I have been quietly watching the unfolding of the Kings inclusion into Super Rugby and the final lit dynamite stick being added to the destruction of the already demising once giant Golden Lions Rugby Union, I now think it is time to add my opinion, it will probably ruffle some feathers, but this is my view on things.
I feel bad for the Lions and all their supporters. The way things happened, however diplomatic it was, was nothing short of disappointing. It was nonetheless an election, the word election implies that one has a choice in the matter, I don’t believe that 11 unions could be forced or bullied into making a choice to back the Kings and changing their we all stand together view point. What happened behind closed doors will probably never be known…
The Lions supporters on here have however quoted a ‘interview’ with Kevin de Klerk where he funnily enough, only singles out one franchise that voted against them, the Free State Cheetahs, why is this funny? Well back in 2005 when the Super 12 was changed to the Super 14, guess which franchise voted against the Cheetahs forming their own union instead of the then EP Spears, because they didn’t want to be allied with only smaller unions like the Leopards and Pumas under the Cats franchise?
Here is a hint, the same franchise that told the Cheetahs and Griquas that once they form Cats back in 1998, home games would be split evenly amongst the Bloemfontein and Johannesburg Stadiums with one Bloemfontein game going to Kimberley each year, this lasted for exactly one year, well almost, the Kimberley game went to Johannesburg, after that the ratio was as 68% Ellispark and only 32% going the way of Bloemfontein.
I find it ironic that the Lions are making a huge case of Political propaganda against their union, let us not forget how a R37 Billion+ debt was repaid in only 9 years by a ‘connected’ Dr Louis Luyt, who convinced the then Volkskas Bank and the Johannesburg City Council that he could turn it around since coming on board in September 1984, you are naïve if you think he did this without pulling in favours.
There are a lot of speculations running around, one is that maybe the other Unions saw what a politically connected franchise can do for rugby against a struggling union that find themselves in turmoil again now due to a massive amount of debt and arbitration cases against them.
You can go around blaming everyone for your own demise, but 11 people can’t backstab or suddendly blindside you without you seeing it comming or giving them reason to do so.
Things is SA Rugby are not as cast in stone as we all thought. This whole thing has left a sour taste in my mouth, even after the Cheetahs ripped the Bulls a new one Friday night, well, that gave me 32 reasons to smile.
The worst or weirdest part of this whole scenario is that they just have to do better than the Cheetahs next year and the playoff will be a Cheetah v Lions affair. It could have severe implications for Freestate rugby if they get relegated.
True, but highly unlikely. The Kings will soon realise that it their lobbying and political backing doesn’t have any power when it comes to what goes on between those 4 lines, and superior rugby skill will prevail. Cheeky and his buddies can’t save them then. It must be said that i have massive respect for those, as rugby players, that have made it to provincial level, especially some of the Kings, being a PE local and following some of the talent from highschool that they now have on their books. But to now throw them all in the deep end, without proving themselves first against the team they are to replace, will do more damage than good. Give them a chance yes, through proper promotion structures, but not like this….
Face facts, the Kings will not be involved in a play-off next year. In a few months a decision will be made to entrench them for three years and either the next best SA team (Cheetahs?) will be in the play-off or the play-offs will be scrapped for the three years (the Cheetahs price?)
Well even if it is a bit of fortune telling from Baylion, it cannot be ruled out as a possibility, seeing how they were promoted in the first place. Cheeky en sy skurke is hard aan die werk… Ry daai gravy trein lat die sous spat!
What would have been different if they voted for the Kings Powa? There would still be a promotion game for some team next year, if it is the Cheetahs then so be it, maybe the Stormers have a bad year and it’s them, let’s get this straight, I never said I supported the choice, it is a bad call from SARU.
Truth is we will probably only know what will happen at the end of next year’s Super Season.
If what Baylion says is true and the Cheetahs end at the bottom or second and are forced to play for their place, they only have themselves to blame and have to man up to the situation.
As for that Cheetahs price comment, LOL.
As supporters we can’t do much, obviously. Calls for a boycott or protest has never come to anything. And us ranting on blogs also doesn’t make much of a difference. But heres hoping the mindset of the south african rugby administrator changes, without even giving “possible reasons” for their scheming behind locked doors, or then oneday watch it all crumble away underneath their feet like a shoddy built RDP house….. and Met uysh: KdK and his team may have inherited a mess, but they didn’t walk away from the job offer to clean house. They should then take responsibility. No excuses…
Agreed. Our leaders should do exactly that, lead. It is unfortunate for us to have 6 provinces who want/deserve a spot in a major competition to develop players, hopefully come 2016, the Lions can come in and win the thing like they did in the first Super 10.
It was Baylion not MU who commented about KdK.
Thanks Dutch. Sorry about that MU.
I think they did take responsibility but that doesn’t mean that they can act like a bull in a china store. Unfortunately we only see what gets in the news and not what goes on behind the scenes.
Why not? When you clean your house after a mo#rse party, do you say “ag i’ll leave those couple of empties on the stoep, they may miraculously fill up with beer again.” Taking responsibility is definitely not blaming certain unions for your exclusion. You have failed dear sir, please take it upon yourself.
Na die 11de Aug het ek tussen 20-42 redes om te smile…
Julle het baie goeie rugby gespeel daardie dag, en baie goed gewen. Ek het vir Baylion ook geluk gewens. Julle moet so aanhou speel en volgende jaar die Kings uit Super Rugby haal en terug Vodacom Beker toe stuur.
Die Kings gaan nie volgende jaar in ‘n uitspeel betrokke wees nie al is hulle laaste – feit.
“Consistency” is die sleutel. Dit help nie die een naweek speel jy uit jou nate uit en wen en die volgende naweek sien jy jou gat “good & solid”. Cheetahs het die bulle goed geklop. My vrou is ‘n bul so ek moes op ‘n diskrete manier lekker kry!
Dalk kry julle daardie form net wanneer dit die nodigste is, kyk na die Sharks in die jaar se Super Rugby.
Oh, I didn’t realise the Cheetahs did it for revenge. It’s OK then.
As to Luyt and those deals you quote, how did that negatively impact on any other union?
Where did I use the word revenge?
Kevin de Klerk and you decided to label the FSRU as back stabbers, I simply posted from a Free State perspective and an you reap what you sow viewpoint.
Can you honestly tell me that the Unions that voted against the Lions simply did it because they can and without reason?
As for Luyt, I was pointing out that he used political power for his and the GLRU gain, maybe no Unions were hurt, I have no idea, but the money had to come from somewhere, maybe Rugby Club funding or some Department’s budget, which points to corruption which points to what we have here, a political debacle inside SA Rugby, and that is how they are connected.
What would you call it when someone goes back on his “one for all and all for one” commitment?
Nobody said that all 11 unions were turncoats and backstabbers and that they turned on the Lions for no reason. Obviously some were never going to vote for the Lions (non-backstabbers) and others had their reasons for going back on their word, we just don’t know what they were. However, you speculated about the Cheetahs getting back at the Lions, what is that other than revenge?
Interesting article. It makes sense what we did at the end. And it is not just us the Leopards and Valke also did not vote for them, while they play in the GLRU leagues. That is even more suspicious.
Yes one could call it revenge but there is also more to it than just revenge. I mean if the Cheetahs got their share of games they would not have lost money out of games they should have hosted and could maybe have kept one young player more.
And the Cheetahs doesn’t want to merge again and with a possible merger on the cards it could also influenced the decision!
There is a lot of speculation, I don’t blame the my union for not voting against the Kings if it was for the treatment we received when we were cats!
Gunt, like I said bud, you reap what you sow.
But like my reply to Baylion states, it is not revenge, simply my viewpoint.
Once again Bay, we don’t know what happened behind closed doors, so calling the FSRU backstabbers is pure speculation and insulting.
There had to have been a proposal from both sides stating their case, by which the Cheetahs and Bulls/Sharks felt the Kings deserved their vote more.
However, even if all the big franchises voted for the Lions in the All for one it would have been 10 to 19, and if Griquas went with the Cheetahs, it would be 12 to 17. Blaming the Cheetahs or any other big Union does’t help your case.
You can see it as revenge all you like, I only posted the view from a FSRU supporter.
So you are saying that because Dr Louis Luyt was connected and got favours to build the Lions union in the 80′s and 90′s, it makes it okay for the Kings with the Watsons to the same today, without any regard for the well-being of SA rugby? I dont blame the Cheetahs or any other union at all, Kevin de Klerk and the current administration is the cancer that has killed the once proud union. Politics will always be a destructive force in any sport, and the Kings with their “connections” will face the same fate as the Lions in years to come.
All I am saying is what is good for the goose is good for the gander, the Lions have a history of mismanagement which shows no signs of changing soon, which might be why the other unions swayed their votes.
I don’t agree with you on KdK and the current management. KdK inherited a union in turmoil at the end of 2009 after the Loffie Eloff debacle and the subsequent player walkout. And the interim CEO was only appoint earlier this year when Altmann Allers bought shares.
However, I think KdK made a mistake not to clean house properly at the time and get rid of people like Manie Reynecke immediately.
I have it on good authority that Altmann will continue to support the GLRU financially, but agreed, get rid of the rubbish and start fresh with people who know what they are doing.
I heard a rumour that Josh is playing for the Cheetahs next year, any truth to this?
Nothing at the moment. Josh is still contracted with the Lions till next year so any change of team will have to be on a loan arrangement.
KdK is having a press conference tomorrow so hopefully we will have a bit more clarity about what the Lions look to be doing.
Interesting angle. Revenge is sweet I guess?
Thing here is Uysh, when the golden glove is on your hand nobody says a thing, but as soon as it lands on another hand the whole world is unfair?
The Lions had to do something to make 11 Unions vote against them.
I guess what comes around, goes around…
And so the cycle of mismanagement and political interferance in sport will go on and on and on… shouldn’t we condemn such acts? Or have we as south africans become so used to this in all spheres of SA life that we just accept it while the world laughs at us.
wesvulcan, what exactly to you propose we do about it?
I am in no way saying what happened was correct, my post points this out.
We can condemn and scream and shout all we want. Unless we take up machete’s and mshiniwami’s and dance and riot, kill a few innocent people and get shot ourselves, no one will give a shit.