Southern Kings could be in European breakaway

Southern Kings Boss Cheeky Watson has hinted that his Super Rugby team could be involved in a rugby tournament next season even though they have been relegated from Super Rugby.

The Southern Kings lost their promotion-relegation matches with the Lions and have been replaced for next season.

The Kings will therefore have to arrange their own fixture list in which to develop players and a team that will be able to contest next year’s promotion-relegation matches with the last placed South African team.

Watson has confirmed that they are looking at a number of options to keep regular rugby being played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The Kings are expected to play warm up matches against the other Super Rugby sides but when asked whether he was planning matches against other rugby teams Watson said, “We are busy with one or two exciting options that will remain confidential at this stage.”

“There could be a lot more additional matches, and maybe they are not just friendlies.”

“Let me leave it at that,” Watson told the PE Herald.

European Rugby clubs are at war with each other over the shape of the Heineken Cup after this season and it is known that South African rugby men have been in contact with clubs in Europe about possibly joining a England and French break away tournament.

SA Rugby are putting SANZAR under pressure to expand Super Rugby in 2016 to accomodate all six of their Super Rugby teams but if the Kings can get into a European tournament it could prove to be far more lucrative financially given the strength of the Euro and Pound.

If the Kings are included in European Rugby it would take the pressure off SA Rugby and SANZAR as the Kings would have regular first class rugby in Port Elizabeth. It could be the dawn of a new exciting era in South African rugby.