EP Kings in big trouble

[saulan]

So they haven't paid their players AGAIN and now players are allowed to tear up their contracts legally. Tim Whitehead just left and it looks a bit like the sharks (figuratively speaking, not the actual team) are waiting for a bloodbath of tearing away that teams best talent. I really question if they are going to be ready for Super Rugby next year...
http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/69935-kings-facing-player-exodus
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/whitehead-quits-kings-20151112

 

[TRF_heineken]

Yeah, this is going to get ugly.

I see Die Son reported on Sunday, that Mourad Boudjellal is interested in maybe buying the kings, but his demands are such that it would never happen.

I think the other 5 Franchises should snap the guys up and let the Kings suffer.

 

[saulan]

Yeah, this is going to get ugly.

I see Die Son reported on Sunday, that Mourad Boudjellal is interested in maybe buying the kings, but his demands are such that it would never happen.

I think the other 5 Franchises should snap the guys up and let the Kings suffer.

Boudjellal made some ridiculous demands. He wanted SARU to take all of the Kings debt, a Springbok test each year at both Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Toulon and to receive all of the revenues from the gate. Southern Hemisphere provincial rugby is not private and this was never going to fly. Especially because the SARU constitution also does not allow any outside interests in owning a majority share of South African provincial teams.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Complete and utter mismanagement. Too many hands dipping into the pot before dinner time.

The Kings were never going to compete for a top spot but now they may end up not competing at all. The Pumas can feel hard done by IMO. The sad thing is the region holds so much potential or at least one would expect so; biggest black 'rugby' population, great stadium, PE is just a bigger sentra than the Cheetahs... but alas for their bereaucrats.

 

[TheOvalBall]

Cheeky paying his son Luke R4 million a year for basically nothing, has come back to haunt him and the Union.

 

[smartcooky]

Complete and utter mismanagement. Too many hands dipping into the pot before dinner time.

The Kings were never going to compete for a top spot but now they may end up not competing at all. The Pumas can feel hard done by IMO. The sad thing is the region holds so much potential or at least one would expect so; biggest black 'rugby' population, great stadium, PE is just a bigger sentra than the Cheetahs... but alas for their bureaucrats.

Some of us right here on this forum have been saying from the get-go that a sixth South African franchise was a mistake, although not for these specific reasons.

Its probably too late for 2016 now, but this might be an opportunity to have what really should have happened in the first place, a second Argentinian team.

 

[saulan]

Some of us right here on this forum have been saying from the get-go that a sixth South African franchise was a mistake, although not for these specific reasons.

Its probably too late for 2016 now, but this might be an opportunity to have what really should have happened in the first place, a second Argentinian team.

Agreed, I am more than happy with just five SA teams. However, after SARU fought tooth and nail to get another SA team in the SR, I doubt they would surrender it so easily.

 

[Bruno_ARG]

As much as I would love another Argentine team in the SR, I don't think we have the proper amount of high class player to accomplish that, at least not yet. Perhaps the mistake was choosing the Kings, but another SA non-SR team.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Some of us right here on this forum have been saying from the get-go that a sixth South African franchise was a mistake, although not for these specific reasons.

Its probably too late for 2016 now, but this might be an opportunity to have what really should have happened in the first place, a second Argentinian team.

We all know the Kings won't compete. Its a political thing not a rugby thing. I don't think it'll effect the competitiveness of the 5 'traditional' SR sides at all, if anything the Kings feed into those teams rather than the other way around. The Kings are something we all just have to accept and carry and the region does produce the players but for very poor administration at the top. The problem for SA rugby is we are unable to retain a great many of our top players (at their peak).

 

[TRF_heineken]

We all know the Kings won't compete. Its a political thing not a rugby thing. I don't think it'll effect the competitiveness of the 5 'traditional' SR sides at all, if anything the Kings feed into those teams rather than the other way around. The Kings are something we all just have to accept and carry and the region does produce the players but for very poor administration at the top. The problem for SA rugby is we are unable to retain a great many of our top players (at their peak).

The Kings are the definition of Politics and Corruption in Sport.

The way they are going about is just laughable, and I wonder why everyone is leaving except the management team, their CEO or their Financial Director.

They have such a big pool of players to pick from, and could become a real force in SA Rugby like in the old days, but the malpractice going on there is driving them into the ground.

If anything, the other 5 franchises will benefit from getting better players for their positions where they might struggle in depth. Tim Whitehead for example, is a pretty decent centre, and I think the Cheetahs should look at getting him to boost their midfield.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

What the EP Kings could've looked like had they been able to retain their local players:

1 (I don't really keep tabs on where our props are from)
2 Scarra Ntubeni
3
4 Jacques Potgieter
5
6 Siya Kolisi
7 Ryan Kankowski
8 Dewald Potgieter
9 Rory Kockott / Jano Vermaak
10 Elton Jantjies / Johan Goosen
11 Lwazi Mvovo
12 Jan Serfontein
13 Lionel Mapoe / Paul Jordaan
14 Akona Ndugane
15 Odwa Ndungane

 

[AAndre]

The motivation for the founding of the team was flawed. This whole thing was driven, fanatically, by a few misguided people. It does not follow, that if there is a large demographical concentration of people, that a sport should flourish in that area. If it was so, then Soweto, should have produced many a fine player. Prior to the NMM (no more money) stadium was built, it was the "Boet". I'll bet it's the same old crowd, now relocated. Port Elizabeth does not have the money to have a team in the Super whatever. The KINGS DOG WON'T HUNT. Whatever way you look at it. Just another embarrassment for South Africa. "We took valuable lessons from our loss". Lord help us.

 

[AAndre]

When they started this thing, as the "Spears", anybody with an iota of sense knew it would never work. Cheeky, his misbegotten spawn and some politicians tried a quick one. The Watsons, were never quite good enough and had to buy, "schenaaive", lie and cheat their way in. Maybe they'll be into politics next. The Kings should be excluded prior to them embarrassing our country. Who will stop, whatever he is doing, to watch the Kings vs. the Crusaders, as the outcome is foregone. Only the score is missing. I prefer watching my grandson's school rugby, at least the kids have enthusiasm. Voertsek Kings!

 

[TRF_heineken]

9 Players have signed for the Kings:

SP Marais
James Hilterbrand
Jurgen Visser
Stefan Watermeyer
JC Roos
Caylib Oosthuizen
Mark Richards
Louis Fouche
Carel Greeff

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/9-players-join-cash-strapped-kings-20151117

Louis Fouche and Jurgen Visser's contracts weren't renewed at the Bulls, so they were Free Agents without a union after the Currie Cup. It would make sense that they would sign for the Kings because no other team wanted them and they have Super Rugby Experience. I just wonder why they would do that, playing and not getting paid is very amateurish... Although Visser and Fouche are both on amateur level IMHO.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Marais and Roos are the only players I'd have been interested in. Roos more for his 'potential' than actual 'playing CV'. Those 9 don't make up what they've lost so far though; quality > quantity. But beggars can't be choosers. And its not as if the other unions have been able to keep a hold on their players against the NH; money talks.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Marais and Roos are the only players I'd have been interested in. Roos more for his 'potential' than actual 'playing CV'. Those 9 don't make up what they've lost so far though; quality > quantity. But beggars can't be choosers. And its not as if the other unions have been able to keep a hold on their players against the NH; money talks.

The only guy I rate in that group is Caylib Oosthuizen. He has been Os Du Randt's protegè at the Cheetahs, and then went to the Lions, where he struggled because of his size and the style they play.

He's a straight swop for Lizo Gqoboka who has been snapped up by the Bulls (which I hope it means that Dean Greyling won't play).

But yeah, they went for quantity, which is the last thing they should be doing, as they need to get quality players in if they want to at least win one game in the new tournament.

 

[smartcooky]

Carel Greeff

Related at all to former Springbok full back Werner Greeff??

 

[TRF_heineken]

Related at all to former Springbok full back Werner Greeff??

I don't know. Greeff is a reasonably known surname in SA. It's possible that they are related, but I haven't seen or read anything to either confirm or deny relation.

 

[BakkiesBokke]

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/saru-bails-out-kings

It pains me that it has come to this. The whole thing has been a disaster. Who knows what team we will be putting out in the opening game?!

 

[TRF_heineken]

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/saru-bails-out-kings

It pains me that it has come to this. The whole thing has been a disaster. Who knows what team we will be putting out in the opening game?!

For the sake of South Africa, I hope SARU doesn't give Cheeky a lot of freedom. If SARU is in charge, I'm sure they will work within a structure that is to the benefit of the Kings, and more importantly South African Rugby.

I would very much like to see what is going to happen here...