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Cape Town - EP Kings president Cheeky Watson has poured cold water on rumours the Eastern Cape team has come to an agreement with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) not to play Super Rugby next year.
According to Die Burger, rumours are the Southern Kings will take a back seat for the Lions for one more year - if SARU adheres to some of their requests.
Some of the requests apparently include that the Kings will "receive a huge sum of money from SARU" to do so. They are apparently also seeking automatic qualification into next year's Currie Cup Premier Division as well as a guaranteed Test match against either New Zealand or Australia for the next four years.
However, Watson strongly denied the rumours.
"The rumours are false. There is definitely no such agreement with SARU.
"I think they are rumours that were started by people who want to sink the Kings.
"We should have played Super Rugby in 2011 already, but stood back with the best interests of South African rugby in mind. A decision has been made that we will play Super Rugby in 2013 and that is what we're striving for," said Watson.
According to Die Burger, rumours are the Southern Kings will take a back seat for the Lions for one more year - if SARU adheres to some of their requests.
Some of the requests apparently include that the Kings will "receive a huge sum of money from SARU" to do so. They are apparently also seeking automatic qualification into next year's Currie Cup Premier Division as well as a guaranteed Test match against either New Zealand or Australia for the next four years.
However, Watson strongly denied the rumours.
"The rumours are false. There is definitely no such agreement with SARU.
"I think they are rumours that were started by people who want to sink the Kings.
"We should have played Super Rugby in 2011 already, but stood back with the best interests of South African rugby in mind. A decision has been made that we will play Super Rugby in 2013 and that is what we're striving for," said Watson.
