MyPE

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

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Absa Currie Cup format 2014 – same old same old

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A proposal to expand the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division to eight teams in 2014 was rejected by a Special General Council meeting of South African Rugby Union provinces in Johannesburg on Monday. A second proposal – dependent on the success of the first – that the Lions be entrenched in Vodacom Super Rugby for the next two years therefore fell away. As a result, the status quo remains and the team that finishes top of the Absa Currie Cup First Division log in 2013 will play the last-placed … [Read more...] about Absa Currie Cup format 2014 – same old same old

Southern Kings recall two foreign players from touring squad

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Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) President, Cheeky Watson, left Port Elizabeth this afternoon for New Zealand, to go and address the Southern Kings touring squad following the announcement from the SA Rugby Union (SARU) relating to the foreign player issue. At a brief press conference held at the airport, Watson confirmed that the Kings would be recalling Tomas Leonardi and Virgile Lacombe from the touring squad, and would be sending Edgar Marutlulle and Devin Oosthuizen to replace … [Read more...] about Southern Kings recall two foreign players from touring squad

Dear South Africa (and SARU), Rugby is not about race

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Before the Southern Kings vs Sharks game on Saturday evening (WON by the Southern Kings, who LOST 21-12 to the Sharks) Francois de Wet (Die Son sien alles) and I were having a chin wag about the old days - in Francois' case the old days don't extend much further than before the year 2000 whereas mine encompass a Gavin Cowley, Danie Gerber era. The Stormers Chiefs game was up on the big screen at the NMB Stadium and the name Kolisi was mentioned as we were discussing young Southern Kings … [Read more...] about Dear South Africa (and SARU), Rugby is not about race

Rugby is a Business open to Corruption

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With the debate still raging on in lesser educated circles about whether the Southern Kings should be allowed more than two (4,6 or 10) foreign players or not, on how 'lily white' the team is or how EP have 'failed' at development, the Super Rugby team 'selection' needs to be put into perspective. Player 'selection' is really only about which franchise has the deepest pockets and the most money to attract employees (we used to call them 'players' in the old days). There is an accepted … [Read more...] about Rugby is a Business open to Corruption

WTF Southern Kings

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Okay sufficient time has passed for me to try and put last night's Southern Kings defeat by Griqualand West (27-30), in their pre-season warm up at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in perspective and for me to try and repair my shattered dreams. So far the Southern Kings have a pretty dismal 2013 record with 3 games played; a win against the Franchise XV in George and two losses - against the Lions last weekend and the Griquas on Wednesday 13 February 2013. With a background of Watson … [Read more...] about WTF Southern Kings

George Davids – SARU Condolences for former EP President

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The South African Rugby Union (SARU) was saddened with the passing of former Eastern Province president Mr George Davids from a long illness in Port Elizabeth on Monday. Mr Davids was president of the EP Rugby Union for more than a decade between 1994 and 2004. He was born and bred in Port Elizabeth and apart from playing for the Wallabies club earlier in his rugby career, he came through the ranks as administrator and was later also the club's chairman. "We were very saddened to hear of … [Read more...] about George Davids – SARU Condolences for former EP President

SARU confirms Southern Kings Vodacom Super Rugby participation for 2013

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The South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Thursday confirmed South Africa's participants in Vodacom Super Rugby at a General Meeting of the member provinces. The top four teams in the South African Conference in 2012 (DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls, The Sharks and Toyota Cheetahs) will join the Southern Kings in the 2013 tournament. The teams were confirmed after the General Meeting accepted a proposal first tabled by the Executive Council in January. The proposal was that: "The franchise … [Read more...] about SARU confirms Southern Kings Vodacom Super Rugby participation for 2013

EP Kings in Super Rugby – A Nation Literally Held It’s Breath

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The on-again, off-again decision by the South Afican Rugby Union (SARU) to ratify their decision to include the EP Kings in the Super Rugby competition has finally been made. The Lions will sit out for one year whilst the EP Kings play Super Rugby. Before the decision we ran a quick poll and asked; "Will SARU say yes to EP Kings playing Super Rugby Today?" At the time of writing the vote was a 50/50 split. Some Twitter Reactions before the … [Read more...] about EP Kings in Super Rugby – A Nation Literally Held It’s Breath

Rescheduled SARU General Council Meeting

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A meeting of the General Council of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) will take place in Cape Town on 16 August, SARU announced today. The meeting replaces the postponed 13 July General Council. The Council will discuss South Africa's participants in the 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby competition. Reports of proposed alternatives to be considered at the meeting were purely speculative, said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU. Media are reminded that the responsibility for deciding South Africa's … [Read more...] about Rescheduled SARU General Council Meeting

“News to Me”, says Cheeky Watson

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"It is and has always been the objective of EP Rugby to bring Super 15 rugby to the Eastern Cape", President Cheeky Watson said in a statement released by EP Rugby today. He was commenting on news reports that rugby administrators in the province had agreed to forgo their right to admission to Super 15 rugby next year by accepting a multi-million rand payoff and inclusion only in 2016. The impasse among the five South African franchises competition in the Super 15 competition was created … [Read more...] about “News to Me”, says Cheeky Watson

No We Were Not Bribed says EP

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According to the EP Kings Twitter account: https://twitter.com/EPKings/status/224445008474931200 According to other media: The Southern Kings have accepted a multi-million rand offer from the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to postpone their inclusion in the Super Rugby competition. The Weekend Argus reports that the Kings agreed to delay their Super Rugby entry until 2016 in exchange for R40m and Currie Cup Premier Division status from next year. This comes after SARU earlier … [Read more...] about No We Were Not Bribed says EP

Southern Kings Vodacom Super Rugby Participation in 2013

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Now that the 'perceived hurdle' to the Southern Kings being part of Super Rugby (The management contract for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by Access Management has been signed) speculation continues as to whether the Southern Kings will still be part of Super Rugby in 2013. To counter the speculation and in an attempt to once again level the playing field SARU have officially stated the following: The identity of the South African teams participating in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition … [Read more...] about Southern Kings Vodacom Super Rugby Participation in 2013

21 Swept to Sea off Bluewater Bay, 5 Missing, 1 Drowned

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Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; "At 12h10 on Sunday 25 March, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports from EC Government Health: EMS of a multiple drowning incident in progress at Bluewater Bay Beach, between the Swartkops River mouth and Nqura harbour, Port Elizabeth. "Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched 3 of our sea rescue craft and our sea rescue vehicle responded. "Bluewater Bay lifeguards, … [Read more...] about 21 Swept to Sea off Bluewater Bay, 5 Missing, 1 Drowned

Southern Kings to Present Case to SANZAR

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Representatives of the South African Vodacom Super Rugby franchises will accompany the delegates of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to present a case for competition expansion in 2013 to SANZAR partners next month. Representatives of the Vodacom Bulls, MTN Lions, Southern Kings, and The Sharks will accompany SARU's SANZAR representatives on visits to their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia in mid-March. The delegation was formulated during a meeting between SARU's leadership … [Read more...] about Southern Kings to Present Case to SANZAR