Kings must walk the talk
2 Aug 2010
SIMON BORCHARDT wonders if the Kings’ admission to Super Rugby really will be a boost for transformation.
On Saturday, I watched the Boland Kavaliers play the EP Kings in Wellington and was surprised to see just four black players in the latter’s starting XV.
How often have we heard that an Eastern Cape franchise will help to speed up the transformation of South African rugby? How often have we heard that the region is home to talented black players who have what it takes to play professional rugby but simply haven’t been given the opportunity? If these black players really do exist, then why aren’t they playing for EP in the First Division?
EP like to portray themselves as the ‘people’s team’, yet most of their players are white (including De Wet Barry, the captain). They also have a white coach (Alan Solomons), a white president (Cheeky Watson) and a white CEO (Stefan Pretorius). How are they different from a union like the Bulls, who are perceived by many to be anti-transformation?
If the Kings want to get special treatment from Saru, then it’s time they started walking the talk. Pick at least 10 black players in the starting XV and another five on the bench. Start developing a black coach who can eventually become the head coach under Solomons (the director of rugby). Identify black administrators who can take over from Watson and Pretorius.
At the moment, EP seem to care more about qualifying for the Currie Cup Premier Division than anything else. If that is the case, then they should just be honest about it and admit that they, like most rugby teams, believe that winning is more important than being representative.
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53 Comments
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3 Aug 2010, 11:12 am
Players aside , and names have been mentioned about who is available to play for the kings and the area’s that fall into the catchment area. What we really need to look is the crowds and the power to get people to the stadiums.
Lets face it right now the EP rugby side will get a few hundred people to the new stadium. Should the blue bulls come and play here during the S14 there will be more. The same goes with all the other S14 teams . With the money generated from seeing teams like the crusaders/bulls/sharks/stormers ect the EP could in fact put that money back into the development of more black and school boy rugby players before they leave.
Have a look at the blue bulls , Dewald potgiter is from Daniel pienaar 40 outside of PE. Deon stegman is also from the area. Now had they stayed in PE i doubt they would have even made or been considered for springbok rugby. The article is not very acurate and does the EP no favours. More harm than good. Had it been researched and some of the positives been shown and mentioned it would have been better.
I for one am gatvol of all the major S14 games and teams have games elsewhere but not in PE. We get watered donw test matches on very old rugby grounds. Now we have the stadium and with the backing of SARU and the media it could turn this into a success. No i am not Cheecky Watson! I am a rugby supporter from the eastern cape who would love the see the All Blacks play the Boks at the brand new stadium. If that is not possible then fine, give us S14 games where we can also buy items from the variuos franchises.
3 Aug 2010, 14:02 pm
Players dont have to ONLY come from the region itself,but preferably so & those with links to region will get beneficial preference when being assessed if they are GOOD enough.
When trying to establish a professional franchise,of course bottom line/success plays a huge part.Arguably the most intergral.But the Kings will/can be used a tool to aid the process of transformation with sufficient guidelines of course.This is also imperative.Looking for black talent allover the country/under utilised talent(of all colours) at union with bloated squads etc
Plus making some marquee signing of a few experienced,internationals preferably 1 or 2 Boks much like Force franchise(who have never come below 10th in S14 if Im not mistaken)
Prospective Kings XV (hypothetically)
1.Sephaka
2.Maku
3.BJ
4.Wayne van Heerden
5.Rossouw
6.Potgieter(c)
7.Lobberts
8.Johnson
9.Delport
10.Francis
11.Nokwe
12.De Wet Barry
13.De Jongh
14.O.Ndungane
15.Mangweni
10 Aug 2010, 14:02 pm
EP IS A JOKE PROVINCE, they dont deserve a S15 spot and even if they did get one they wouldnt retain players anyway. Just look at the cheetahs, they have a well established super franchise and they still struggle to retain players, what makes the EP better than the free state, why should EP be pulled ahead of any of the other provinces. Way back in the dark ages the Sharks werent in the Premier Division, yet they performed, won the Currie Cup and played in the super 10, NOW EP WANT A SPOT JUST BECAUSE. Piss off man, go back to PE.
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