It was with great disappointment that we watched the Southern Kings bow out of Super Rugby with a victory against the Lions in front of a packed Ellis Park. Sadly the victory was not enough to secure the franchise from the Eastern Cape a place in Super Rugby in 2014. Looking back there were crucial moments that could’ve made a huge difference in the outcome, but it is of no consequence crying over spilt milk. It’s time for the Port Elizabeth based franchise to move forward.
The Southern Kings have had a fairytale season. Saturday 23rd of February 2013, they came out in their first game and gave the Eastern Cape a night they will never forget, beating the Western Force 22-10 in front of a packed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. A few weeks later they came from behind to draw with eventual losing Super Rugby finalists the Brumbies in Canberra, a week thereafter they won their 1st game on tour against Rebels in Melbourne. The last victory of the season came in an inspirational performance in Port Elizabeth against the Highlanders.
It is now time to build on what they’ve achieved this season and central to this is making sure of the success of the Eastern Province Kings. While there is still a bit of uncertainty around whether there will be a promotion-relegation match next year for Super Rugby, the ultimate goal should be for both the senior and junior sides to earn promotion to Currie Cup Premier division.
While the Pumas seem set to finish top of the log with the Kings 10 points of the pace, 1 or 2 slip ups from the men from Mpumalanga could see the men from Port Elizabeth go up to number 1 on the log giving them a chance to contest the promotion-relegation match against the team that comes last in the Premier Pivision. It should at least prove a bit of an incentive for our current seniors and any other seniors we may look to bring in.
The u19s and u21s however are yet to begin their Currie Cup campaigns making it that much more important that they realise how crucial the promotion of the junior sides is to keeping Eastern Province Kings rugby in a healthy position. It will in many respects help the region with talent retention as all the talented youngsters want to play in the best junior competitions in the country and certainly help the upcoming talent with regards to quality opposition. This will also enable the Kings to build a strong base of players who can make the transition to senior rugby easier whether it would be Super Rugby or Currie Cup Premier Division.
The Kings I am sure are well aware that the success should start at the bottom and should be built up from there, the platform has been laid by our reasonable success in Super Rugby, and it’s time for the union to move 1 level up. Good luck to all our Currie Cup teams, the 1994 breed (u19s), u21s and the seniors.
Congratulations to the Lions, wish them and all their supporters all the best for next year’s Super Rugby competition. Last but not least, I think I speak for all the supporters of the Southern Kings when I say it has been a great experience to be in Super Rugby. All the best to the players who will leave Port Elizabeth, to all those who rallied behind the team even during the difficult times, the administrators, the management, the players and the people of Eastern Cape, one big resounding THANK YOU.
Ludumo Nkabi
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