The EP Kings Under-19 side will travel to Johannesburg to play in the finals against the Blue Bullson Saturday, 24 October. Betting money will be on the EP Kings emerging victorious despite their 49-26 loss against the Blue Bulls on 2 October at Loftus after their 24-15 win against the Blue Bulls on 31 July at the Wolfson Stadium. Two new champions will be crowned in Johannesburg on Saturday when the finals of the Absa Under-19 and Under-21 Provincial Championships will be played at Emirates … [Read more...] about Hopes of a Province play in finals on Saturday
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The Pride of a Province
The EP Kings U19 side registered their third win over their Free State counterparts this season to reach the final of the Absa Provincial Championship with a 31-15 triumph at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday (October 16). The Kings will meet the winners of the Blue Bulls-Western Province semifinal in the final on October 14. As they have done for much of the season, the Kings made a strong start to shoot out to 15-0 lead, but then had to withstand a spirited effort … [Read more...] about The Pride of a Province
Vital Semi-Final for Kings
Despite two wins already over the Toyota Free State Cheetahs this season, the EP Kings U19 rugby side will be taking nothing for granted when they clash in the Absa Provincial Championship semifinals at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday (October 16, kick-off 15.00). In the other competition playoff, also being played on Friday, the second-placed Blue Bulls take on Western Province at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria (16.30). The final will be played at the venue of the senior … [Read more...] about Vital Semi-Final for Kings
EP Kings on top
The EP Kings and Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 teams will host this weekend’s Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship A-Division semifinals. The Kings will host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, who won 41-30 against the Cell C Sharks in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The EP Kings bounced back in emphatic fashion on Friday from a first competition defeat last weekend and outclassed DHL Western Province 23-6 at DHL Newlands on Friday. With this win, the Kings secured their top spot for this weekend's … [Read more...] about EP Kings on top
Easy win for WP over EP Kings
Western Province eased to a 45-14 win over the EP Kings in a Currie Cup clash at Newlands on Friday. Province knew that only a win would do in their bid to secure a home semi-final, but none of that mattered as the Blue Bulls triumphed against the Pumas in Nelspruit. The results mean that WP will now travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls in the semi-finals. WP were ahead after just three minutes when Nizaam Carr benefited from a non-existent Kings defence to cross the … [Read more...] about Easy win for WP over EP Kings
SARU and SARPA aware of EP Kings ‘financial challenges’
High-level discussions between Eastern Province Rugby, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the South African Rugby Players' Association (SARPA) took place in Port Elizabeth on Thursday to review the current and future financial stability of the union. The talks stemmed from concerns over the recent delayed payments to EP Kings players. SARU President, Mr Oregan Hoskins, SARU GM Operations and Finance, Basil Haddad, and SARPA CEO Piet Heymans met EP Rugby officials. Mr Hoskins said he … [Read more...] about SARU and SARPA aware of EP Kings ‘financial challenges’
EP U19 into final round
Eastern Province and Western Province will fight it out for the top position when they meet in the final round of pool matches in the Absa U19 Provincial rugby Championship in Cape Town this Friday. Although there is more pressure on the home side, the EP Kings will go into the match smarting from their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Blue Bulls last weekend and will be determined to finish the league phase on a strong note. Thanks to their excellent season, EP are in the … [Read more...] about EP U19 into final round
Captain Cooke
Injuries to senior players Tim Whitehead and Steven Sykes will see centre Ronnie Cooke take over the captaincy when the EP Kings play their final Absa Currie Cup Premier Division rugby match against Western Province in Cape Town this Friday. Cooke also replaces Whitehead at centre, although he will operate from the outside position, with JP du Plessis moving to inside centre. There are injury concerns over Stefan Willemse, who replaces Sykes at lock, and wing Luther Obi, but Kings coach … [Read more...] about Captain Cooke
White Armbands for EP Kings unpaid staff
The EP Kings staged a minor protest in their Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls on Friday evening wearing white armbands in solidarity with the coaching staff and players that have not been paid salaries for a month. Kings captain Tim Whitehead said the match-day 22 decided on the gesture on Thursday with the non-payment of players’ salaries being a constant issue this year. "The 22-man playing squad unanimously decided as a group to wear white armbands for this match to signify our … [Read more...] about White Armbands for EP Kings unpaid staff
Kings not lying down against Bulls
Despite being assured of a place in the Absa U19 Provincial Championship semifinals, the EP Kings will not be taking their eye off the ball in the final two matches of the league phase against the Blue Bulls and Western Province. The unbeaten Kings travel to Pretoria this weekend for a clash with the Bulls on Friday (October 2) and round off their programme against WP in Cape Town the following Friday (October 9). Coach Mzwandile Stick's team look set to end in the top two and claim a home … [Read more...] about Kings not lying down against Bulls
EP Kings Team Named For Bulls Clash
Flyhalf Elgar Watts will make his first start for the EP Kings after being named in the run-on line-up for their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division rugby match against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Friday (October 2). The talented Watts has played from the bench in the Kings' last two matches and he now gets a chance to establish himself as the frontrunner for the pivot position. He replaces Karlo Aspeling, who is on the bench. "We feel that Elgar has picked up enough rhythm and confidence … [Read more...] about EP Kings Team Named For Bulls Clash
Last gasp try secures Kings win against Griquas
EP Kings skipper Tim Whitehead crossed for a try after the hooter had gone to snatch a sensational 40-37 victory for his team against Griquas in their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division rugby match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (September 26). Earlier Whitehead had scored his first try in the 58th minute to give the Kings the lead at 33-32. However, Griquas hit back through a powerful lineout drive for AJ van Zyl to cross over as they regained the lead at … [Read more...] about Last gasp try secures Kings win against Griquas
More of the same for EP Kings U21’s
The EP Kings U21 rugby side came within a whisker of registering their second victory in the Absa U21 Provincial Championship this season before the Leopards scored two tries in the final five minutes to snatch a 24-16 win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (September 26). Despite successive yellow cards in the first half, the Kings led 11-10 at the break and the sides then became involved in a furious battle for supremacy in the second half. It took 22 minutes … [Read more...] about More of the same for EP Kings U21’s
EP U19’s Record 10th win secures top place
The EP Kings U19 rugby side consolidated their position at the top of the log and ensured they would finish in the top two when they defeated the Leopards 33-14 in the Absa U19 Provincial Championship at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (September 26). In scoring the five-try victory to earn a bonus point, the Kings moved 12 points ahead of third-placed Blue Bulls. With just two league matches remaining, EP, on 46 points, cannot be overhauled by the Bulls (34 points … [Read more...] about EP U19’s Record 10th win secures top place
Top and Bottom of Log EP Kings vs Leopards
Placed at the bottom of the log, the Eastern Province Kings U21 rugby side will be determined to move up on the log when they host the Leopards in the Absa U21 Provincial Championship at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (September 26), kicking off at 12.45. The Kings and the Leopards have both had tough seasons and have identical win-loss records. However, the difference between the two sides is that the Leopards have managed to pick up four bonus points, leaving them on eight … [Read more...] about Top and Bottom of Log EP Kings vs Leopards
