave to catch balls….
27 Jan 2013, 12:31 pm
@hendrikp-7:
The Kings don’t pay from their own pocket, rest assured!
@stormer in a teacup-10:
Embezzlement of funds and theft are not lacking though
27 Jan 2013, 12:32 pm
Yeah he played a few games for Counties manukau, but really is a B grade player! Plodder’ed around the park but did nothing special, should stick to body building, they don’t gave to catch balls….
27 Jan 2013, 12:33 pm
Interesting double up?
27 Jan 2013, 12:33 pm
@stormer in a teacup-11:
How could he possibly ‘play’ if he can’t see the ball?
27 Jan 2013, 12:35 pm
Elton Jantjies dad passed away from a bee sting.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Bee-sting-kills-Jantjiess-dad-20130127
Condolences to the family of course. Terrible thing to happen at such a young age.
27 Jan 2013, 12:36 pm
@Hondo-17: why can’t he see the ball?
27 Jan 2013, 12:37 pm
@whatthe-13:
I thought Adongo went ok with Counties.They certainly needed his bulk…looking back his cleanouts were a little part of the reason they could release their devastating backline
27 Jan 2013, 12:39 pm
@Te Rangatira-20:
He was never going to make the Blues squad, or any other squad for that matter… Probably would’ve had visa issues as well.
27 Jan 2013, 12:40 pm
@hendrikp-18: tragic. I understood he was a big influence in giving the boys the self discipline and levelheadedness that has contributed to their success.
27 Jan 2013, 12:42 pm
Te rangi, interesting you say that. I watched two of his games where he only game on as a sub And I thought he was unfit cause he did nothing! I was specifically watching him…but hey maybe his other games were better?
27 Jan 2013, 12:44 pm
The right decision was made.
Why were these foreign players recruited when the rules said no?
Why did it take so long for SARU to confirm their decision?
Both the KrapKings and SARU could have done better here.
Our rugby administration stinks.
27 Jan 2013, 12:45 pm
@hendrikp-21:
Yes…couldn’t see him break into a Nz Franchise, yet the raw product is there in Adongo for some team to grow and improve on.
27 Jan 2013, 12:48 pm
@whatthe-23:
As the season wore on his fitness improved and he actually started playing eighty minutes….thought he was a good fit for Counties cause they needed his size.For a first season in a foreign comp he did ok.
27 Jan 2013, 12:49 pm
Sad state for the Blues but we could probably have done with Parkes back. I feel bad for the guy, leaves because there’s no room at the Blues, Nonu announces his move south but by then it’s too late because he’d signed with the Kings. Now he may get dumped but it’s too late to join the Blues. He’ll probably be at the Force or Rebels come 2014
@Liewe Luiperd-24: It seemed to me that SARU already made a decision but Cheeky kept trying his luck.
27 Jan 2013, 12:51 pm
@stormer in a teacup-22:
Heard that yes. Feel for the guy.
Definitely no Enver Rose.
27 Jan 2013, 12:53 pm
Cheeky. Always tries his luck. That’s how he rolls and hence his name
27 Jan 2013, 12:54 pm
@gonzo-27:
Parkes will get a bit of game-time I think. Must be next in line behind the Argentinians. Might even see some sort of rotation, as there would be no point having any of them on the bench. I can see Scott Mathie pushing hard for the starting 9 jersey.
27 Jan 2013, 12:58 pm
@gonzo-27:
It is sad for Parkes and the Kings if he doesn’t get on the field. He was starting to hit his straps in the ITM cup and has plenty to offer…
27 Jan 2013, 13:01 pm
my condolences to Elton Jantjies, his family and friends on the loss of his father.
for your sake, if necessary take some time off from rugby, son. it’s just a game and it will be there when you get back.
sterkte voorentoe.
27 Jan 2013, 13:01 pm
I’m afraid that sometimes, when you demand a level playing field, that’ s exactly what you get. Welcome to one-rule-for-all rugby, Kings.
Also, what happens to the three chaps drafted but who won’t make the squad? They’ve left their countries, their families, their rugby careers for Super Rugby. Will Cheeky carry on paying them as though they’re in the squad?
Also, surely Adongo can’t simply “take out SA citizenship” like it’s a library book?
27 Jan 2013, 13:07 pm
@Te Rangatira-25:
Couldn’t agree more.
If Adongo had been born in a Rugby Orientated Nation. Who knows how good he could have been.
27 Jan 2013, 13:15 pm
@cane-34:
hehe…the Henry Rono of Rugby…..Caner
27 Jan 2013, 13:17 pm
@cane-34:
Rugby is not just an expression of athletism.
It is a culture.
And unless you are bred in this culture,
it is more than extremely difficult to excel at the highest level.
Just like soccer,
Just like golf.
………………………………Darts……………………….is that culture?
27 Jan 2013, 13:22 pm
@Te Rangatira-35:
Henry did well enough.
You might be older than I thought Rangi.
27 Jan 2013, 13:22 pm
come on guys, words hurt.
give the guy a break
its his dream, let him believe it
who knows, sometimes dreams come true.
27 Jan 2013, 13:23 pm
@hendrikp-18: a bee sting? Must have been alergic or somethin. Sad news and condolences to Elton and family.
@katman-33: how many times must SARU say no to those harlots.
@cane-34: or we can pull a kiwi trick and poack Kenyan moster babies and send then to guppr academy for a rugby educatuon – coiming toi Lions territiry as the finished product … wait that is arleady happening with Adongo being the first … of many.
27 Jan 2013, 13:37 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-38:
As a young man,
I always dreamed of becoming Brigitte Bardot’s s ex ual plaything.
Dreams………………………………..sometimes……………………….yeah right.
27 Jan 2013, 13:39 pm
@RL-39:
Dreams are free RL.
Reality bites.
27 Jan 2013, 13:39 pm
@RL-39:
Must have been. I’m highly alergic myself. Luckily haven’t been stung for about 15 years.
Last time was when I was living about 30-minutes drive outside Bloemfontein & got pretty close to heading that way myself.
Don’t get that many bees in New Zealand luckily
27 Jan 2013, 13:41 pm
How many saffas living in NZ? Anyone have a number?
27 Jan 2013, 13:47 pm
@Liewe Luiperd-43:
At a rough guess 45,000!
Particularly on Auckland’s North Shore.
27 Jan 2013, 13:47 pm
@Liewe Luiperd-43:
Hmm, must be nearing 50,000.
27 Jan 2013, 13:50 pm
That’s quite a number. Are they welcomed by kiwis? Is it a good life?
27 Jan 2013, 13:51 pm
@Liewe Luiperd-43: more than in Bloem.
27 Jan 2013, 13:52 pm
Millions of Saffas spread out across the globe. A true diaspora.
Estimates put it somewhere between 300,000 to 800,000 in the UK alone.
USA
Canada
Australia
NZ
A bit sad in a way. These people are needed in SA.
27 Jan 2013, 13:53 pm
@cane-40:
never give up on your dreams, Caner.
i think she’s still kicking, who knows…
27 Jan 2013, 13:55 pm
Some nations tend to stick to their heritage proudly. Australians for example. You can always tell an Aussie overseas.
Saffas tend to assimilate, the accent starts to disappear after a while and they seem more likely to inherit foreign customs.
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