Quest for Kings’ ransom
Several new players could be signed if sponsorship talks succeed
Top-level talks are under way between the Southern Kings and a sponsor which could give the ailing franchise a shot in the arm before the PRO14 season kicks off in September.
The cash-strapped Kings won only one of their 21 matches last season and a sponsor could provide the boost needed to breathe life into the team.
Because of the sponsorship talks, which are being held in conjunction with SA Rugby, the contracting of new players at the Kings has ground to a halt.
So far the Kings have contracted 29 players, but it is believed more players have already been lined up if the new sponsor comes on board.
“In conjunction with SA Rugby we are busy with sensitive negotiations with a sponsor. Because of this it is difficult to contract more players,” Kings chief operating officer Charl Crous said.
“It is a process we have to work through, and while it is frustrating at certain levels, it has long-term benefits for the franchise.”
Crous also said he did not want to create unrealistic expectations among supporters.
“Naturally, this is not the best scenario, but this time we at least have a nucleus of players that have been training with our coach Deon Davids.”
With the new season looming, Crous said all parties were aware of the urgency of the sponsorship talks.
Davids said the Kings needed to sign four or five big-name players.
He will have been frustrated by the lack of progress by officials so far in giving him more players to work with in preseason training.
It is believed a meeting between Crous and the players will be held this week to explain the situation.
Kings captain Michael Willemse said he was pleased that the team had a nucleus of players to work with.
“It is good that we have kept a group of players who played PRO14 last season,” he said.
Twenty-five of the 29 squad members played for the Kings when they struggled to keep their heads above water.
Fijian Meli Rokoua has been named in the Kings squad and although little is known of him, he did receive rave reviews after a stint in Portugal.
Rokoua, dubbed the “Flying Fijian”, was highly rated when he played for the Agronomia Club and he is also an accomplished sevens player.
Apart from Rokoua, the other new players joining the squad that did duty last year are locks JC Astle and Schalk Oelofse and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius.
Astle and Oelofse were signed from French Pro D2 side Mont-de-Marsan, while Pretorius previously played for the Dragons in Wales and the Cheetahs.
Astle, who played for the Kings in the 2016 Super Rugby season, will be a big gain and provide extra grunt in the pack.
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