Kings to replace Lions

 are the objectors fighting a losing battle? Is there a silver linning somewhere? Have your say people!

Good to see you back at last Hakwa - long recovery period re the Oz debacle?

Look very, ver yfew folk think much of the queens debacle. Its all politically and racially driven.

Let the queens play a relegation match - not that they have earned even that privilege.

 what is Aristocrat saving his comments for supersport, why doesn't he comment here! Anyway, about the Oz debacle, have you noticed the rise of the Reds menace lately! Cooper testing out his new knee reconstruction mmmmmm not totally convinced! The acid test will be this weekend against the Brumbies!

Beans, not sure how you figure it to be racial, but it definately is political. And Hakwa, the reason people in SA are pissed off about this is because the "Kings" can't even win our "second division" competition here, but for reasons that can only be explained as political, they plan to leapfrog both the Vodacom cup, and the Currie cup and just jump straight into Super Rugby and that at the expense of one of our traditional powerhouses, the Lions. And while the Lions have been crap for the last few years they were on the up and up, winning the Currie Cup last year etc. In Super Rugby this year they have been plagued by injuries, so a good year was never on the cards. The rugby powers in South Africa have been blackmailed into voting for the Kings to be included, because if they didn't, our government would not back a South African bid to hold future rugby world cups.

The Watsons aka bum chums to the ANC, are running the "Kings" and they are now, for no good reason, other than being politically connected, going to be included in Super Rugby.

The rugby public ain't happy about this, I can promise you that.

The Kings did not feature prominently in the Vodacom Cup and is not in contention to have any chance of winning the CC.   The Vodacom Cup cup is for all the Unions - also those playing for the five Super 15 franchises.   that means that the competition is basicvally for the second teams of the five Super 15 franchises.   If the Kings cannot feature prominently in that competition - the question is are they good enough to leapfrog to Super 15.  

Put them in Super 15 and they would be without a win in the full season - even if they buy some of the Lions players - the better ones would go to other franchises.    This type of thing is a disaster for the Super 15 and the other competitors should object to degradation of the value of the competition.  

Right on the money clevermike.

@ Clevermike - Just to bring balance to this argument quick, I just want to refer to your comment blow:

"The Kings did not feature prominently in the Vodacom Cup and is not in contention to have any chance of winning the CC"

On the one hand yes, the Kings do not stand a chance of winning the Currie Cup, correct. I just need to bring some balance to the rest of the argument however. The kings played 7 games in the Vodacom Cup pool stages of which they lost only 2 if this is not seen as featuring prominently I am unsure what you then see as featuring prominently. 

I am not trying to argue against or for including them, i am only pointing out that we don't devalue their contribution in any way at all.

The Kings should easily be able to develop a decent team over time. Look at how many players from that region have played for other teams over the years. They also have very good rugby schools. With the right structures they can do well. Look at the Lions. The biggest city in the country,with the biggest economy, they should by now have built a team that can win the competition, not sitting on the bottom every year.

Kick them out and give the Kings a chance.The only reason people are against it is because they have the support of the ANC. If Toyi Toyi Zille was behind them, no one would complain, ne!

Does anyone know what SARU is going to do, or potentially going to do with this situation? They say none of the Current teams will be damaged, and the Kings will play next year.......Is there any rumours on how they plan to accomplish this?

I was initially dismissive of the Kings proposed introduction into the Super Comp but after watching yet  another disappointing Lions season its about time someone put them out of their misery.  Whilst injuries may be a valid excuse for this years poor season, it still doesnt explain their equally inept results over recent years.

The Kings less than stellar VC results and the Lions CC win  is often overplayed by the Kings detractors. Its highly unlikely that the Kings Super team will be made up of the very same players that failed to win the VC. They could absorb some of the redundant Lions players, recruit uncontracted players from other Super teams or entice SA'n players from the Heineken cup.  Most Super teams employ players from beyond their provincial borders so I dont see why the Kings cant follow suit and field a side on a par (or better) with the current Lions squad. However,  the EC must contribute their fair share of local players if they are to retain any provincial credibility.

I think the real quandry for SAn rugby is that they dont have the depth to field 5 competitive Super teams.  It doesnt really matter which SA'n province is given the Super contract because there simply arent enough  "super"  players to fill all the positions.  As long as their are 5 teams per conference, SA'n and Australian teams will always make up the bulk of the cellar dwellers.

I wonder if the real concern for some Kings defilers is that they may place higher than their own preferred team, leaving their favourite team vulnerable to relegation. Heaven forbid the Stormers/Bulls/Sharks from having an Auckland Blues like season next year (anythings possible). They could be playing for their Super lives in a promotion/relegation match against an ambitious 2nd division team desperate to qualify for inclusion into Super rugby and claim their slice of the lucrative Super pie. Considering the prize on offer, these games could be the highlight of the rugby year with nailbiting, edge of your seat dramatics and colourful histrionics, heroics and villainy, tension, anxiety, elation and bitter disappointment. Wow!   

BTW, I really admire Cheeky (and to a lesser extent Luke) for their wiley crusade to have the EC represented in the Super comp. They should be applauded for their tenacity and political acumen rather than ridiculed and derided for exploiting the goodwill Cheeky earned throughout his controversial rugby career. Recently I've come to believe that its possible to estimate the character of a SA'n based on their attitudes towards the Watsons (Cheeky in particular). This thread has done little to dissuade me from the validity of this simple test.

BRING ON THE KINGS!!!!

 What a refreshing, insightfull and interestingly balanced post Nuke, It defenitely brings some balance to the force:)