Kings banking on TV cash for survival
Coach Kempson urged team’s board to engage with potential sponsors as the embattled Bay franchise bid to keep their head above water
Cash from television rights could fund the Southern Kings when they play in the 2021 rugby Currie Cup, interim head coach Robbi Kempson has said.
The Kings coach has also urged his team’s board to engage with potential sponsors as the embattled Bay franchise bid to keep their head above water.
The Kings withdrew from the 2020 Currie Cup in August because of financial reasons.
Asked how things were looking on the financial front for 2021, Kempson said: “The Kings get more television rights money for next season.
“That [the TV money] has been spent already for this current season.
“Then there is the potential to engage with other sponsors who might be able to come in.
“I don’t know how many sponsors would be that keen to get involved with rugby in any form at this time, not just with ourselves, because it is a difficult financial climate that we are in.
“With regards to the TV rights money, when that comes in we would be able to play in that competition.
“I think the shortfall of what happened for this [year’s] competition was in view of the fact that the financial status of the Kings at this time is not in great nick.
“It is one thing cruising around and having casual board meetings.
“Someone has to be actively engaged with sponsors and see what appetite they might have for a local competition versus strong teams from the other unions.
“I think there would be sufficient appetite for people to come and watch a game when you have your World Cup-winning Springboks [playing] when the Stormers come and also guys like Duane Vermeulen playing for the Bulls.
“If we do manage to get the global season on track, hopefully our guys will get an opportunity to play in that Currie Cup competition next year to see who gets into the PRO16.”
Kings chair Andre Rademan said the decision to withdraw the Kings had been taken reluctantly in the face of hard financial realities.
“Following several weeks of interrogation of the Kings’ financial state of affairs we were left with a straightforward choice,” Rademan said.
“We could opt to field the Kings in the domestic competitions mooted by SA Rugby for the sport’s post-lockdown resumption if we so wished.
“If we did so, it would require additional loans to the Kings or extra investment from the shareholders to the tune of R6.5m, which would add to the organisation’s existing substantial debt.
“However, as there was no contractual requirement for the Kings to resume short-term participation in the Guinness PRO14 competition because of air travel restrictions, and as the Kings had no other commercial commitments to honour, the most prudent decision was to withdraw.
“This may not be a popular decision but in the current circumstances it is the right decision.”
After a week off, the Kings are back on the training field, with the idea of keeping the players fit in case they receive loan opportunities.
“If they do get opportunities elsewhere, then they will be fit and ready to play rugby which is vitally important for them,” Kempson said.
A leaked fixture list has suggested that SA Rugby will resume rugby with a Super Heroes double-header at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on September 26, with the Lions playing the Stormers and the Bulls facing the Sharks.
After the Super Heroes event, the Currie Cup kicks off.