Move to restore pride in EP Rugby
A top-level meeting to discuss the formation of a rugby academy in Port Elizabeth is set to take place in Port Elizabeth on Friday, EP Rugby boss Andre Rademan said.
The meeting will be between EP Rugby bosses, a business consortium who have bought a 74% stake in the Isuzu Southern Kings, and Nelson Mandela Bay University officials.
This is part of a new initiative to turn around the union’s flagging fortunes and keep emerging talent in the region.
In 24 matches played last season, the EP Currie Cup First Division side, the EP U21 and EP U19 teams lost every game they played.
All three teams finished bottom of their respective logs, and left the once proud union embarrassed by a series of heavy defeats.
In only six matches, the EPU21 team leaked a massive 695 points, while the U19 side bled 851 points in 12 outings.
In the Guinness PRO14, the Kings have won only two of their 17 matches and are second from bottom on the log.
“We have a meeting planned for March 8 between the university, the consortium and the union where we will discuss the academy and the road forward,” Rademan said.
“An academy is a must for any successful union, especially if you take part in the PRO14 or Super Rugby.
“I am very confident that an academy will be formed.
“At this stage, we do not know who will run the academy and we are very transparent in our approach to everything.
“There will be an advertisement and we will get the best candidate.”
Former Springbok prop Robbi Kempson would be a strong candidate for the post if he was interested.
He is an assistant coach at the Kings PRO14 team and headed a previous EP Academy.
Consortium chair Loyiso Dotwana has made it clear that a successful academy is vital for growing rugby in the region.
“We must create an academy and a team here so that we can retain and grow rugby talent in the Eastern Cape,” Dotwana said.
“This is the home of black rugby and as such has an important role to play in promoting social cohesion in South African rugby.”
Rademan said the winning start made by the Madibaz team in the Varsity Shield competition was positive news for the region.
The students made it four wins in a row when they beat the University of KwaZulu-Natal 41-12 in Maritzburg on Monday night.
“This is just what we need,” Rademan said.
“We hope this success spills over to our U20, Currie Cup and PRO14 teams.
“If that happens, it will be fantastic.”