30 October 2011
The EP Kings or Eastern Province as they were previously known is one of the oldest provincial rugby teams in South Africa. The EPRU was founded in 1888 and many of South Africa's great players comes from this region. They include the likes of Danie Gerber, De Wet Barry and 2011 IRB Sevens player of the year, Cecil Afrika. EPRU have been pushing for a spot in Super Rugby for the last 3 years through their franchise, the Southern Kings.
A total revamp of the Union after some financial difficulties and controversy has seen them becoming a team to reckon with. Prior to 2009 they hardly featured in the ABSA Currie Cup First Division, struggling to finish in the top half of the log. Then came the changes and the bid for Super Rugby recognition combined with Border Rugby and SWD rugby.
Cheeky Watson took over as President of the Union and made wholesale changes. Players from all over South Africa were brought back to there Province of birth. Tiger Mangweni, De Wet Barry and Luke Watson are some of the big names brought back. This was all done in an attempt to gain that place in the Super 14. SARU however decided to stick to the 5 teams already in the competitions.
In last year's play-offs for promotion to the Premier division of the ABSA Currie Cup they came second to the Platinum Leopards and did not make it. With the change from a team division to a 6 team Premier Division it means that they will have to wait until the end of the 2012 season to stand a chance at promotion. That is if they can finish as winners of the First Division and beat the 6th placed team in the Premier Division. It is just becoming more difficult and a longer wait for the EP Kings and Southern Kings to become the team they are working so hard at becoming.
They also lost out to the Melbourne Rebels in a bit to become the 15th team in the Super 15 competition. After this SARU once again stuck with the current South African teams in the competition. The Southern Kings had a strong point in motivating their inclusion after the Lions ended last in 2010 and did not win 1 game in the 2011 season. Yet it seems as if this part of the country will not get a Super Rugby place soon. All the other regions has a team and Gauteng basically has two with the Lions and Bulls. The EP Kings has more development players than any other team in the country.
Looking at SARU's and the Government's push for players of colour to be included in teams the EP Kings and Southern Kings might just be the answer to this cul-de-sac in SA Rugby. The only problem is that SARU looks set on keeping them out of top flight rugby. This has always been a province that had to make due with young up and coming players as bigger unions bought their stars and yet they have performed better than most of the smaller unions.
The EP Kings have a long rich history in SA Rugby, but the future looks bleak and grim for them. SARU is not helping much in building on this history and the development of young players with bright futures. I believe they should be given the opportunity in 2012 to play out in a best of 3 series against the bottom placed SA team for a spot in the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
But as always this is just my view......
A total revamp of the Union after some financial difficulties and controversy has seen them becoming a team to reckon with. Prior to 2009 they hardly featured in the ABSA Currie Cup First Division, struggling to finish in the top half of the log. Then came the changes and the bid for Super Rugby recognition combined with Border Rugby and SWD rugby.
Cheeky Watson took over as President of the Union and made wholesale changes. Players from all over South Africa were brought back to there Province of birth. Tiger Mangweni, De Wet Barry and Luke Watson are some of the big names brought back. This was all done in an attempt to gain that place in the Super 14. SARU however decided to stick to the 5 teams already in the competitions.
In last year's play-offs for promotion to the Premier division of the ABSA Currie Cup they came second to the Platinum Leopards and did not make it. With the change from a team division to a 6 team Premier Division it means that they will have to wait until the end of the 2012 season to stand a chance at promotion. That is if they can finish as winners of the First Division and beat the 6th placed team in the Premier Division. It is just becoming more difficult and a longer wait for the EP Kings and Southern Kings to become the team they are working so hard at becoming.
They also lost out to the Melbourne Rebels in a bit to become the 15th team in the Super 15 competition. After this SARU once again stuck with the current South African teams in the competition. The Southern Kings had a strong point in motivating their inclusion after the Lions ended last in 2010 and did not win 1 game in the 2011 season. Yet it seems as if this part of the country will not get a Super Rugby place soon. All the other regions has a team and Gauteng basically has two with the Lions and Bulls. The EP Kings has more development players than any other team in the country.
Looking at SARU's and the Government's push for players of colour to be included in teams the EP Kings and Southern Kings might just be the answer to this cul-de-sac in SA Rugby. The only problem is that SARU looks set on keeping them out of top flight rugby. This has always been a province that had to make due with young up and coming players as bigger unions bought their stars and yet they have performed better than most of the smaller unions.
The EP Kings have a long rich history in SA Rugby, but the future looks bleak and grim for them. SARU is not helping much in building on this history and the development of young players with bright futures. I believe they should be given the opportunity in 2012 to play out in a best of 3 series against the bottom placed SA team for a spot in the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
But as always this is just my view......
