The rugby fraternity has received the proposed renaming of Southern Kings with mixed feelings. Fans have been urged to air their opinion on the rebranding of the Pro 14 franchise via the media.
Rugby officials, some of them Eastern Province Rugby Union executive committee members, are unhappy with the manner in which the issue has been handled.
President of the Port Elizabeth Metro sub-union, Freddie Makoki, says the matter will be discussed on Monday.
“We are not happy, the president was supposed to consult us through our structural meeting before he goes to the media. I find that he is appealing to the supporters outside the EP structures.”
Eastern Province Rugby Union president and Southern Kings board chairman, Andre Rademan, has declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Eastern Cape Sport Confederation president, Mkhululi Magada, has accused the EPRU executive of making hasty decisions.
“What they must understand is that the executive, don’t own rugby. It must come to their ears and understand that they are the executive elected yesterday. When they were elected yesterday, it did not mean that they must come and change everything. Rugby is owned by the citizens of the Eastern Cape not even the Nelson Mandela Metro, because their jurisdiction is over Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
