Today is a big day for SARU as they meet with the five current Super Rugby franchises to discus the supposed ‘guarantee’ to the Kings that they will be playing Super Rugby from 2013.
The meeting, which SARU insist is just part of ongoing discussions to formulate a plan, is in actual fact a meeting that was specifically requested by the five franchises. The final decision as to how exactly the Kings will be included in the Super Rugby campaign will only be made at the AGM of SARU, on 31 March 2012.
News about a letter from the five franchises to SARU, allegedly threatening to boycott the competition should a team find themselves excluded from 2013, was denied by SARU, stating that the letter did not threaten boycott. The matters raised by the franchises in this letter, were as follows:
1. None of the existing franchises shall be prejudiced by such inclusion in any way whatsoever;
2. None of the existing franchises shall be eliminated from the tournament in 2013 or at any stage thereafter as a result of the inclusion of the Kings;
3. SARU, as custodian of the South African leg of the tournament, will ensure that the Kings are included without prejudice to any of the existing franchises.
In the meantime, SANZAR has made their stance quite clear, stating that the current agreement of five teams per nation will only expire in 2015, and that no amendments to this can be made to accommodate another South African team.
Kings boss Cheeky Watson has also been in the news over the last few days, stating that it is not the problem of the union as to which team falls away from 2013, but that they have now been promised Super Rugby, and that is what they expect.
All this will come to some serious conclusion over the next few weeks, and until 31 March, I am sure we will hear a lot more from this bunch.
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BOOOOOO
What a bunch of headless chickens those SARU okies!!!! Going on stage and promising the inclusion of the Kings without any consultation with the other 5 franchises nor the consultation of SANZAR who has to sign off at the end of the day.
Guess what Kings!!! You won’t be playing super rugby in 2013! As soon as they try to exclude one of the existing franchises, they will be dragged to court and there it will be tied up and dragged out untill the super rugby 2013 starts and the Kings won;t be able to participate. I cannot see that any of the existing 5 franchises will take this lying down.
I hope the Big 5 stand firm. I would have no problem with the Kings being in if they had earned the right to be there. Before everyone jumps down my throat about how poor the Cheetahs and Lions have been in Super Rugby I will point out that they are 2 of the better performers in the Currie Cup and are amongst the top 5 teams in SA. That said, the Kings finished second in their competition and have done nothing to justify their inclusion. Sorry, it’s a fact and I’m talking from a rugby perspective, so this has nothing to do with race, politics, bigotry, the price of tea in China, nothing but rugby!
@StevieS (Comment 4) : Well said!
@Die Kriek (Comment 5) : Thanks. Just so sick and tired of everyone bringing race into this discussion. I read a Keo thread (my mistake) and it disintegrated into a racial war of words with some pretty nasty stuff said.
Solution:
Kings to play the worst perfomring SA side in a home and away relegation match.
If they can beat, on aggragate, either of the five franchises, by all means, include them..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : Richard, Richard, Richard! How naieve you are my dear fellow. The solution you have just outlined makes the most sense, is fair and is logical (not to mention brilliant 😉 ), so what makes you think SARU will do that or the Kings will accept it? 😆
Guys, just remember that most of the thing mentioned by stevie (exclusing the tea I china) are not topics we allow here.
You all know what anyway 😉 #justsaying.
@StevieS (Comment 8) :
They won’t accept it, because it doesn’t give the Kings a spot in Super Rugby on a platter, they actually have to work for it..
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Hear, hear Rob. I’m just saying I never want to see them here. I love the fact that we can discuss rugby and only rugby.
P.s. Get your cheque books out, I hear the tea commodities out of China may be moving favourably within the next day or two 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) : Hahaha too true.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) :@robdylan (Comment 9) : I wrote that on the Boots and All facebook page when the whole mess first started. Was hoping that Boots & All presenters would pick up the idea and run with it.
I know it’s a bit out there but how about we all write that suggestion on the Boots & All wall individually. It could be a unified Sharksworld initiative and maybe, just maybe, the good people at SARU would see the sense in it. At least this way whoever gets dropped for the Kings could earn their spot back for 2014 (assuming that the Kings will be in in 2013).
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) :
Best solution…
What has not been mentioned at all about this is that the Cheetahs and Lions suffered terribly by joining up as the Cats …both unions have struggled to come right whereas all other unions had not been affected.
This will drag on and on …its 2012 and STILL SArugby is a circus ..with a bunch of clowns running around doing squat.
Other than finding the next Bok coach what exactly has SARU been upto …seriously !
Not to mention that the Cheetah and Lions had to share the superugby pot.
“Kings boss Cheeky Watson has also been in the news over the last few days, stating that it is not the problem of the union as to which team falls away from 2013, but that they have now been promised Super Rugby, and that is what they expect.”
Lieutenant Watson has spoken (demanded)
How on earth can the Kings expect to do well in SupeRugby if they can’t even make it into the Currie Cup?
Why not use the Top 14 or English rugby as a guide – the top teams in the domestic competition play SupeRugby. Like the European teams get to play in the HCup. Or is that just too much common sense for SNAFU?
Someone sent me an article from another site. (F%^K knows why) but that article mentions that a government decision has been made that only one team per province will be allowed to enter any competition.
With both the Lions and Bulls being in Gauteng I think the Cheetahs are safe from being eliminated from SR.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) :
Saw that too and got me rather into a bad mood …
And thats for all sports ..I wish Goverment all the best with getting that right.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : Does that mean that the Bulls and Lions will have to merge in the future for the Currie Cup??
@ChrisS (Comment 19) :
Across the board.
@csb (Comment 18) : Where did you see that??
@csb (Comment 20) : Madness!!! So a top union has to die basically?? What’s the reasoning????
@ChrisS (Comment 19) : Well that is an interesting question, NOT sure how that would work, but it covers all sports and all competitions.
cricket, soccer, rugby, will APPARENTLY all have to abide and all have problems. (but seeing the website is was from and that it’s not being covered elsewhere I don’t know how much truth there is to it)
it’s going to be interesting forward.
Um…aren’t there something like 8 soccer teams playing in the PSL who are based in Gauteng?
Not a soccer fan by any means, but Wits, Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns immediately spring to mind as being based in the same province.
Hahaha better start buying canned goods and supplies. The riots will be awful once this gets announced! The soccer fans’ “rolling mass action” will make COSATU look like amateurs!
@ChrisS (Comment 22) : And it will beinteresting WHO has to die. LIons are the CC Champs, Bulls have been the S14 champs. So are they going ti kill different ones for different comps? 😆
@ChrisS (Comment 22) :
Couldn’t say ..it is madness but for me very unlikley.
@StevieS (Comment 24) : careful where you’re straying to with that comment.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : Which website?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : This is madness!! The Rookers and Wild Knights (formerly Transvaal and Northern Transvaal senior chess teams) will be livid!!!
And then there are the 56 or so PSL soccer teams based in and around Joburg!!!
@StevieS (Comment 28) : Ask someone else I can’t get myself to mention the name on here 🙂
@StevieS (Comment 24) :
I’m not the sharpest tool when it comes to all the jargon involved ..but how I understand it ..soccer won’t be effected as its privatly owned ..its only provincial representation ..could be wrong.
Apperently cyclying SA has already agrred to it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) :
Must say the SW policy has certaily improved my politcally correct debating in the bar … 😆
@csb (Comment 31) : Can you tell me which website? 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : Just having a good-natured chuckle 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 30) :
😆
@StevieS (Comment 33) :
Here’s a clue its intials are RW ..and Pissant is the boss over there.
The only way I can see the CLUBS getting around this is if they are actually CLUBS entering the competition and not provincial entities, but then are The Lions (Transvaal) and Bulls (Northern Transvaal) clubs or provincial entities?
Clubs IMO.
@csb (Comment 31) : The from what I said above the rugby shouldn’t be involved either. It is SANZAR and that is privately owned?
@csb (Comment 32) :
@csb (Comment 35) : Thanks 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : @csb (Comment 31) : The rugby unions will then have to become private clubs/companies.
They must be given automatic inclusion in the CC next year and have a battle with the worst finishing SA team from this year’s Superugby competition.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I read that same article and things don’t seem very clear cut. It was a decision taken at a SASCOC Indaba and judging from the comments it’s still very vague as to how much of a say they have in Super Rugby.
I think there’s a good chance that the Kings will be losing out on Super Rugby again next year but that’s only my opinion.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 40) : Automatic inclusion in place of whom? Griquas, Sharks, Lions, WP, Bulls and Free State are the only 6 teams in the Currie Cup. Don’t see any of them being removed.
@vanmartin (Comment 41) : Read comment 13. I think promion-relegation is the way to go!! Let them earn their place fairly and they can keep playing the other 5 franchises in pre-season warm-ups to get experience.
Joy, goodbye the Kings, hello the mighty Bulldogs.
@vanmartin (Comment 41) : lets hope so
@ChrisS (Comment 43) : promotion-relegation, sorry! The site wouldn’t let me edit my comment.
@lostfish (Comment 16) : how come my avatar is still generic.
@lostfish (Comment 47) : ‘Coz I’ve only just approved it. 😉 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : thank you. I love your avatar, perfectly captures meisiekind.
@ChrisS (Comment 29) :
No! This is Shaaaaarksssworrrrllld!!! :twsisted:
@csb (Comment 18) : Red Bulls anyone? 😈
guys, I am totally against the inclusion of the Kings. They have not deserved it. But how deserving are the Cheetahs specifically?
They must be the most unprofessional union out there. Do you remember the Mapoe debacle? Rob couldnt even find stats on some of their most high profile ex players for one of his articles. Their stadium is always empty. They have the most amazing players coming through each year, but they lose them every other year. Their stadium is always empty. The Kings played the Pumas last year in front of 50 000. I am being devils advocate here. I do not like Cheeky, but just think of all of this. Maybe the kings would actually be able to market their product better than this club side.
Oh and their stadium is always empty
@csb (Comment 31) : Poor hockey…the inter -prov. tournaments will have about 1/2 the teams 🙄
@jako (Comment 52) : Amazing how many times these second rate Free Staters have handed the Sharks a hiding at both their empty stadium and at our half full one. 😈
@jako (Comment 52) :
I think you being a tad harsh on the Cheetahs …they produce some amazing talent in that region.
But if I’m honest its not the most exciting place to live and given a chance to play for a coastal side the players obviously head for the sea and surf.
Lions have also had major issues with staduims being full and its not just the location of Ellis but the poor showings over the years till last years CC.
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 54) :
And our Mens and Hockey teams are starting to show some real promise finally.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I read that article http://www.ruggaworld.com/2012/02/22/goodbye-lions-hello-kings/
Bulls will have to wear a green, black and gold jersey!
Likely the Lions will get killed off….IMO
Time for change. Go the Kings!
@csb maybe a bit harsh. Its just that there is absolutely nothing exciting about them. They are like a corolla or a jetta, great cars, but they strive to be average. Bloem not a nice place to live? fair. but is Canberra? look what the brumbies have achieved
@salmonoid. Not saying they are not a great team, It is the BRAND that is non existent. The Kings, even though I hate the idea, already have more of a brand
@csb (Comment 57) : 😀 Yes..at last…never easy when you are an amature…mixing work & hockey training and having a bit of social/family life in between.
Been down that path!
@jako (Comment 61) :
Regarding the brand, Ive yet to see a Kings supporters jersey, Ive seen many Cheetahs jerseys.
In my view the Kings connotation and brand is a negative one (to anyone that is not a Kings supporter)
@jako (Comment 61) : You can save some time when replying to a specific post by clicking on the grey arrow at the bottom of the relevant post.
Is that a Dorado?
@Salmonoid (Comment 64) : thanks brother, wow I feel stupid. do you know how long Ive been trying to figure that out
@Salmonoid (Comment 63) : ja, like I said “devils advocate”. I DO NOT LIKE THE KINGS IDEA, it is simply unfair. Ja thats a 14kg Dorado off sodwana. best one I ever got. 😉
@jako (Comment 65) : We have a reader who took more than a year to figure it out. You are WELL ahead of that. 😉
@jako (Comment 66) : You would enjoy Coral Bay in Mozam then if you like your fishing. The guys were getting some beauts off the boats when I was there in December. It’s North of Ponto D’Ouro (spelling?).
@jako (Comment 66) : You live in or near Richards Bay?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 67) : 😆 I remember that great day…how we all rejoyced!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 67) : Is that how you do it? All this time I’ve been putting in the html tags to make it bold and making sure I have the right comment number in brackets 😆 😆
@jako (Comment 66) : pray tell how is the “Kings idea” unfair?
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 69) : 😆 Where is bergshark when we are talking about him 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 71) : Because nobody likes the kings!
In fact, in general, people dislike the kings more than they dislike the Lions. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) :
Now Greg has made a confession too ❗ Comment 70….. 😆
@Greg (Comment 70) : 😯 how long have you been posting like that ❓ !!!
@Greg (Comment 73) : noyce 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 67) : Umm try 2 with me. Always learning….
@Greg (Comment 73) : try and prove “fairness” chap 😆
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 74) : 😆
@Caratacus (Comment 76) : 😎
@Caratacus (Comment 76) : 😀
@jako (Comment 65) : 😎
@jako (Comment 66) : :cool:, Sodwana is one of my most favourite places on earth….the whole Maputaland coast actually.
@Megatron (Comment 77) : I don’t need to, we are playing super rugby, and we are the Currie Cup champions, you are neither! 😆 😆
@Greg (Comment 83) : touche’ 😛
@jako (Comment 52) : Cheetahs manage to compete in the Currie Cup unlike the Kings who couldn’t even crack it