Clubs want to end Watson’s Kings rule

Cape Town - Eastern Province rugby clubs plan to call a special general meeting to pass a vote of no-confidence in EPRU president Cheeky Watson.

According to the Sunday Times, Watson was set to be served a vote of no confidence at the union's annual general meeting last Friday, but the meeting was controversially postponed.

One club’s president told the newspaper that in order to pass the vote of no confidence in Watson, 36 of the union's clubs (20%) need to sign up.

He said that target would be easy to achieve and they would push to have the meeting as soon as possible.

“We are dealing with tactical, smart but corrupt people here and I suspect underhandedness at the postponement of this meeting. For them to make the call at 16:45 the day before smacks of underhandedness.”

This follows the financial crisis at the Kings, which has seen the South African Rugby Union (SARU) step in and take control of the franchise ahead of their re-entry into Super Rugby.

Players were not paid their October salaries, with at least three having to accept food vouchers from the South African Rugby Players' Association (SARPA), while several players have since left the union.

The cash-flow problems started when a R200m sponsorship deal - promised by Watson - failed to materialise.

In next year’s Super Rugby competition, the Kings have been grouped with the Lions and Sharks, as well as the new Los Jaguares team from Argentina. In addition, that group will face the New Zealand Conference rather than the Australian one.

The Kings are scheduled to host the Sharks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, February 27 in their opening Super Rugby fixture.