Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Rugby fans say the Kings earned their Super Rugby ticket with the promise of developing local talent, so why do they want to contract overseas players?
Email Sport@news24.co.za and get published!
The Southern Kings are still hoping the SA Rugby Union (SARU) will give them permission to field more than the allowed number of overseas players in Super Rugby this season.
The Eastern Cape franchise have signed five overseas players - three more than what is allowed - in the hope that SARU will give them some leeway. They will play in the Super Rugby competition this year at the expense of the Johannesburg-based Lions.
But most Sport24 readers feel the Kings shouldn't be allowed special treatment.
This is what Sport24 readers had to say about the Kings:
"Did the EP Kings not promise development in rugby, in order to obtain a spot in the S15? Where is the development when so few players of colour- and 5 international players are included in the squad… this is just a WATSON scam!" - Ryan Glenny
"Why should they get any special preference or treatment...? They have been spoon fed and their entry has been handed to them on a silver platter. They didn't work for it. For a team that said they would field more players of color and more so the players from that region, there is very little of both in that team." - Courtney de Jongh
"I thought the Kings wanted to prove that their players are good enough but they are buying players left and right." - Lynene Durandt
"SARU MUST NOT allow them to field more overseas players. They had enough time to prepare for this tournament and now they are worried about not performing. Everyone knows that they will not be up to standard but that does still not warrant them being allowed to play extra players. They accepted the terms at the outset – now they must stick with it." - Linki de Jongh
"The Kings team is not picked based on the agreement with SARU. To look after black talent as well as local player. Why should SARU listen?" - Richard de Donker
"I think the way in which SARU handled the whole matter is unsatisfactory. The EP King have been drained of their best players by the bigger unions for years. Come on , give these guys a break!" - Jannie Smit
"If SARU Gives in to the Kings' 'demands', they'll have to allow all SA teams to use foreign players. It will cause chaos." - Pieter Venter
"Bearing in mind that SARU waited until 16 Aug to confirm the Kings, YES, they should be allowed more than 2 foreign players. They still have about 17 locally bred EC players in the team. And that is more than some of the other franchises can say already." - Matt Prinsloo
"The Sharks, Cheetahs, Stormers, Lions and Bulls supporters all believes that what happened to the Lions was unfair. But who cares, the Kings will flop and the Lions will kick them out when they finally have revenge at the end of the season." - Jacques Claassen
"This is a slap in the face to players of colour in that province." - Du Toit Coetzee
"Look at the bright side. SA sides can milk ten points of the Kings since we will be playing them twice. Where as NZ and Aus will only get 5 points from them." - Loekie van der Merwe
"I would rather the Kings lose using young local development players & setting up an academy than bring in overseas players." - Aldo Dunn
"More concessions...eish,you guys wanted to play with the big boys...time to put up with what you have. You guys reckoned you could do better than the Lions, lets see!" - Franklyn Davies
"I'm a Southern Kings supporter over and over but asking SARU to change the rules to accomadate three extra overseas players is a disadvantage to the other already established franchises." - Frank Gerald
"So much for development of eastern cape rugby players..." - Niels Vonahlften
Should the EP Kings be given special treatment? (Gallo Images)
Email Sport@news24.co.za and get published!
The Southern Kings are still hoping the SA Rugby Union (SARU) will give them permission to field more than the allowed number of overseas players in Super Rugby this season.
The Eastern Cape franchise have signed five overseas players - three more than what is allowed - in the hope that SARU will give them some leeway. They will play in the Super Rugby competition this year at the expense of the Johannesburg-based Lions.
But most Sport24 readers feel the Kings shouldn't be allowed special treatment.
This is what Sport24 readers had to say about the Kings:
"Did the EP Kings not promise development in rugby, in order to obtain a spot in the S15? Where is the development when so few players of colour- and 5 international players are included in the squad… this is just a WATSON scam!" - Ryan Glenny
"Why should they get any special preference or treatment...? They have been spoon fed and their entry has been handed to them on a silver platter. They didn't work for it. For a team that said they would field more players of color and more so the players from that region, there is very little of both in that team." - Courtney de Jongh
"I thought the Kings wanted to prove that their players are good enough but they are buying players left and right." - Lynene Durandt
"SARU MUST NOT allow them to field more overseas players. They had enough time to prepare for this tournament and now they are worried about not performing. Everyone knows that they will not be up to standard but that does still not warrant them being allowed to play extra players. They accepted the terms at the outset – now they must stick with it." - Linki de Jongh
"The Kings team is not picked based on the agreement with SARU. To look after black talent as well as local player. Why should SARU listen?" - Richard de Donker
"I think the way in which SARU handled the whole matter is unsatisfactory. The EP King have been drained of their best players by the bigger unions for years. Come on , give these guys a break!" - Jannie Smit
"If SARU Gives in to the Kings' 'demands', they'll have to allow all SA teams to use foreign players. It will cause chaos." - Pieter Venter
"Bearing in mind that SARU waited until 16 Aug to confirm the Kings, YES, they should be allowed more than 2 foreign players. They still have about 17 locally bred EC players in the team. And that is more than some of the other franchises can say already." - Matt Prinsloo
"The Sharks, Cheetahs, Stormers, Lions and Bulls supporters all believes that what happened to the Lions was unfair. But who cares, the Kings will flop and the Lions will kick them out when they finally have revenge at the end of the season." - Jacques Claassen
"This is a slap in the face to players of colour in that province." - Du Toit Coetzee
"Look at the bright side. SA sides can milk ten points of the Kings since we will be playing them twice. Where as NZ and Aus will only get 5 points from them." - Loekie van der Merwe
"I would rather the Kings lose using young local development players & setting up an academy than bring in overseas players." - Aldo Dunn
"More concessions...eish,you guys wanted to play with the big boys...time to put up with what you have. You guys reckoned you could do better than the Lions, lets see!" - Franklyn Davies
"I'm a Southern Kings supporter over and over but asking SARU to change the rules to accomadate three extra overseas players is a disadvantage to the other already established franchises." - Frank Gerald
"So much for development of eastern cape rugby players..." - Niels Vonahlften
Should the EP Kings be given special treatment? (Gallo Images)
