Rugby
Deadline for Southern Kings
2009-11-11 08:15
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Lizel SteenkampCape Town - The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has been given two weeks to say when the Southern Kings will start playing Super Rugby.
Butana Komphela, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, insisted on Tuesday that SARU should commit itself to a date as there has been an undertaking for three years to get the Kings – a combination of Eastern Province, Border and South Western Districts – competing.
SARU president Oregan Hoskins said after appearing in front of the committee that rugby’s governing body could not commit itself to a date.
Hoskins and four other members of SARU’s top brass have to inform Komphela of the date in a closed meeting in two weeks’ time.
ANC MPs, in particular, insisted on Tuesday that the Kings have to get off the ground as it will help transform the Springbok side. Most black rugby players play for clubs in the Eastern Cape.
Hoskins told committee members that SARU are committed to establishing the Kings, “but it may not happen as quickly as some people would like”.
SARU had to fork out R12 million to pay the debt of the three provincial teams and also had to assist with their management. There is also not a co-operation agreement between the three unions, said Hoskins.
SANZAR will decide this week whether the 15th franchise should be given to the Southern and Eastern Cape or to Melbourne to become part of an enlarged Super Rugby tournament in two years’ time.
