Patience will be a virtue for the Kings
SA RUGBY have asked fans to be patient and to only pass judgment on the struggling Southern Kings at the end of their debut Pro14 season.
It has been a baptism of fire for the Kings, who are winless and pointless after six matches in the enlarged European tournament.
Hastily assembled after most of their star players left the franchise after Super Rugby, the SA Rugby Union-controlled Kings went down 31-3 against Benetton Treviso in their last match.
“There will also be the opportunity to strengthen the squad as the season progresses, but it’s a long season and mature judgment can only come on its conclusion,” SA Rugby media spokesman Andy Colquhoun said.
It remains unclear how much cash SA Rugby are prepared to invest in the Kings to bolster the team after their slow start.
So far the Kings are leaking tries at an average of five per match as they battle to adjust toEuropean rugby.
“We are looking at the situation carefully and we have a few players in mind,” Kings chief operations officer Charl Crous said.
“We also have a budget that we have to take into account and we cannot just contract a lot of players.”
One player set to boost the Kings is Pumas prop Pieter Scholtz, who will join the team at the end of the Currie Cup.
In a bid to find out what SA Rugby plan to do to resurrect the Kings, The Herald asked them the following questions:
1: In light of the Southern Kings’ poor performances in Pro14, is there a plan to reinforce them with new signings?
2: Are the Kings guaranteed a threeyear stay in Pro14 irrespective of performance?
3: Are SA Rugby planning to budget more money for the Kings so that they can become more competitive?
4: What is SA Rugby’s view of Kings’ showing to date?
In reply Colquhoun said: “Coach Deon Davids and the rest of the Kings’ management have worked manfully against the odds and as time progresses they will improve as they amply demonstrated in Super Rugby.”
EPRU president Andre Rademan announced last month his union plan to take control of the Kings’ Pro14 team.
Rademan says a board will be formed soon, with three EPRU members and three members of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, who will assist in obtaining sponsors for the union.
The Kings returned to South Africa this week after a two-week tour to Europe, where they were beaten by Welsh team Newport Gwent Dragons and Italian outfit Benetton Treviso.
The team were given a break this week ahead of their next outing in Scotland against Glasgow on October 27. the