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Eastern Province president Cheeky Watson applauded the SA Rugby Union for including the Southern Kings in Super Rugby in 2013.

Eastern Province president Cheeky Watson on Friday applauded the SA Rugby Union (Saru) for the 'bold step' of including the Southern Kings in Super Rugby in 2013.

“The thing that is more encouraging is that it was a unanimous decision and South African leadership needs to be congratulated,” Watson said.

“They took a bold step and even the franchises that could be effected supported the entry of the Kings wholeheartedly.”

Saru confirmed after the national governing body's special general meeting in Cape Town that the Eastern Cape team would finally receive a berth in the cross-continental competition.

The other South African teams in the competition, Saru said, would be confirmed only after proposals from provinces were considered at their annual general meeting in March.

“The decision to include the Southern Kings in the 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament was unanimously confirmed by the members,” Saru CEO Jurie Roux said

“We will now look at the options to identify the other entrants to the competition, which will include further discussions with our Sanzar partners on the possibility of including a sixth South African team in the competition.”

Watson said the country had a large enough talent pool for Saru to push for a sixth South African franchise to be introduced in the Super Rugby competition.

“Our numbers are far greater than the other two countries and, that is the route to go. The footprint of the region argues well for a sixth team.”

Watson said the confirmation opened the door for more talent to move to the Kings who would finally be able to retain local talent who left the region with the hope of playing Super Rugby.

“Now the door is open and they can play for the Boks and increase the interest in South Western Districts, Border and Eastern Province,” he said.

Watson said they could now secure sponsorships that were “waiting in the wings” and added that the team would be vastly different to the current one.

Watson also applauded Saru's appointment of Heynecke Meyer as Springbok coach, saying he was absolutely the right man for the job. – Sapa