Kings still short a few players
While most franchises named Super Rugby squads of 37 to 39 players, the Kings unveiled the names of just 31 players.
The South African Rugby Union, who are managing the operations and recruitment of the players, are hoping to fill the last few vacancies from unwanted players at other franchises.
However, the Lions have become the first to publicly state they will not release any players.
Golden Lions Rugby Union CEO Rudolf Straeuli made it clear that their players are 'off-limit'.
"No contracted player will be released to other unions at this stage," Straeuli said, adding that players who missed the cut for their Super Rugby squad will fall in with the Currie Cup side with immediate effect.
The Kings do have a number of players in reserve, who have trained with them in recent weeks but have not been listed in their squad – the likes of James Hall, Vukile Sofisa, Phillip du Preez, Tazz Fuzani, Tjiuee Uanivi, Aidon Davis, JP Jonck, Marlon Lewis, Theuns Kotze, Michael Makase and Leighton Eksteen.
Southern Kings provisional squad: Schalk Ferreira, Edgar Marutlulle, Jacobie Adriaanse, Steven Sykes, John Charles Astle, Chris Cloete, Thembelani Bholi, Jacques Engelbrecht, Ntando Kebe, Elgar Watts, Malcolm Jaer, Shane Gates, Stefan Watermeyer, Luzuko Vulindlu, Jurgen Visser, Sithembiso Sithole, Martin Bezuidenhout, Tom Botha, Schalk Oelofse, Cornell Hess, Cyril-John Velleman, Stephan Willemse, Junior Pokomela, Kevin Luiters, Louis Fouche, Lukhanyo Am, Phillipus du Plessis, Siyanda Grey, Jaco van Tonder, Marin Ferreira, Tyler Paul.
