Kings: Christmas contract shocker
Eastern Province Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson sent letters out to numerous players – those not contracted to the Super Rugby team – that their contracts are about to be cancelled.
rugby365 is in possession of this letter, written on a EP Rugby (the 'professional' arm of the EPRU) letterhead.
It is our information that around 20 of the players, who were not contracted by the South African Rugby Union to the new Southern Kings Super Rugby team, received these letters via email on Friday.
In the letter Watson, who is believed to be on holiday at present, admits that there is "no immediate relief in sight" – meaning the promised ZAR200-million sponsorship is NOT forthcoming in the near future.
EPRU/EP Rugby has not been able to pay player and staff salaries for months – some three months and others four months.
Because the EPRU/EP Rugby is so far into the red, SARU had no alternative but to form a new company and start up a new team – to avoid the broadcast money from SANZAR to disappear into a dark bottomless pit.
However, only 20 players from the current Kings squad were offered contracts by the new company – Southern Kings SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd.
Those players were in the fortunate position that they have already been paid their salaries – albeit reduced from what they were once receiving from EP Rugby – for the months of November and December by the new holding company created, and wholly owned, by SARU to manage the financial affairs of the Southern Kings.
The rest of the players were left at the mercy of the virtually bankrupt EPRU/EP Rugby, who on Friday dropped the shocking news in their Christmas stockings.
It is becoming more obvious by the day that the SARU decision to take the Super Rugby franchise away from EP Rugby was the most sensible thing to do, albeit at the expense of some players.
Those players – the ones who do not have SKSAR contracts – still have the right to take legal action against the EPRU and EP Rugby for their outstanding salaries.
However, how much of that they will get – given the EPRU/EP Rugby bank account is empty and unlikely to get an income soon – remains unclear.
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
