The Kings will form part of an expanded Super Rugby tournament which includes three new teams, the Southern Kings from South Africa, the Sunwolves from Japan and the Jaguares from Argentina.
Shortly after SARU stepped in to take over from the struggling EPRU they announced a twenty man squad of whom all are current EP Kings contracted players along with coaching staff from the three unions that make up the Southern Kings franchise.
The EP Kings players who will form the bulk of the squad are mixed with up-and-coming stars of tomorrow like Malcolm Jaer (20), Shane Gates (23), James Hall (19), Junior Pokomela (19) and CJ Velleman (20) along with more senior guys like Steven Sykes (31), Edgar Marutlulle (27), Elgar Watts (30) and Schalk Ferreira (31).
Surprisingly, there were no space for the likes of Ronnie Cooke, Scott van Breda, Luke Watson and SP Marais, while other senior players like Tim Whitehead, Lizo Gqoboka, Tim Agaba and Luther Obi took contracts elsewhere. Along with the player exodus, head coach Brent Janse van Rensburg left to join Boland while strength and conditioning coach Johan Pretorius joined the Sharks.
SARU appointed SWD Districts Academy coach, Deon Davids as head coach, with Mzwandile Stick (backs) and Barend Pieterse (forwards) as his assistants. Nadus Niewoudt will be in charge of the conditioning and Zingi Hela team manager.
"It is a slimmed down coaching team but it will be ably supported by the expertise we have in our mobi-unit and other SARU resources to give them every chance of flying the Kings' flag with pride", said SARU CEO, Jurie Roux.
Regarding player announcements, Southern Kings COO Charl Crous said more are expected over the coming weeks.
“We are still in the process of negotiating with other players and with the other unions, but we have made significant progress over the December break and things are looking positive, with more player announcements expected over the coming weeks,” said Crous.
Southern Kings squad (to date): Leighton Eksteen (Fullback/Flyhalf/Scrumhalf, trial/SWD), Malcolm Jaer (Fullback), Michael Makase (Wing, trial/Border), Luzuko Vulindlu (Wing/Centre, trial/SWD), Siyanda Grey (Wing/centre), JP du Plessis (Centre), Lukhanyo Am (Centre, trial/Sharks), Stefan Watermeyer (Centre), Elgar Watts (Flyhalf), Louis Fouche (Flyhalf), Shane Gates (Flyhalf), James Hall (Scrumhalf), Kevin Luiters (Scrumhalf), Ntando Kebe (Scrumhalf, trial/Border), Aidon Davis (No.8), Sipato Junior Pokomela (No.8), Cyril-John Velleman (Flank), Stefan Willemse (Flank), Thembelani Bholi (Flank), Billy Dutton (Loose Forward, trial/Border), Onke Dubase (Loose Forward, trial/Border) Cornell Hess (Lock), Steven Sykes (Lock), Schalk Oelofse (Lock, loan/SWD), Tyler Paul (Lock/flank), Schalk Ferreira (Prop), Jacobie Adriaanse (Prop), Tom Botha (Prop), Monde Hadebe (Hooker, trial/Sharks), Edgar Marutlulle (Hooker), Mihlali Mpafi (Hooker, trial/Border).
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