Southern Kings
Encyclopedia
The Southern Kings are a South African rugby union
franchise. The franchise was formally announced at the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
on 16 June 2009, in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
.
The franchise area is made up of the Eastern Cape
, and parts of the Western Cape
. They will draw players from 3 provincial unions, namely the , based in Port Elizabeth (representing the southern half of the Eastern Cape), the , based in East London (representing the northern half of the Eastern Cape) and the , based in George
(representing the South Western Districts).
, who were intended to participate in the Super 14 from 2007 onwards; however, their proposed entry into the competition led to considerable controversy within the country's rugby establishment. In April 2006, after concerns over the franchise's financial stability and sporting competitiveness, the Spears were denied entry into the Super 14. Following this, the Southern Spears ceased to exist.
In January 2009, the SARU
announced that a new franchise in the Eastern Cape Province
would be launched in June of that year to coincide with the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in Port Elizabeth for one of their midweek tour matches. The franchise is to be launched with the goal of a future place in Super Rugby, but no timetable for its inclusion has been set. The President of the Eastern Province, Cheeky Watson
, said "There is a desperate hunger for top-flight rugby in the South Eastern Cape and this is the first step to satisfying it." The franchise was officially announced on the SARU website in April 2009.
They applied to gain a place in Super Rugby from 2011 in a to-be-formed Australian conference in Super Rugby. However, on 12 November 2009, SANZAR
arbitrators rejected their bid to join Super Rugby, awarding the 15th licence to the Melbourne Rebels
. It is expected that the Southern Kings will participate the 2013 Super Rugby season, but it has not yet been decided how they will be accommodated; this decision is expected in November 2011.
confirmed that matches have been organised for the Southern Kings for 2011. They played three matches against other South African Super Rugby franchises and one against a Premier XV team, which mainly consisted of foreign-based South African players trying to stake their claim for inclusion in the 2011 Rugby World Cup
squad. They also played as the South African Kings in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup
, which they won. Proposed games against English Premiership side Saracens
were later cancelled.
squad:
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
franchise. The franchise was formally announced at the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a 48,000-seater stadium in Port Elizabeth.The five-tier, R2 billion Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was built overlooking the North End Lake, at the heart of the city. It is one of three coastal stadiums built in anticipation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It regularly hosts...
on 16 June 2009, in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa
The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
.
The franchise area is made up of the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
, and parts of the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
. They will draw players from 3 provincial unions, namely the , based in Port Elizabeth (representing the southern half of the Eastern Cape), the , based in East London (representing the northern half of the Eastern Cape) and the , based in George
George, Western Cape
George is a city with 203,253 inhabitants in South Africa's Western Cape province. The city is a popular holiday and conference centre and the administrative and commercial hub of the Garden Route.- Location :...
(representing the South Western Districts).
History
The Southern Kings are the latest attempt to bring a Super Rugby side to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Previously in 2005, there was an attempt to do so in the form of a franchise called the Southern SpearsSouthern Spears
The Southern Spears, were a South African rugby union franchise who were originally founded in 2005 and were intended to participate in the Super 14 from 2007 onwards; however, their proposed entry into the competition led to considerable controversy within the country's rugby establishment...
, who were intended to participate in the Super 14 from 2007 onwards; however, their proposed entry into the competition led to considerable controversy within the country's rugby establishment. In April 2006, after concerns over the franchise's financial stability and sporting competitiveness, the Spears were denied entry into the Super 14. Following this, the Southern Spears ceased to exist.
In January 2009, the SARU
South African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
announced that a new franchise in the Eastern Cape Province
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
would be launched in June of that year to coincide with the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in Port Elizabeth for one of their midweek tour matches. The franchise is to be launched with the goal of a future place in Super Rugby, but no timetable for its inclusion has been set. The President of the Eastern Province, Cheeky Watson
Cheeky Watson
Daniel "Cheeky" Watson was one of the first white South African rugby union players to participate in a mixed race rugby game, during the period when mixed-race activities were forbidden by apartheid legislation.- History :...
, said "There is a desperate hunger for top-flight rugby in the South Eastern Cape and this is the first step to satisfying it." The franchise was officially announced on the SARU website in April 2009.
They applied to gain a place in Super Rugby from 2011 in a to-be-formed Australian conference in Super Rugby. However, on 12 November 2009, SANZAR
SANZAR
SANZAR is the body which operates Super Rugby and Tri Nations competitions in rugby union. It is a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union, formed in 1996.Created shortly after rugby's move to professionalism in 1995, SANZAR's two...
arbitrators rejected their bid to join Super Rugby, awarding the 15th licence to the Melbourne Rebels
Melbourne Rebels
The Melbourne Rebels are a professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They made their debut in SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. They are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia...
. It is expected that the Southern Kings will participate the 2013 Super Rugby season, but it has not yet been decided how they will be accommodated; this decision is expected in November 2011.
Fixtures and results
On 11 November 2010, SARUSouth African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
confirmed that matches have been organised for the Southern Kings for 2011. They played three matches against other South African Super Rugby franchises and one against a Premier XV team, which mainly consisted of foreign-based South African players trying to stake their claim for inclusion in the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
squad. They also played as the South African Kings in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup
2011 IRB Nations Cup
The 2011 IRB Nations Cup was the sixth edition of the international rugby union tournament. Namibia were the defending champions.-Players:The following players have been included in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup squads:-Standings:-Round 1:...
, which they won. Proposed games against English Premiership side Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
were later cancelled.
Current squad
The following players were included in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup2011 IRB Nations Cup
The 2011 IRB Nations Cup was the sixth edition of the international rugby union tournament. Namibia were the defending champions.-Players:The following players have been included in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup squads:-Standings:-Round 1:...
squad:
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Loose Forwards
Scrum Halves
Fly Halves
|
Centres
Wingers
Full Backs
|
External links
- Official Facebook site
- Southern Kings on superxv.com