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Kings coach versus the 2009 Lions heartbroken the franchise was liquidated last weekend
Worcester boss Alan Solomons has described the financial demise of the Southern Kings, the South African franchise he guided into Super Rugby, as heartbreaking and he fears for the development of future rugby talent from that region.
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Solomons left the Kings in 2013 having fulfilled his Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) brief to steer the team into the Super Rugby competition and guide them through their debut year which saw them compete as one of five South African teams.
The current Worcester director has closely followed the progress of the Kings since then and they have lurched from one financial disaster to another in recent years, culminating last weekend in the current PRO14 team being put into voluntary liquidation.
Franchise shareholders – the EPRU and SA Rugby – took the decision in the face of an accumulated deficit of R55million (£2.5m) and with zero income expected for the remainder of 2020.
As a result, a raft of players are now looking for new clubs including Cameron Wright, Yaw Penxe, Jacques du Toit and Bobby de Wee. Worcester have been linked with the highly-rated de Wee and he would join an increasing number of South African players operating in Europe if he moves to England.
Statement comes 4?? days after Kings were liquidated https://t.co/RDbuTa0vzX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2020
In a bid to try and halt the exodus, SA Rugby have confirmed they are in talks with the PRO14 competition as an alternative to their four teams who currently take part in Super Rugby.
With the Port Elizabeth-based set to be replaced, Solomons told RugbyPass: “I find the situation very upsetting. I coached the Kings against the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and we did really well in that game.
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“Robbie Kempson did a great job and we had a vibrant academy system going and I thought we were building something really good.
“It’s a fantastic area and it was so beneficial for South African rugby. Guys like Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am came from the Eastern Cape and for me it is heartbreaking that this has happened.
“From a South African perspective there are a lot of guys playing in France, the United Kingdom and Ireland and it is a concern. Rassie Erasmus (South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach) and the SARU have done the wise thing in saying that it doesn’t matter where in the world you play you will still be picked for your country.
“What is a real concern is the level of domestic competition in South Africa because that does get impacted and you need a blend of youth and experience and a lot of experienced players are leaving. That does concern me.
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“At Worcester, we have 18 home-grown players in our squad which is absolutely brilliant and then you have other lads who add diversity like Francois Hougaard and many others.”
This will change viewing habits https://t.co/7kjOEn2nBJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments