Cheetahs, Kings agree: No Super rugby not such a bad thing
SA RUGBY has finally confirmed that the Cheetahs and the Kings are the two South African teams that will no longer compete in Super Rugby from 2018.
According to SA Rugby, both teams opted for a settlement with SA Rugby, and will now turn their focus to exploring other international competitions – widely believed to be Europe’s PRO12.
The announcement regarding the Cheetahs and the Kings was made before a special general meeting of SA Rugby in Cape Town yesterday to formally confirm South Africa’s four participants in the competition next season, namely the Bulls, the Stormers, the Lions and the Sharks.
The announcement was made in line with Sanzaar’s decision to cut the competition’s participants from an 18 to 15 teams and to ensure a stronger competition contested over a shorter format.
The new structure will comprise four teams from South Africa, five from New Zealand, four from Australia and one each from Argentina and Japan.
According to SA Rugby, the Cheetahs decided on an “amicable” settlement with SA Rugby after their board reviewed the team’s future and were looking forward to the “exciting challenge of exploring new competitions.
“It will be an exciting challenge for our players, supporters and commercial partners and it will be the start of a new chapter for rugby both in our region and in South Africa,” Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster said.
“Also, it will allow the Cheetahs to carve out a new and prominent place on the rugby map in South Africa, as well as internationally.”
Meanwhile, the Kings also accepted the opportunity to enter into a different competition overseas and EP Kings president, André Rademan, said that they were looking forward to the chance to “test themselves against different opposition in different conditions.
“It has been a rollercoaster ride for the franchise for a number of seasons, but there is now a clear and viable way forward for rugby in the Eastern Cape to build on the foundations that have been laid – particularly in the past season,” Rademan said.
“We have enjoyed Super Rugby, but the chance to test ourselves against different opposition in different conditions is a mouth-watering one.
“We are therefore not opposed to joining new competitions. With all stakeholders pulling in the same direction we can bring success and excitement to rugby in the Eastern Cape.”
Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby, said that yesterday’s general meeting still had the constitutional responsibility to confirm South Africa’s entrants in the competition.
“I want to thank the Cheetahs and the Kings for the mature and professional manner in which they approached and managed this difficult situation. They took decisions that will not only benefit them, but also SA Rugby in general,” said Roux.
Abroad, the Force and the Rebels are the two Australian sides believed to face the axing.
SA Rugby also confirmed that an announcement on competition opportunities for the Cheetahs and the Kings would be announced soon.