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Fans blast 'outlaw' Kings

Cape Town - Sport24 readers say the Kings think they are above the law and should be punished, after the team contravened SARU's rules by fielding three foreigners.

The Kings will have to explain in a report to the South African Rugby Union (SARU) why they picked three foreign players in their 22-man squad against the Chiefs.

Captain Darron Nell was injured in the warm-up prior to the game, which saw Argentine loose forward Tomás Leonardi join countryman Nicolas Vergallo on the bench. New Zealander Hadleigh Parkes started at inside centre, which meant the Kings fielded three foreign players in their squad - one more than the two allowed by SARU.

Prior to the start of the 2013 Super Rugby season, the Kings asked for special dispensation to play more than two foreigners, but SARU denied their request and issued a warning to the Super Rugby newcomers that there would be repercussions if they fielded more than two foreigners (excluding African players) in their team.

Kings president Cheeky Watson said that although the Kings were unhappy with SARU's ruling, the Kings would accept the SARU's decision.

However, the Kings appeared to backtrack on this undertaking when they fielded Leonardi, Parkes and Vergallo in their 35-24 defeat to the Chiefs.

Here's what sport24 readers had to say about the Kings' disobedience:

"Doubt SARU will do anything they don't have the power to deduct points as this is not a SANZAR rule, take a look at how many foreign players are in the Rebels side. I think SARU are getting a bit nervous of the King and the last thing they need is one of the big three unions landing up in the relegation zone, But personally I think Kings wont loose a spot in Super 15 as they making to much money for Rupert Murdoch and SANZAR ( by fulling stadiums and creating alot of hype) and will be added as a team next year along with the Lions." - Detevctive Kruger

"So the Queens are exempt from following laid down rules?Is that what Queens supporters are saying...maybe we should draw up a separate list for the Queens only...maybe a try for the Queens should be worth 7 points, and not only 5? Maybe the Queens can field 16 players and not 15? I'm not a Queen hater (yeah right), but rules are for everyone." - Barney Dino

"SARU implemented the rule, the rule was broken so now they have to face the consequences. If SARU doesn't take any action, they make a fool of themselves and other rules are useless. By the way, I find it strange SARU has any say in player eligilibty since it's SANZAR who is the governing body of Super Rugby." - Steven Ezekiel Voogel

"Well I can't say I feel sorry for them. They are well aware of the rules." - Steven Goldswain

"Take away points, even if they are in the minus, and fine management heavily!" - sean.wolf.3388

"They are well aware of the rules, but it's been made pretty clear from the start by Cheeky and his henchmen that they do not believe in following the rules." - ChrisinOz

"SARU won't have the balls to do a damn thing. And if they did, they would be called to parliament to explain the punishment. Welcome to sport, SA style." - Hamish Leslie Drake

"No matter what the Kings say, they were guaranteed a spot in Super Rugby 3 years and should have been preparing as such. This 5 months story is irrelevant and actually it was nothing to do with them. A very handy excuse used by Cheeky as a cop-out - and everyone just laps it up!" - leesport.comments

"What's SARU going to do? Kick them out... Pfffttt.... The whole lot of SARU is laughable..." - The_Devil's_Advocate

"Only a slap on the wrist, nothing is going to happen and we all know that." - louis.bench.31

"This was just silly. Solly is doing a great job, it's their first season of Super Rugby, hopefully there will be some leniency. But professionals should not make such mistakes." - Band Leader

"It's the end of the world because the Kings used 3 foreigners that nobody has ever heard of. And they are only doing so because the morons at SARU have set them up for failure." - Bob Jones

"SARU should rather explain why they kept the Eastern Cape for so long and kept an under performing Lions team in Super rugby so long. SARU should explain why they gave the Southern Kings the greenlight only five months before the start of the Super Rugby competition. SARU should explain why they gave the Kings only one season to survive in Super Rugby!" - frankgerald

"In the truest sense of the word the Kings infringed SARU rules by fielding one extra, unknown foreign player (I would have to concede that), however this is a SANZAR competition and as such logic tells me that the same rules SHOULD apply to ALL teams." - Andrew Rutherford

"The Kings need to be taken to task for the disregard of this rule as they were adised even before the start of the tournament that they could only field two foreign players. Its time for SARA to come out with their guns blazing." Tim Kilpin


Argentinian Nicolas Vergallo, one of the three foreigners that played for the Kings against the Chiefs (Gallo Images)

Should the Kings be punished for fielding three foreigners? If so, how should SARU punish them?
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