The Southern Kings are the culmination of a successful bid 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.”
The Southern Kings 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 11 November 2010, SARU confirmed that matches had 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 consisted mainly 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.
On 27 January 2012, SARU confirmed that the Southern Kings would participate in the 2013 Super Rugby season, with no decision made as to how they would be accommodated.
On 16 August the on-again, off-again decision by the South Afican Rugby Union (SARU) to ratify their decision to include the Kings in the Super Rugby competition was finally made. It was decided that the Lions would sit out for one year whilst the Kings played Super Rugby.
This late decision gave the Southern Kings just over six months to organise a team and contract players for the Super Rugby team – a daunting task in light of no big name sponsor willing to step forward with wads of cash.
The first match to be played by the Southern Kings was on 23 February 2013 when they beat the Western Force in Port Elizabeth: 22-10.
The Southern Kings now play the first of their promotion / relegation matches against the Lions on Friday the 26th of July 2013, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with kickoff at 19:10.
During the 2013 Super Rugby Season the Southern Kings have:
- Played 16 games
- 8 games were played at home in Port Elizabeth
- Had 581 points scored against them
- Scored 291 points against their opponents
- Won 3 games against Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and Highlanders.
- Drawn 1 game against the ACT Brumbies
- Lost 12 games
- Only had ONE game in which they failed to score any points – against the Blue Bulls on 20 April 2013
Southern Kings Results Sheet
- 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
- 6 July 2013: Sharks beat Southern Kings in Durban: 58-13. Match Report
Alan Straton
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