Toulon lifeline for Kings ahead of Super Rugby return

Toulon’s Top 14 Rugby club owner Mourad Boudjellal is understood to be in talks to buy South Africa’s struggling Super Rugby side the EP (Southern) Kings.

The Kings have been experiencing financial troubles for months and a ZAR 200 Million promised sponsorship has not materialised which has led to some players not being paid.

The South African Rugby Union have pushed for the Kings return to Super Rugby and in just over three months they will return but there are reports that the Union is ZAR 80Million in debt.

Boudjellal has offered to buy the franchise and take on some of the debts but in return for Toulon matches against the Springboks to help generate funds.

Meanwhile the South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA) have given the Kings until Tuesday (November 10) to pay outstanding salaries for October or face action.

SARPA issued the deadline on the 31st of October but they say that they have not decided yet on what action they will take against the Kings if they do not comply.

EP Kings President Cheeky Watson has apparently left South Africa and is either in Australia for a family wedding or is in Europe chasing up the sponsorship according to two different reports.

Watson appears to have written off Boudjellal’s offer due to the demand for Springbok matches, “There is not way to get two Bok Tests. I had to beg to get just one,” Watson told a source.

If the Boudjellal offer does fall through the reported ZAR80 Million debt remains which is a huge concern for SA Rugby as the Kings expenses will drastically increase with their inclusion in Super Rugby.