Watson to captain SARU's Kings?
rugby365 can reveal that 17 players from the current senior Eastern Province Kings squad are on SARU's wishlist for Super Rugby contracts.
The South African Rugby Players Association has confirmed that it has met the management company of the Southern Kings SA Rugby Pty Ltd (or SKSAR as the SARU Super Rugby body is called) this week.
SARPA also had meetings with players and have started sending out letters to players who did not make the cut.
"The players' association can confirm that SKSAR has identified players who it will make written offers to on Wednesday, December 9," a statement issued by SARPA said.
The players have been given until Thursday, December 10, to accept or reject the presented offers.
rugby365 obtained the list of players who will be (or have been) offered contracts.
They are Schalk Ferreira (prop), Tom Botha (prop), Edgar Marutlulle (hooker), Steven Sykes (lock), Cornell Hess (lock), Stefan Willemse (flank), Thembelani Bholi (flank), CJ Velleman (flank), Luke Watson (flank), Aidon Davis (No.8), Kevin Luiters (scrumhalf), Elgar Watts (flyhalf), Louis Fouche (flyhalf), Shane Gates (centre), Stefan Watermeyer (centre), JP du Plessis (centre), Siyanda Grey (wing).
Watson was short-listed as captain, but there is uncertainty about his availability.
He has struggled with numerous injuries the past few years and featured in just three of the Kings' Currie Cup games this past season (a total of 192 minutes) and two Vodacom Cup games (54 minutes). He also played off the bench in the June friendlies against the Bulls and Western Province.
Watson is also said to be 'supporting' the players who handed over a petition to his father, EP Rugby Union President Cheeky Watson, as the fall-out over unpaid salaries escalated.
However, the focus has shifted dramatically away from the players in Port Elizabeth to what SARU/SKSAR has been up to in the last day or two.
SARU/SKSAR will now fill the rest of the squad – which will be 35 strong when Super Rugby kicks off in February – with players from the junior and Sevens ranks.
They are reportedly ready to also offer Super Rugby contracts to three of the EPRU's best Under-19 players – James Hall (scrumhalf), Jeremy Ward (centre and captain), Junior Pokomela (No.8).
The trio players in the 25-23 win over the Blue Bulls in the inter-provincial U19 Final in October.
Other Kings (or former Kings) players in the mix include Tim Agaba and Siviwe Soyizwapi, who signed Sevens contracts with SARU recently.
The SARU/SKSAR contracting formula means a number of players who served the Kings with distinction this past year are left out in the cold.
This include David Bulbring, Jacques Engelbrecht, Tazz Fuzani, Martin Ferreira, Ronnie Cooke, Dwayne Kelly, Enrico Acker, Michael van Vuuren (who has already indicated he is going the legal route to recoup his unpaid salaries), Scott van Breda, Aidon Davis, Gary van Aswegen and George Whitehead – to name just some.
Players who moved on before the latest mess include Tim Whitehead (who became a free agent), Lizo Gqoboka and Luther Obi (who joined the Bulls).
It is not just the bulk of the current senior players being left out in the cold.
The majority of the Kings' new recruits – that were announced with such great fanfare last month, before the SARU takeover – have also not made the list.
Only two of the new recruits announced last month – Louis Fouche and Stefan Watermeyer – are on the SARU/SKSAR wishlist.
Seven other – SP Marais, James Hilterbrand, Jurgen Visser, JC Roos, Caylib Oosthuizen, Mark Richards and Carel Greeff – have also been left out in the cold.
The South African Rugby Players Association statement: "The South African Rugby Players Association [SARPA] confirms that it has met the management company of the Southern Kings SA Rugby Pty Ltd [SKSAR], the South African Rugby Union [SARU] as well as players in Port Elizabeth over the past two days.
"SARPA now has insight on the plans going forward set out by the SKSAR and are comfortable with the SARU intervention and the way forward. Furthermore we believe that is the only viable option given the current situation.
"We have requested that SARU confirm the bankabilty of this process going forward as to avoid the players ending in a similar situation in the future.
"The players' association can confirm that SKSAR has identified players who it will make written offers to on Wednesday, 9 December. Players will be given until Thursday, 10 December to accept or reject the presented offer.
"An official SKSAR team meeting is planned for later in the week with the contracted players and team management to start with preparations for Super Rugby 2016.
"We are aware that there are various players still experiencing hardship as a result of the EP Kings Pty Ltd not paying salaries and we will continue to assist them in the best way possible. We will have one-on-one sessions later this week with those players not considered to represent SKSAR.
"These consultations will focus on exploring alternative options for players, providing assistance as well as pursuing a legal claim on their behalf against the EP Kings Pty Ltd for outstanding salaries."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
