Kings ‘need time to find feet’
It will take the Southern Kings a year or two to kick into top gear in the new enlarged European championship, says Pro14 rugby boss Martin Anayi.
Hit by an exodus of senior players after Super Rugby, Kings head coach Deon Davids has been forced to start an urgent rebuilding programme.
The Kings have just seven days to sort out a competitive unit ahead of their opening match against champions Scarlets in Wales on September 2.
“I would say we would need to give them [the Kings] a year or two to kick into gear,” Anayi said. “The Cheetahs are Currie Cup champions and have fantastic depth. They have a few injury problems at the moment at flyhalf, but once they come back they have three or four contenders at 10 for global honours.
“The phrase ‘hotbed’ is used a lot, but it really does apply to both the Free State and Eastern Cape, for different reasons and that is what excites us. A little bit of latitude for them to get it right, and they will come good.”
Pro14’s move into SA was just the start of the competition’s expansion, with North America among future areas of growth, Anayi said.
“We are still looking outwards. We had set out when I first came in that we were looking to expand rather than contract. We needed to do that to be competitive with the English league and the French league.
“SA is a huge market for us. The Cheetahs and Kings can add massively to our tournament.”
Anayi has also revealed interest in the Pro14 growing into other parts of Europe, such as Germany and Georgia.
“We have to look at all opportunities. We set up the tournament structure to expand further at the right stage and I think that’s the right thing to do.”
The Pro12 has struggled to match the financial might of European rivals, the English Premiership and French Top 14, for years but Anayi feels the increase in broadcast revenue — as a result of the expansion into SA — is “game-changing”.
“Can we deliver more money back to our clubs? Yes, but at the same time our costs are increasing because we need to elevate our standards.”