Kings seek fans in other centres

LACK of support for PRO14 rugby in Port Elizabeth appears to be the prime reason why the Southern Kings are leaving town.

Small crowds have watched the Kings’ opening five home games and this must be the cause of grave concern for the rugby community.

It has now been decided that the Kings will play their home match against Munster at George’s Outeniqua Stadium on April 7. There is also talk that the Kings are exploring possibilities of moving a game to East London.

This news will be welcomed by Border rugby fans who have been clamouring for the Kings to play in East London.

Soccer team Chippa United and the Warriors cricket franchise already alternate matches with success and have won supporters in both regions.

Earlier in the season, the Kings played top Irish outfit Ulster at Kwazakhele’s Wolfson Stadium in a bid to boost attendance. That move did not work with only 2 836 turning up to watch the clash in the township.

There was an outcry after 3 011 fans watched the Kings’ historic opening home game against Leinster and then 4 062 were present for their second game against Zebre at NMB Stadium.

After the Kwazakhele game the Kings returned to NMB Stadium, but only 3 619 watched them play Scarlets and 3 600 were there for the Edinburgh showdown.

Kings officials have asked fans to embrace the team’s stay in George and have described the move down the Garden Route as an “exciting development”.

How different things were just six months ago when 22 000 fans cheered the Kings to an historic Super Rugby win over the Sharks.

Complicating matters for the Kings is that they have struggled to make any headway in PRO14, losing all of their opening 10 matches.

This has not won them any favours among long-suffering supporters.

If the Kings attract bigger crowds in George and East London, it will leave rugby officials facing a major dilemma as to where they should play their home matches in future.