Southern Kings

The Southern Kings is a rugby union team based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa who compete in the Super Rugby competition. The creation of the team was formally announced at the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 16 June 2009, in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

The Kings' catchment area is made up of the Eastern Cape, and parts of the Western Cape. They will draw players from 3 provincial unions, namely the Eastern Province Kings, based in Port Elizabeth (representing the southern half of the Eastern Cape), the Border Bulldogs, based in East London, (representing the northern half of the Eastern Cape) and the SWD Eagles, based in George, Western Cape (representing the South Western Districts).

History
The Southern Kings are the latest attempt to bring a Super Rugby side to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Previously in 2005, there was an attempt to do so in the form of a club called the Southern Spears, who were intended to participate in the Super 14 from 2007 onwards; however, their proposed entry into the competition led to considerable controversy within the country's rugby establishment. In April 2006, after concerns over the team's financial stability and sporting competitiveness, the Spears were denied entry into the Super 14. Following this, the Southern Spears ceased to exist.

In January 2009, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced that a new franchise in the Eastern Cape Province would be launched in June of that year to coincide with the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in Port Elizabeth for one of their midweek tour matches. "The franchise is to be launched with the goal of a future place in Super Rugby, but no timetable for its inclusion has been set. The President of the Eastern Province, Cheeky Watson, said "There is a desperate hunger for top-flight rugby in the South Eastern Cape and this is the first step to satisfying it." The franchise was officially announced on the SARU website in April 2009."

They applied to gain a place in Super Rugby from 2011 in a to-be-formed Australian conference in Super Rugby. However, on 12 November 2009, SANZAR arbitrators rejected their bid to join Super Rugby, awarding the 15th licence to the Melbourne Rebels. On 27 January 2012, SARU confirmed that they will participate in the 2013 Super Rugby season, with no decision made as to how they will be accommodated.

On 11 November 2010, SARU confirmed that matches have been organised for the Southern Kings for 2011. They played three matches against other South African Super Rugby franchises and one against a Premier XV team, which mainly consisted of foreign-based South African players trying to stake their claim for inclusion in the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad. They also played as the South African Kings in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup, which they won. Proposed games against English Premiership side, Saracens F.C. were later cancelled.

Results

 * 1 February 2013: Southern Kings beat Franchise XV in George: 29-13. Match Report
 * 9 February 2013: Lions beat Southern Kings in Johannesburg: 41-31. Match Report
 * 13 February 2013: Griquas beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 30-27. Match Report
 * 23 February 2013: Southern Kings beat Western Force in Port Elizabeth: 22-10. Match Report
 * 9 March 2013: Sharks beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 21-12. Match Report
 * 15 March 2013: Chiefs beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 35-24. Match Report
 * 22 March 2013: Crusaders beat Southern Kings in Christchurch: 55-20. Match Report
 * 30 March 2013: Wellington Hurricanes beat Southern Kings in Wellington, New Zealand: 46-30. Match Report
 * 5 April 2013: Southern Kings draw with ACT Brumbies in Canberra, Australia: 28-28. Match Report
 * 13 April 2013: Southern Kings beat Melbourne Rebels in Melboure, Australia: 30-27. Match Report
 * 20 April 2013: Blue Bulls beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 34-0. Match Report
 * 27 April 2013: Cheetahs beat Southern Kings in Bloemfontein: 26-12. Match Report
 * 4 May 2013: Waratahs beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 72-10. Match Report
 * 11 May 2013: Southern Kings beat Highlanders in Port Elizabeth: 34-17. Match Report
 * 25 May 2013: Cheetahs beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 34-22. Match Report
 * 1 June 2013: Stormers beat Southern Kings in Cape Town: 19-11. Match Report
 * 29 June 2013: Blue Bulls beat Southern Kings in Pretoria: 48-13. Match Report
 * 6 July 2013: Stormers beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 48-13. Match Report
 * 13 July 2013: Sharks beat Southern Kings in Durban: 58-13. Match Report
 * 26 July 2013: Lions beat Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth: 26-19. Match Report
 * 3 August 2013: Southern Kings beat Lions in Johannesburg: 23-18. Match Report

2013 Super Rugby Squad
The following players formed part of a 40-man core training squad that started pre-season training for the 2013 Super Rugby season.