EP Kings players get their wages

Cape Town - EP Kings rugby players have received their overdue salary payments.

The cash-strapped union was unable to pay its players in recent months, but according to the HeraldLIVE website, players were finally compensated.

EP Rugby president Cheeky Watson said his players had been paid up to date and were also compensated for any inconveniences.

Watson would not elaborate further but it is thought that the payment includes the double pay packet promised because of the delays in securing a new sponsor.

There is however still no news on the Kings’ new lucrative sponsorship, believed to be in the region of R200m.

In an earlier statement, Watson had insisted that the deal was as good as done: “What I find amazing and disturbing is that there is so much negativity around something so positive, and that it (the new sponsorship deal) is possibly the biggest sponsorship-partnership for any franchise this country has ever seen.

“I can give you the absolute assurance... that it is still very much on track, and the launch of the sponsorship and the value is imminent,” said Watson.

The Kings start their Currie Cup campaign with a home game against the Golden Lions in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (14:15 kick-off).