The Southern Kings are scheduled to replace the Golden Lions as one of five South African franchises in next year’s Super 15, it was announced on Thursday.
South African Rugby Union (SARU) officials voted 26-3 in Cape Town to promote the Eastern Cape-based Kings and relegate the Johannesburg-based Lions, who finished bottom of the southern hemisphere regional championship table this year.
The Coastal Sharks, who finished runners-up this season to the Waikato Chiefs of New Zealand, semi-finalists the Western Stormers, three-time champions the Northern Bulls and the improving Central Cheetahs retain their status.
“All rugby provinces have consistently supported the need for an Eastern Cape team in the competition. That decision was first taken in 2006, but their inclusion has twice been postponed,” SARU president Oregan Hoskins said.
“The Kings franchise represents more clubs than any other region — apart from the Stormers — and contains numerous leading rugby schools. It has been starved of top-class competition for a decade-and-a-half,” he added.
“Provinces asked for a rugby solution and we believe this was the fairest and most transparent method to respond to what is undoubtedly a less than ideal situation,” he said.
The decision to axe the lowest South African team on the table followed months of speculation, that included the Lions joining forces with another franchise and the Kings being paid to delay their elevation.
There has been ongoing political pressure to promote the Kings, who are likely to stage home fixtures at 2010 FIFA World Cup venue Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The Eastern Cape boasts the largest number of black rugby players in the country and some officials from the ruling African National Congress party have expressed unhappiness at what they believed was the neglect of the sport in the region.
New Zealander Matt Sexton was named coach of the Kings in April last year, but the Currie Cup second-tier leaders have not announced any major signings before the big step-up to Super 15.
Softening the blow a little for the Lions, who have denied constant reports of financial problems, is the decision to have a two-leg South African promotion-relegation match at the end of each Super 15 from next year.
South African officials want six franchises in the competition when the TV deal is renegotiated after the 2015 tournament and there has also been speculation of Argentine, Japanese and Pacific islands entrants.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two