The Southern Kings want the South African Rugby Union to allow them to use extra foreign players in next year's Super Rugby competition.
The Kings - who will make their debut in the tournament in 2013 - want special dispensation which gives them permission to use more than the the two allowed foreigners in the tournament.
Kings president Cheeky Watson confirmed that they are negotiating with nine players, both South African and foreign.
He said, however, that while recruiting South African players would be their main aim, they have asked SARU if they could sign more than two foreigners if the need arises.
"It's a decision that has to be made as we go along, because we may just land up being in a position that we don't have to sign any foreign player," Watson told Eyewitness News Sport.
"So it's a situation that one will know in the next two weeks."
He confirmed that they were talking to several players Europe and Argentina.
Comments
Martinmarais78 says...
UBA05, I also grew up hating the Boks, but moved on after almost 20 years of democracy. Alot of whites supported Bafana in the World cup and by supporting the All Blacks today as a black Saffa is going against what Nelson Mandela strived for... More than enough Black boks like Habana, Pietersen and Beast should make any Black saffa proud! Cheeky is hurting one of the best black player producing unions (Lions) with his so called plastic white foreign imported Kings team.
Posted 12:26 25th September 2012
UBA05 says...
@ Martinmarais78 Very calm and logical response by the way.
I agree i'm not from south africa so my post relies on what i read and see in the media as regards this issue. Am i wrong?? There is a high possibility that i am.
But could you please explain to me why the allblacks (SA's greatest rugby rival) has so much support, even brazenly shown on tv in the stands, from non-afrikaner south africans (not all of them i know). I mean these guys spend their hard-earned dosh to buy AB jerseys and pay to enter the stadium and support the ABs against their home nation???
Surely there is a story behind that and im guessing it involves a lot of hurt and discrimination
Posted 09:12 24th September 2012
Martinmarais78 says...
UBA05, what do you actually know about SA politics? Propably most hear-say based on subjective media reports... Trust me, if you lived here you would know there is much more under the surface...
By the way, I am not white or an afrikaner (with one 'e').
Posted 13:57 23rd September 2012
UBA05 says...
While i completely agree that bringing overseas players doesnt scream of immediate local player development, could it be he is looking to win the war not the battle??? Bring in overseas players, achieve some success, not get booted in one year, success, trickle down effect, local player development to a level that the union doesnt need to rely on imports?? Food for thought???
He may have made a bluff about existing local talent but in the grand scheme of things and what he is trying to achieve, who can blame him.
For all those saffers below knocking him below saying that he is after the cash, look at the man's history, surely he must be in it for more than the money.
Gosh it hasnt even been 20 years since apartheid ended, you boers/afrikaneers (i dont know what the politically correct term is) owe it to the original black south africans, to shut up and let some little "positive discrimination" take place to right the wrongs of years past.
I normally avoid getting touchy-feely in my posts but gawdammit!!!!
The cheeky one has my 100% respect and support!
Posted 12:07 22nd September 2012
APV1 says...
@ scrumdog - wrong thread, my friend. See the big picture of a passport on the right hand side of the homepage? Try there instead. Although it's actually a sensible and reasoned debate, so your unnecessary trolling won't be very welcome.
Posted 10:35 22nd September 2012
powerplay says...
HAhaha @SACanuck....Exactly what I was gona say!!!
Where is this VAST amount of Talent that they are just itching to release!???
Wasn't that the whole point of the Kings in the first place?? To give players in that area a chance??
And now..?? We want more foreigners??
What a joke this whole thing is!! Right the start, a complete waste of time and resources!!!
Posted 08:10 22nd September 2012
ben7 says...
@scrumdog England had 8. not 13
Posted 23:57 21st September 2012
scrumdog says...
The money grabbers,as predicted, are slowly skewering rugby. The over playing of players continues to contribute to teams rosters of injured 'starting' players from club and test teams. Players too, move to the highest bidder. Foreign players opt to play for other countries through residency laws, England had something like 13 foreigners in their squad at the RWC.2011, these players cant possibly manufacture a deep sense of national pride for their chosen country...its winning and the money that drives the game.. little else. Long may amateur club rugby flourish..but it too struggles from the fallout from the pro-game.
Posted 14:16 21st September 2012
Martinmarais78 says...
Welcome to Saru's freak show with circus master Cheeky doing it all for money, in the name of black player development...
C'mon Cheeky, forget foreign imports and show us the great black players in the area you promised us all!!
Posted 12:45 21st September 2012
SACanuck says...
The whole point of this team was to give the so called great talent in the Western Cape an opportunity to play at the highest level, now he wants to bring in imports so that maybe he can win a game. Who would want to take a 1 year contact with this guy! They will be out after one year anyway.
Posted 11:34 21st September 2012
APV1 says...
@ kid_diablo - excellent idea.
Posted 11:21 21st September 2012
Ramage says...
@ GCP Jones byt the Rabbles from Melbourne a signing up every available Kiwi they can find.
Posted 11:08 21st September 2012
GCP_JONES says...
@Martinmarais78
I think your point is a great one.The cornerstone of union going forward should be expanding the game out of its traditional areas.
@.kid_diablo Re: Puma's players
I think it should be Australian and Argentinian Unions coming up with something, maybe 25 to 30 % of the squad in Western Province and the Rebels from Argentina . Lets face it the Aussies could do with a dig-out.
Posted 10:54 21st September 2012
hellovanite says...
Kid_diablo... Hahaha perfect!
Posted 10:27 21st September 2012
Martinmarais78 says...
Is the idea behind the Kings not development of black players in the region???
Always suspected it all about money... Another plastic union with the Sharks!
Posted 10:23 21st September 2012
melkdave says...
Nice idea Kid,it would be a very nice to see Argentine players in the S15
Posted 10:19 21st September 2012
Maubec says...
I totally agree with kid_diablo.
Posted 10:07 21st September 2012
kid_diablo says...
perfect opportunity here, they should only be allowed to sign argentinean players.
Posted 09:25 21st September 2012