New plan can salvage wreckage
IF THE Southern Kings are cut from Super Rugby they could find themselves playing in Europe’s PRO12 competition next year if a new plan gets off the ground.
Former Southern Spears chief executive Tony McKeever says that would be the obvious solution for the Kings if they are left out in the cold.
It was recently announced that Super Rugby would be reduced from 18 to 15 teams from next year onwards.
South Africa will lose two teams and Australia one.
McKeever says if the Cheetahs and Kings are axed, he would propose the idea of them playing in the PRO12, which runs from September to May.
“I have already spoken to new EP Rugby president Andre Rademan about this possibility and talks are ongoing,” said McKeever.
Rademan was at SA Rugby headquarters in Cape Town yesterday where he had meetings with top officials about EP Rugby.
“We are at a very sensitive point on different points of our negotiations. I cannot comment further than that.”
Earlier this month Saru chief executive Jurie Roux spoke about the possibility of finding new markets for the South African teams cut from Super Rugby.
Sources say the idea of SA teams playing in the PRO12 has already been discussed by top SA Rugby officials.
McKeever said he had already spoken to PRO12 chief executive Martin Anayi about the possibility of the Kings playing in Europe.
“With the size of the current Currie Cup and Super Rugby squads, both the Cheetahs and EP Rugby could easily accommodate this schedule and start playing in September 2017,” said McKeever.
The PRO12 is an annual competition involving 12 professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Some of the teams competing in the PRO12 are Leinster, Munster, Ospreys, Scarlets, Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh and Newport Gwent Dragons.
Martin is a visionary and seeks to expand PRO12 into new markets and grow the PRO12 TV audiences and spectators.
“This is a perfect synergistic way to accomplish that with South African Rugby. This would also rejuvenate the PRO12/14 tournament with excitement.
“The addition of two South African Super Rugby teams would increase TV viewership in Europe and South Africa and especially on-site spectator audiences coming to Bloemfontein and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, to watch their teams play against teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy,” said McKeever.