Kings must answer to SARU over rule breach

Super Rugby’s newcomers the Southern Kings will have some answering to do as the South African Rugby Union (SARU) say that they have noted that the Kings have breached their rules.

The Kings, like all South African Rugby Franchises, are limited to playing two foreigners in their Super Rugby squads.

The Southern Kings applied for an increase in this figure but SARU said that they will not make an exception for any team.

Last weekend in Round 5, Southern Kings captain Darron Nell was injured in the run up to the match so they brought in Argentina-born loose forward Tomas Leonardi on the bench.

Leonardi joined his fellow Argentinean Nicolas Vergallo on the bench.

Leonardi came on against the Chiefs 10 minutes before half time and then again in the second half while Vergallo came on at the end of the match.

The problem for the Kings is that New Zealand centre Hadleigh Parkes started the match which meant that they played three foreigners in the match day squad.

The Kings actually had five foreigners in their squad against the Chiefs as Namibian prop Jaco Engels and Kenyan utility forward Daniel Adongo were also in the team but SARU says that African players are not foreigners.

Due to the breach of rules the Southern Kings could now face a deduction of points or a substantial fine or possibly both.