MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Could we be going French?

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Media reports say that Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has offered to buy the cash-strapped Southern Kings.

The Port Elizabeth based Kings are set to return to Super Rugby in the expanded 18-team competition from 2016, but the franchise has been experiencing major financial problems with ongoing reports of wage issues.

Issues about unpaid wages first surfaced in July, and EP Kings players were reported to have gone on strike when similar problems arose in August. Overdue payments were finally made, but the problems have resurfaced and the South African Rugby Players Association issued a written 10-day notice for the Kings to pay outstanding salaries or face action. SARPA spokesperson Nyaniso Sam confirmed to SA Rugby Mag that the notice lapsed on Tuesday, and that various actions were being discussed if the matter were still not resolved by then.

And now the Son op Sondag newspaper has reported that Boudjellal has offered a financial lifeline to the Kings subject to two clauses: the newspaper reported that Boudjellal wanted to re-name the franchise the Mandela Kings and wanted guarantees that South Africa would play one Springboks Test a year each in Port Elizabeth and Toulon.

Rugbyweek reported this week that the franchise was R80 Million Rand in debt while a R200 Million sponsorship had failed to materialise.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.