Representatives of the 14 unions that make up the professional rugby landscape in South Africa will meet this morning to finally vote on the thorny issue of Super Rugby participation for 2013. After a huge amount of to-ing and fro-ing to date, we’re told that it will all come down to a very simple matter this morning – a straight vote as to whether the Southern Kings should replace the Golden Lions in Super Rugby as from next year.
A clear commitment was made earlier in the year that the Kings would be added to the competition roster next year, but since that commitment was seemingly made without having done any sort of due diligence as to its actual feasibility (and given the fact that several similar promises to both the Kings and their predecessors, the Southern Spear, have already been broken), we shouldn’t be too surprised if the voters opt to retain the status quo. There will be fall-out, though and reading between the lines, it seems that SA Rugby are still desperately hoping that the Kings will accept a promise of automatic Currie Cup premier division status, along with a sizeable pay-off, as an alternative to Super Rugby participation next year.
Their management has insisted, though, that they cannot be bought, making such a last-minute deal quite unlikely.
With the Lions currently involved in a nasty spat with both the Pumas and the Leopards over the sharing of Super Rugby revenues, they can be sure that those two unions, at least, will vote against their survival, as will the three unions comprising the Kings franchise, EP, Border and South Western Districts. That leaves eight other unions (assuming the Lions administration can figure out how to tick the right box themselves, which given their track record may be a long shot) free to be lobbied by either side, with SARU head Oregan Hoskins given a tie-breaking vote.
Whatever the result, though, it will be good to finally, finally, have some clarity on this matter after months of speculation and uncertainty.
Tweet
I hope Sharks management have a contract ready for Minnie . . . 😈
@Original Pierre (Comment 1) : I hope that absolutely nobody has a contract at any stage for Mapoe.
I saw in the Beeld Yesterday that there a rumors doing the rounds that the Sharks are interested in Jaco Taute and Alwyn Hollenbach
wonder if the bigger unions will vote according to what players they can buy from the lions.
@Rvw (Comment 3) : Alwyn Hollenbach? Why??
@Rvw (Comment 3) :
Taute maybe, and thats a BIG maybe.. but Hollenbach?? Seriously?!?!
@Rvw (Comment 3) : I also read that, but considered it speculative to the point of not warranting mention.
I LOVE Jaco Taute… it would be amazing to have him on the Sharks books… but where the hell would he play?
Assuming Franshwa is our first choice 12… that leaves Timmo and Tollie to fight it out for 13… already those two are too good to not both be starting. Add Taute at 13 and someone’s going to have to leave.
15 is, of course, worse, with Louis, Tjop and Gouws all in line to play, plus Jaco van Tonder coming into seniors next year as well.
Note I’ve left Lambie’s name out cos he’s a flyhalf.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : Hollenbach… interesting.
I mean, we really don’t need any more centres for Super Rugby. Might be useful as a Currie Cup stopgap assuming Jordaan and Tim become Boks next year.
I don’t see it. He’s not good enough to warrant a spot ahead of one of our youngsters.
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
I don’t think Taute should come to the Sharks.. Honestly..
He is a good player.. but slightly injury prone, and if we are going to back a youngster, it might as well be Gouws..
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
I can’t see Tim and Paul both becoming Boks, it will either, with Jordaan the clear front runner..
So it leaves us with Bosman and Whitehead in the centres, assuming Bosman is still around, and we have a few in the junior ranks who can stop gap at Currie Cup, like Mjekevu, Lindique, Williams etc..
What’s the odds that there will be another postponement on this decision?
Bloody nice to not have a spot for a player like Taute. Wouldn’t have had any debate if he was up for grabs 12 months ago. How things change.
Lions to miss a year, there are loopholes for the players to play for different franchises in the SR, but they will be back for the Lions in 2014….
Nothing spectacular about this don’t know why they could have decided this earlier.
@Original Pierre (Comment 1) : You mean Pat Cilliers. I hope so too!
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : Now that is a sensible suggestion. Other than that, the Sharks could consider possible recruiting an additional scrumhalf, and then our squad is sorted. Nice!
It hasn’t even been decided yet and already you are fighting about our players
How about the Sharks stop buying players and back their youngsters??
Hollenbach is a decent journeyman but he ain’t no De Jongh!
*that one was for you Culling Song* 😉
Are the Lions waiting for the outcome before they announce their team
@Mutley (Comment 16) : Well we can’t have our players be the water boys for the important games
@wpw (Comment 17) : Aw shucks, thanks! It’s nice to know I’m in jour thoughts!!
“De Jongh is a decent journeyman, but he ain’t no JP du Plessis” right back at ya!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : you are right… we definitely shouldn’t buy either player.
I just really like Taute… one of those players I would love to have in the colours.
“There will be fall-out, though and reading between the lines, it seems that SA Rugby are still desperately hoping that the Kings will accept a promise of automatic Currie Cup premier division status, along with a sizeable pay-off, as an alternative to Super Rugby participation next year.”
This looks just wrong. Promising automatic Currie Cup Premier Division status? How will that work? No more play-offs for promotion/relegation? Just kick the Griquas in the groin and shove them aside for the underachieving Kings? Man, that would be a disgrace. If SARU wants South African rugby to remain healthy, they should go back to a 8-team Premier Division, add the Kings and Boland or something, let it play out from there.
Forcing relegation for Griquas is just the most idiotic idea I’ve heard. If Griquas relegate, their players don’t get to play the bigger provincial teams in the Currie Cup, they cannot develop and in the end the Cheetahs Super Rugby franchise will bleed out. They will drop to the lower positions and Free State rugby will be dead.
@robdylan (Comment 21) : I agree. Taute would be a nice addition to our team but don’t ask me where we will utilize him. 😕
Agree with you guys. We`re well sorted at centre, ( except maybe if we can organise a MJ for Taute deal ), but we`re thin at 6 if Botes leaves . . .
Lions out for a year. Oh thank goodness, tired of vloeking and skelling.
@LionsinPTA (Comment 25) : Where did you get that?
lions lions lions….. 🙄
@Original Pierre (Comment 24) : we are centres sorted provided that all are healthy and not with the boks.
with Steyn (and our ing aka centre JP) ith boks, jordaan and hitehead injuried (for I do not know which time this year) we have meyer 🙄 and who-shall-not be-named 😐
@Die Kriek (Comment 26) : It’s all over twitter and you can read at EWN website as well.
😐
@rekinek (Comment 28) : Hmmm good point.
Okay but while we`re pondering our centre position I hope someone is talking to Minnie right now. Seems it`s official now!
On the bright side, the Kings will hold the record for most losses in a year(16) and end on 8 log points
Saru has confirmed that the Kings will play Super Rugby at the Lions’ expense in 2013.
The Lions will play a promotion-relegation match against the lowest-placed SA team in 2013 for a place in the 2014 competition.
Shame poor Lions .Having won the currie cup and with problems like this on the horizon they should have made sure they played to their capabilities .
@LionsinPTA (Comment 29) : Iz true, just saw on News24. A sad day when politics defeats logic
I’m not advocating raiding the Lions, but Taute is a better 15 than all our incumbents bar possibly Ludik. I don’t understand the confusion as to where to fit him in.
@Original Pierre (Comment 31) :
Yes. We really need more loose forwards at the Sharks, don’t we? 😯
Cheaters licking their lips at the prospect of desperate players without a job.
They could use guys like Coetzee,Minnie ,Rhodes ,Ruan Botha ,Waylon Murray etc
@Die Kriek (Comment 35) : Careful china…
Anyone else imagining Megatron going completely gaga at the moment?
BRB….need to break the news to the Lion in the office…
Wonder if they will be held to their contracts
@klempie (Comment 39) : I know, I will say no more. Think I am going to withdraw from this discussion before I break a few rules
@Die Kriek (Comment 43) : I too do not want to read about such decisions when the real reasons behind them are not allowed to be discussed…
@rekinek (Comment 28) : 😳 something wrong with my ‘w’ key 🙄
@Rvw (Comment 33) : so they will be back at Kings expense in 2014.
@Die Kriek (Comment 35) :
Yup. There can’t possibly any rugby-related reason for dropping a side that consistently places in the cellar every SR season. 🙄
@Big Fish (Comment 37) : Absolutely.
When Botes leaves we`ve only got Kleinhans.
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2012/08/15/sharks-spread-a-little-thin-for-now/
@Big Fish (Comment 47) : Well said. I feel for the Lions supporters but this might ultimately do the union some good.
I would LOVE to see News Corp suing SANZAR for breach of contract by not delivering the best quality sides available for the comp.
@klempie (Comment 50) :
Proteas doing well I see……. 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 51) : See the Kallis dismissal? Poms are blatantly cheating.
@klempie (Comment 52) :
Just been following on cricinfo