The Southern Kings have denied they will postpone their Super Rugby entry till 2016, insisting they will fill their spot in the SA Conference next year.
This comes after newspaper reports on Sunday suggesting the South African Rugby Union had struck a deal with the Kings which will see them pocket R40-million and play Currie Cup Premier Division rugby next year, if they’ll postpone joining Super Rugby till 2016, when the competition is likely to be expanded even further.
Saru decided at the beginning of the year that the Kings would play Super Rugby in 2013, and it was decided that the worst performing local team – the Lions this season – would be relegated to make place for the Kings.
Saru have since said no-one will be negatively affected by the Kings playing Super Rugby, but have not given any indication how they plan to accommodate six South African teams in a competition which only has space for five local teams.
Saru also, at one stage, hoped to talk to Sanzar about possibly expanding the competition to 16 teams next year, but this was shot down by Sanzar CEO Greg Peters even before Saru got to a meeting.
Now, according to reports, the current five SA Super Rugby teams will continue to play in the competition until 2015, the Kings will play Premier Division rugby next year and then enter an expanded Super Rugby competition in 2016 – were the competition to expand. On top of this, Saru would give the Kings R40m to help them develop and prepare for Super Rugby.
On Sunday, though, the Kings vehemently denied they had accepted a R40m offer to stand aside until 2016. “The story going around that we’ve taken money to stay out of Super Rugby in 2013 is not true. We will be playing Super Rugby in 2013,” said the Kings.
And just last week, president of the EP Kings, Cheeky Watson, told The Star: “The Kings are playing Super Rugby in 2013.” He added the decision to be made by Saru and the presidents of the 14 provincial unions regarding the make-up of the participants next year was “the biggest decision of the last 10 years in SA rugby”.
Asked for comment on yesterday’s reports that the Kings would stand aside for the next three years, Saru said they don’t comment on speculation.
The General Council of Saru were supposed to meet to decide on Super Rugby participation last Friday, but postponed the meeting 10 days ago.
No new date was set for the unions to vote on Super Rugby for next year. – The Star