Eastern Province Rugby Union representatives restore full control of the Southern Kings

SA Rugby have today announced that a new board to manage the affairs of the Southern Kings, featuring representatives of the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) as well as independent members, had been elected.

Mr Andre Rademan and Mr Bantwini Matika, respectively president and deputy president of the EPRU were elected along with attorney, Mr Shaheed Patel, chairman of the EPRU Finance Committee, to the newly constituted board of SA Super Rugby.

The company had been set up to hold 100% of SA Rugby’s interest in the Super Rugby franchise that had been awarded to the Southern Kings. The team currently plays in the PRO14, which place remains under the auspices of SA Super Rugby.

“This marks another very important step towards normality for rugby in Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby.

“The EPRU executive has made good progress in regularising the affairs of the union. The restoration of their representation on the board of the Southern Kings is critical in aligning the strategic plan for rugby in the region.

“SA Rugby’s sole desire throughout a difficult period for rugby in the region has only ever been to restore the running of rugby back to the people of the Eastern Province. I am pleased to say that that process has moved a further step forward.”

Messrs Mtobi Tyamzashe, Gugu Nxiweni and Mxolisi Nkula were elected as independent directors. Charl Crous, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Southern Kings, completes the composition of the board.

They replace the Executive Council of SA Rugby and SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux, who had had the custodianship of the franchise since being asked to take in November 2015.

The new board elected Mr Rademan as chairman and Mr Tyamzashe as deputy chairman.

Crous, who had been required to manage the Kings’ affairs in extraordinary circumstances since union involvement was terminated 27 months ago, said: “The Southern Kings have been operating in a bubble for far too long and this is a tremendous step forward. Franchises need alignment from schools to clubs to Currie Cup to PRO14 to be successful and now that linkage has been restored it can only be good news for the Kings and the rugby public of the Eastern Province.”