PORT ELIZABETH - EP RUGBY UNION POSTPONES AGM

An annual general meeting of the Eastern Province Rugby Union will be held on the 30th of next month.

This decision was reached after a meeting between the provincial sports department, Eastern Province Rugby (EP) and representatives of South African Rugby Union (Saru).

The union is in a financial crisis and its annual general meeting was postponed at the last minute last month. The Department of Sport wants financial accountability. It's unhappy for not being consulted about Saru taking control of the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise.

A task team has also been established to bring back stability to the union and to look into its financial matters. "We are going to identify people with credibility in our province that have clear credentials in terms of understanding rugby to embrace and strength the executive of EP in terms of ensuring that we identify potential sponsorship that can come in and assist us," says MEC for Sport, Pemmy Majodina.

The Southern Kings also launched their jersey for next season.

Saru has already contracted 20 players including some under 19 players that were part of the under 19 Currie Cup winning team. Current Kings Captain, Luke Watson, was not offered a Super Rugby contract. Further signings will be made in the near future.

"It's early days yet, we are busy a lot of work has been done already from administration point of view in ensuring that players can come in and start playing rugby, start training rather not be concerned with off field matters a lot of progress has been made," says Southern Kings COO, Charl Crous.

The contracted players are also looking forward to the new season. "Looking at the way forward, we definitely need to look the way rugby is going, you can see how different teams approaching rugby, rugby is going forward especially with new management that we have some fresh then way rugby is going," says Southern Kings Player, Edgar Marutlulle.

Southern Kings Player, Cyril John Velleman, says, "Just being with senior guys you learn very quickly I guess and in the first year you must get your opportunity you have to take it, just been around senior players, it grows up so quickly."

The Southern Kings will open their Super Rugby campaign against the Sharks on the 26th of February at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

VIA - sabc.co.za