SARU shows second face, again.
August 16, 2012 in Rugby, Super Rugby
Well, not only did we lose the Lions to the nasty underworld of Rugby politics today, but also one of my favorite bloggers, BayLion, who deleted his account after the news broke.
I can only imagine that his blog is not the only loss this decision will cause. Look, I guess we all knew it was inevitable. SARU was never forthcoming with a decision, and the only things they mentioned were that they are trying to work it out with Sanzar, that the Kings must be included, and no franchise will be impacted negatively. Now, I’ve for long knew that SARU cannot be trusted. They often do a round about on their word and this is not the first time they’ve shown what big fat liar they are.
But it is sickening the see it really happen and in such a blase manner. To think that the Golden Lions Rugby Union will not be negatively impacted by excluding them from the Super Rugby next year is a true indication of how narrow minded and idiotic the South African rugby administrators are. And what do they promise GLRU in return? “Oh, you’re screwed by the way next year, because all your players will leave because you cannot pay them, because you don’t have money because you don’t have Super Rugby exposure, but please try again to play with your dilapidated side against the Kings, who will have most of your players anyways, and play your way back into contention…for the next 2 years….”
What? Do SARU actually, really expect a franchise to stand on its own two feet outside of any tournament for a year and be strong enough to come back in, only to face the task of playing a relegation match again the year after? Where is the security in that? I bet there are even a bunch of nervous Kings players thinking that they might only have this one shot, and then its back to square one.
Why did it have to happen now, in 2013, at the cost of one of our longest standing Rugby Unions? The Kings have been waiting so long already, supposedly, to get their spot in the Super 15, but why not then wait in any event to get in from 2016 when the new broadcasting rights will be negotiated?
Yes, they were hoping for a spot instead of the Melbourne Rebels and the Rebels won that contest for the current format. But it didn’t happen, and maybe they should have just waited for their chance.
In terms of viewership, viewers will decline and if I had the broadcasting rights, I would be properly upset that the Lions were cut. EP supporters probably watched and supported some team in the SR. But there is no team that the Lions supporters will turn to. You don’t just shift a passion over night, and those supporters will most likely rather watch a repeat of the 1999 Cricket World Cup semi final between South Africa and Australia than watch EP play…and no, I don’t even think a destruction of EP will sooth the wounds, it will only be salt rubbed in, knowing the Lions had a better chance to succeed than the Kings.
What SARU, and perhaps the other so-called Unions who voted in favour of this silly decision, forgets, is the severe impact the lack of direction and decision making had on the Lions this specific season. The proposal was already made in January to go the relegation route, but SARU stalled and stalled until, I guess, they saw that the Lions were the last team on the log. The Lions players of course felt insecure, while they didn’t know if they have a future or not. Difficult to make a move, because “what if we stay in?” Difficult to really perform, because “What’s the use, were screwed anyways”.
But had SARU made the decision at the inception of this year’s (at least) Super Rugby, perhaps the Lions would have known exactly what they were working for, and it could just as easily have been the Cheetahs’ heads on the block. Or would it….?
Something just tells me that, had it been either the Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers or Sharks at the bottom of the log this year, the decision would have looked different. Yes, consistently being the bottom team counts for something in terms of being relegated…but what if a team suddenly found themselves going from nr 1 to nr 5? Relegation just like that?
Fact is, there is nothing the Lions can or could have done to avoid this. It comes down to SARU being a bunch of jellyfish (and regard that in terms of anatomy ie spineless, and the fact that jellyfish are know to eat and shit from the same orifice) and not to mention the rumours of under-dwelling personal interests at play in the form of Messrs Watson and Keohane…
Fare thee well Lions. I hope you guys can build on the decades of tradition and rugby you put together and not let this speed hump derail you for ever. Come back next year, and moer the Kings!
GEN DE LA REY said on August 17, 2012
MU I think SARU will prob pay out the Lions in 2013 to keep most of their contracted players. Some players like Jantjies does have an exit clauss so they will prob lose him. But most of the other contracted players can’t just leave.
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
It will be the right thing to do. Question though, where will these players play during SR time? Will we see the Lions demolish all in the Vodacom Cup?
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
Uysh – can’t recall what your opinion was on Catrakilis was, but what’s your taking on his signing by the Kings? smart buying?
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
Ja, he’s a good player. I’m more pissed off that WP let him go.
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
I’m not really. imo, he’s behind Francis, Grant and van Aswegen. I doubt he’ll get Super Rugby game time in CT. so it is a good career move. we also have two exciting U-21 FH’s and there are rumours about Elton too. – I just hope this is a sign of this to come from the Kings.
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
Seems nowadays anyone moving away from WP with their management is making a good career move. Whitehead, Engelbrecht, van Zyl but to mention a few.
GEN DE LA REY said on August 17, 2012
Think WP has a certain Mrs Elton Jantjies in their sights. His contract allows him to quite Lions rugby if there is NO SR for the Lions.
They should just not stuff this deal up and loose him to the Sharks or Bulls because they needs 10 flyhalfs on their books.
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
we actually have huge FH depth as is. so I’m not sure this would be a great move, however, I would love to see Elton in a Stormers jersey. (starting)
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
Personally I would be happy if we sign a proper flyhalf like Elton.None of the existing FH’s are performing how they should, save for Catrakilis who was instrumental in the VC this year, but now pissing off to EP!
H&P said on August 16, 2012
hi MU: you say: “What? Do SARU actually, really expect a franchise to stand on its own two feet outside of any tournament for a year and be strong enough to come back in, only to face the task of playing a relegation match again the year after? Where is the security in that?”
exactly what i have been saying about EP and the Kings, all to often it was mentioned that the Kings must earn their spot ie dominate domestic rugby etc….but is impossible to grow strong or retain talent if you cant offer players Super rugby.
Although this is a great news for EP, the 1 year is a grantee is a concern.
i have spoken to mates in the Kings setup and a few players and sponsor signings will not happen of we only get 1 year slot, its to risky ….a 3 year spot was promised to the Kings and Cheeky is going hard for it.
I hope it works out.
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
@ H&P, I agree completely with you , I think people are such hypocrites. the same people who claim the Kings should have played the Lions in a promotion/relegation match to ‘earn’ a Super Rugby spot, are now saying it is unfair to expect the Lions to play in a promotion/relegation match.(after only a year without Super Rugby)
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
How can it be hypocritical if the Kings got in without playing that relegation match? Remember that the Kings have the backing of Gumede who withdrew from the Lions under the promise of the Kings being included. The Kings inclusion into the SR at the cost of the Lions had too much money riding on it in terms of Gumede, other sponsors and then the shady lot from HSM, to not realise.
So a relegation match this year would have defeated the purpose in any event because no matter what, the Kings were going to play come 2013.
The difference now is that the Lions lack sponsorship to build their squad, whilst the Kings have had this backing for some time now.
What I would call hypocritical though is the Kings song and dance about transformation, claiming the 1 year deal is contradicting Saru’s transformation goals, and then signing Catrakilis? What’s that got to do with transformation? Nothing and in my opinion the Kings deal has nothing to do with transformation and everything with a few individuals back pockets.
H&P said on August 17, 2012
I agree to an extent that “transformation” has been used as a bit of a tool to get the Kings in.
But it’s not just lip service.
I was speaking to Alan Solomons at the breakfast the other day and their view is clear,
they are not going to use the Super rugby or CC teams to force transformation issues.
The Super rugby exposure will attract lots of Money, this will be used in the Schools in the EC and the Kings Academies that have recently been established,
In these junior ranks the focus will be on transformation (amongst other things) and in so doing the graduation of black player to the senior teams will be a natural progression.
We now have a something to offer the Siya Kollisis (an EC boy) of the future to stop then form going to other unions and keep them in the EC.
It will also force other unions to really transform their union and province and not just buy talented black players from the EC. (Siya, Mvovo, Ndungane brother etc etc)
GEN DE LA REY said on August 17, 2012
Agree But EP will soon find out like WP just having a SR team does not gurantee home grown players staying. The Bulls and the Sharks will still poach most tallent. Esp if Mrs. Meyer is Bok coach!!
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
I hear you huff. And I think that is exactly the process that other unions try and adopt, to develop the game at grass roots level. Unfortunately the grass roots are not in the spotlight, so no-one really sees evidence of this. There is the acadamy at the Sharks which seems to be producing some great talent, and the WP acadamy is also quite fruitful. But its a professional game and players are going to go where they see themselves having a career. With the instability the next 3 years pose at the moment, it will take a bit of a risk assessment to make a serious move to EP or even the Lions.
I also just wonder if it will really be that great for players to remain in EP. Solomons is a very good coach but in some cases I think quality players really comes through the ranks when they are exposed to the environment and structures of the larger unions. Yes, some of them also disappear….and I guess the majority of EP’s players will come from that “disappeared” bunch that don’t get game time at their Unions and don’t see themselves progressing to SR level.
So in essence the Southern Kings will not be a team with such a strong EP representation in any event, much like just about all the other SR teams consist of players all accross the country.
It’s just a pity about the manner in which this is happening.
H&P said on August 17, 2012
Regardless now we will have something to offer them, in the past we had NOTHING, all the young guns want a chance to play super rugby.
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
Uysh – their sponsorship is something they acquired without SR status. it is thus not a SR benefit.
I call it hypocrisy because the Kings having to play a promotion game without SR benefits and the Lions having to play a promotion match without SR benefits is exactly the same thing.
One person who is against the Lions promotion game, but in favour of the Kings promotion match sounds like a hypocrite to me?
Met uysh said on August 17, 2012
Hanjo do you really think Gumede would have given the sponsorship without being quite sure of the SR exposure? It’s got everything to do with SR. Meantime, why do you think was there such an exodus of Lions players this year? Not because of Mitchell. Its because they realised the inevitable.
Do you think the Lions lost the Gumede sponsorship because of the media publicised reasons? Or because Gumede with his connections knew that next year EP will be in the SR and Watson and Keohane approached him in this regard?
I don’t think it is all just that clear cut. It takes a lot of strings being pulled and when such amounts of money is involved, people really go out on a limb.
I was personally in favour of the Kings playing a promotion/relegation game against the Lions to see which team should go through.
I think it is fairer towards the Lions that a promo/relegation match is played next year, although it comes with some risk for both teams, and I do think it would not have been necessary to go through all this kak if Saru had their balls screwed on and made the decision at the beginning of the season.
Watson is naturally calling it “unfair” to include the Kings for only 1 year guaranteed, but how fair is this whole process towards the Lions?
As you can see from my post, my main issue is with Saru. They are poorly managed and the big guns sitting their are gutless and is running down our country’s rugby.
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
On Transformation – it was never a short term goal…
Hanjo said on August 17, 2012
I agree the blame should be put on SARU, but I do also think the promotion/relegation idea could never have worked, because if you claim Gumede only joined because they were sure the Kings would be in SR next year, then you can surely agree that the Kings(having to qualify)would have been without the funds of Gumede?
meaning a team without SR sponsorship, funding, and status would have to play against an established SR team in order to earn promotion.
it’s so simple actually. the question isn;t which team between the kings and lions are the best team currently, the question is whether the Kings would be better if they had the same benefits. and you can only answer that after giving them those benefits and seeing how they perform.
Labach Tanai said on August 16, 2012
Ja Uysh, on this current platform BayLion was the most prolific. Really sad to see him go. I thought that with Jurie Roux there, SARU would finally come right and be straightforward because the type of manager he was at Maties. Of all this he comes out as the greatest disappointment of it all!
REM said on August 16, 2012
vloek, skel…toi toi…
dit gaan nie help
Totsiens leeu..
bullebokke said on August 16, 2012
I thought the idea was that by including the kings would give the “poor disadvantaged” eastern province players a chance so they can develop rugby there in EP because all their star players are “poached”.
They cant win a single cup in SA but want to compete at the top, and when you remind them of this I see EP supporters everywhere saying “well now we will have the sponsors and the money to contract the big names”. Does this not defy the reason that the kings were included in the first case? To give EP players a chance? Now they will contract in players from all over….
This whole thing stinks. Conspirator wrote a post about this I think some time ago about the REAL reason why games were going to be held in the king’s stadion. it is about insiders getting the heads up and then wrangling their friends to turn the system in their favour.
cheeky watson being an “apartheid struggle hero” obviously learned his trade from his ANC government politician friends on how to do things.
SARU is a corrupt bunch of crooks, whish we could get a public protector in there…
I would contribute to a legal fund for the lions to fight this in court….
bullebokke said on August 16, 2012
PS : Just like you I wonder what happened to the promise by SARU a month or two ago that no union will be affected?