Saru may decide Lions’ Super 15 fate
THE future of the Lions Super Rugby franchise comes under the spotlight at a crucial meeting of the South African Rugby Union (Saru) top brass and key roleplayers in Johannesburg this morning.
Saru chief executive Jurie Roux, who steps off a plane earlier in the day from Dublin following International Rugby Board (IRB) business, will chair what is sure to be a heated gathering.
At stake is the immediate Super Rugby future of the Lions, assuming they finish last in the South African conference in this year’s tournament, and the inclusion of the Southern Kings in next year’s tournament.
The Lions, currently languishing at the bottom of the standings after one win in 10 matches, are likely to be relegated to make way for the Kings in the 2013 tournament.
A mechanism for the removal of one of South Africa’s existing five franchises will be proposed by Saru and if approved, will go to the general council for ratification on July 13.
The Lions will vehemently oppose the idea, but they are seemingly out of options.
Financial backer and deputy president Altmann Allers, who purchased a 49.9% stake in the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) last year, is naturally sceptical of the Kings’ chances of success.
“I’m obviously not objective in this situation but I believe that it would be better for rugby in general, and for the Kings if they spent three years playing in the Currie Cup to prepare themselves for Super Rugby,” said Allers. “I understand that the Kings will only be guaranteed one year in Super Rugby and that is also a problem for them in the longterm.
“It’s difficult to build a Super Rugby franchise and attract sponsors on the basis of only being guaranteed one year at the top. Also, building a team, regardless of the quality of players you might sign, will take time, which is something the Kings won’t have.”
Consequently, he urged caution: “We can do more long-term good for rugby not to rush the Kings into this situation.
“And while I understand the argument that it’s about giving black players in the Eastern Cape a chance, I question how many Eastern Cape produced black players will represent the Kings in Super Rugby next year.”
The Kings have been guaranteed their place in the 2013 tournament, a decision that was taken at a general council meeting on January 27. The GLRU was one of 14 provinces that unanimously voted for the Kings’ inclusion.
At the same January meeting, provinces refused to accept Saru’s proposal for the bottom team in the South African conference to be relegated. But four months on, it appears that’s exactly what will happen today.
In the interim the franchises have lobbied for the inclusion of a sixth SA team in next year’s Super Rugby competition. The idea was met with indifference from SA, New Zealand and Australian Rugby boss Greg Peters and the hierarchy at the New Zealand and Australian rugby unions.
That idea has died a quiet death in the knowledge that it would never be accepted. Now the Lions appear to be out on a limb as the appetite of the other franchises to continue to fight the inevitable outcome dwindles.