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...it looks like we're going to Super 16:
Rugby Kings to be part of Super 16?
JJ Harmse
Brisbane – The Southern Kings are set to play Super rugby in 2013.
However, the Eastern Cape franchise will not have to replace one of the five existing South African franchises as the Super 15 is set to become a Super 16 in three years’ time.
The Kings will then be the sixth South African franchise participating in the tournament.
Sport24 has reliably learned that the proposal by South Africa at a SANZAR meeting had been accepted in principle by New Zealand and Australia.
A working committee will iron out the finer details of the issue.
The inclusion of the Kings, who will play in the South African conference, may mean that South African teams start their Super rugby campaigns two weeks earlier than usual.
The news will be welcomed by the Kings. They have been fighting for recognition as a Super rugby team for a number of years, but have had their participation postponed every time. The Kings can now continue to enlarge their player base and negotiate with sponsors.
The latest development is also good news for the South African Rugby Union (SARU), who gave the government an undertaking that the Eastern Cape would be incorporated in the mainstream of rugby.
The Super 15 of 2011 starts with teams from the respective countries first participating in derbies against one another before taking on overseas opponents.
The Bulls, Stormers, Lions, Cheetahs and Sharks will play each other home and away, while the same will happen in New Zealand.
With the Kings’ expected involvement in 2013, it may mean that three Super rugby derbies are played per weekend.
Meanwhile, Michael Green reports that Kings chief executive Stephan Pretorius still insisted a few months ago that the franchise should play Super rugby next year.
There was talk at SARU that the Kings may participate in a European competition later this year. Nothing has come of that, nor have any of the mooted friendly matches against international opponents materialised.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Kings-to-be-part-of-Super-16-20100721
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Hmmm. Don't know what to make of this, especially with the new conference system.
The way that article reads suggest the Yarpies will play more games than the Aussie or Kiwi teams - exactly how the hell will that work? Certainly will lead to an unfair, unbalanced competition PARTICULARLY when it comes to the 3 'wild card' spots for the finals.
Only way I could imagine it working is if there were to become 'Super 18' to balance out the franchises. But we're flat out fielding 5 teams over here. I think we'd need 5 years minimum before we could consider adding a potential 6th team in Adelaide or wherever.
NZ probably could cope alot better than we could (Northland maybe? Based out of North Harbour? Or a Hawkes Bay team out of Napier? Or Southland out of Invercargill even?) but I think with the conference system in play this would create a really oddly balanced competition.
Rugby Kings to be part of Super 16?
JJ Harmse
Brisbane – The Southern Kings are set to play Super rugby in 2013.
However, the Eastern Cape franchise will not have to replace one of the five existing South African franchises as the Super 15 is set to become a Super 16 in three years’ time.
The Kings will then be the sixth South African franchise participating in the tournament.
Sport24 has reliably learned that the proposal by South Africa at a SANZAR meeting had been accepted in principle by New Zealand and Australia.
A working committee will iron out the finer details of the issue.
The inclusion of the Kings, who will play in the South African conference, may mean that South African teams start their Super rugby campaigns two weeks earlier than usual.
The news will be welcomed by the Kings. They have been fighting for recognition as a Super rugby team for a number of years, but have had their participation postponed every time. The Kings can now continue to enlarge their player base and negotiate with sponsors.
The latest development is also good news for the South African Rugby Union (SARU), who gave the government an undertaking that the Eastern Cape would be incorporated in the mainstream of rugby.
The Super 15 of 2011 starts with teams from the respective countries first participating in derbies against one another before taking on overseas opponents.
The Bulls, Stormers, Lions, Cheetahs and Sharks will play each other home and away, while the same will happen in New Zealand.
With the Kings’ expected involvement in 2013, it may mean that three Super rugby derbies are played per weekend.
Meanwhile, Michael Green reports that Kings chief executive Stephan Pretorius still insisted a few months ago that the franchise should play Super rugby next year.
There was talk at SARU that the Kings may participate in a European competition later this year. Nothing has come of that, nor have any of the mooted friendly matches against international opponents materialised.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Kings-to-be-part-of-Super-16-20100721
-------------
Hmmm. Don't know what to make of this, especially with the new conference system.
The way that article reads suggest the Yarpies will play more games than the Aussie or Kiwi teams - exactly how the hell will that work? Certainly will lead to an unfair, unbalanced competition PARTICULARLY when it comes to the 3 'wild card' spots for the finals.
Only way I could imagine it working is if there were to become 'Super 18' to balance out the franchises. But we're flat out fielding 5 teams over here. I think we'd need 5 years minimum before we could consider adding a potential 6th team in Adelaide or wherever.
NZ probably could cope alot better than we could (Northland maybe? Based out of North Harbour? Or a Hawkes Bay team out of Napier? Or Southland out of Invercargill even?) but I think with the conference system in play this would create a really oddly balanced competition.
