As part of SARU’s radical rescue plan for the Kings, Francois Hougaard will apparently join the Kings when he is not involved with the Blitzbokke, being paid R100 000 per game.
Netwek24 are reporting that the Pumas were milliseconds from sneaking into Super Rugby through the back door, but were foiled by a last minute intervention by Kings boss Cheeky Watson.
Pumas president, Hein Mentz, business plan in hand, had approached SARU with a plan that would see them replace the Kings, currently paralyzed by a financial crisis, in next year’s tournament.
It was meant to be temporary, allowing the Kings time to sort out their finances and get the franchise back on its feet.
The plan included a large sponsorship, pledges of specific opportunities for black payers, and had the support of the Mpumalanga government.
Kings president, Cheeky Watson, had the plan rejected and shortly afterwards called on SARU for help.
The governing body in turn ensured that the Kings’ promising young players received their salary arrears, with a view to stopping the current player exodus.
Netwerk24 have reported the following interventions:
- SARU and Watson will hold a crisis meeting on Monday to discuss the embattled union’s finances and the ongoing concerns about the Kings’ ability to compete in next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
- SARU has sold its shares in the Kings and although not wanting to interfere in the saga, given the political support enjoyed by the Kings, do not want the PE side to implode.
- SARU’s “mobi unit” will be part of the Kings intervention, with Rassie Erasmus – SARU’s director of rugby – and his team of coaches being involved in the Kings coaching setup.
- Fringe players from the other South African franchises will be made available to the Kings on loan.
- Francois Hougaard will apparently join the Kings when he is not involved with the Blitzbokke. The Bulls, to whom until recently Hougaard was contracted, were hoping to retain his services, but information attained by Netwerk24 suggests that SARU will pay the player R100 000 per game to make himself available to the Kings. Hougaard signed a contract with the Blitzbokke after a deal with a club side in Japan went South.
- The Kings almost lost head coach Brent Janse van Rensburg, with two provincial teams and a university team interested in his services. Yet Janse van Rensburg, himself last paid four months ago, was announced as head coach for the Super Rugby season by Watson last week.
