E Cape rugby could be big loser in Super Rugby cull

The newly-elected President of Eastern Province Rugby Andre Rademan, who ousted the controversial Cheeky Watson in the election race, says there is a very real danger that rugby could stagnate in the Eastern Cape if the Southern Kings lose their Super Rugby status.

But he also doesn't rule out the possibility of the Kings looking abroad for 'survival' options.

According to Rademan, there are alternative options in the pipeline which would keep the game alive in the biggest developmental hub of South African rugby and discourage good home-grown players from leaving.

But there are also some legal battles looming with the SA Rugby Union (SARU), who appointed a Franchise Committee recently to oversee the process and ensure a smooth transition in 2018.

It appears that the Southern Kings were guaranteed their Super Rugby status until at least 2020 when re-admitted as the country's sixth franchise and those issues would still need to be ironed out.

In terms of a reality check though, it had to also be borne in mind that EP Rugby is in very poor financial health after numerous prospective backers failed to come on board and the union fell under SA Rugby administration.

This, maintains Rademan, is a big negative when it comes to pitching for the Kings' continued participation in Super Rugby.

The Eastern Cape is a breeding ground for some very talented rugby players but the pool just keep on getting shallower because they are unable to retain their home-grown players.

It is also the biggest feeder of black rugby players in the country, with 27% of the top flight players having roots in the Eastern Cape – that’s almost 1/3 of the entire pool.

But the reality is that if their top-level status is constantly under threat, then they are unable to capitalise on that, build or show any growth.

So SARU is also stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to balancing their transformation targets with rugby excellence.

The game also continues to thrive in the townships, where just short of 12 000 fans watched EP play Western Province in a SuperSport Challenge match in the informal settlement of Kwazakhele this past weekend.

That, says Rademan, is another of their big challenges over and above the financial hurdles.

In recent years the likes of Curwin Bosch, Lukhanyo Am and Jeremy Ward (Sharks), Jacques Potgieter (Bulls) and Zwide-born Siya Kolisi (current Stormers captain) have all been lured elsewhere due to the dire state of Eastern Cape rugby.

All played representative rugby at age group levels for Eastern Province and just three years ago Bosch was the outstanding player at the annual Coca Cola Under-19 Craven Week.

But for now, the new administration at the Nelson Mandela Bay-based union have to try and emerge from the dust left behind by the previous administration and strive to rebuild. But two factors are essential -- stability and financial sustainability.

Then, of course, we also have to take away the complexities of political intervention in any decision that might be taken when the axe finally falls.

With the axe hanging over their heads, it doesn't seem to have impacted on the Kings' form and last weekend's victory over the Waratahs in Sydney says a lot about the morale in the team.

LISTEN: Trevor Cramer discusses the Kings survival options with Andre Rademan if they are booted from Super Rugby and Rademan's case for keeping rugby alive in the Eastern Cape.