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SA Rugby has assumed management control of the Isuzu Southern Kings, having taken back a 74% shareholding in the organisation.

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, is liaising with Kings director of rugby and interim coach, Robbie Kempson, on immediate team needs.

Players, management, office staff, sponsors and provincial and metropolitan authorities have been advised of the latest developments. All staff and players of the franchise have been retained.

“I cannot stress enough how reluctant we are to resume control of the Isuzu Southern Kings,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby.

“It is our last resort and we are keen to explore ways to return to the shareholding to another’s hands, in conjunction with the EPRU, the minority shareholder, who have given the required approval to the decision.

“The next step is to appoint a new board to oversee the franchise’s affairs and ensure the team is match ready for when we are able to resume playing.”

SA Rugby has appointed a finance team to work with franchise administrators on ensuring salary payments are made and business needs are addressed.

Mr Alexander said the decision was taken following the failure of the Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World (GRC) to meet its financial commitments relating to the acquisition of the shareholding.

The decision ensures the Isuzu Southern Kings will participate in Guinness PRO14 and/or any other competitions that may be established within the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

“This was a decision we took with extreme reluctance and after allowing GRC considerable lee-way in which to meet the contractual commitments they made on the acquisition of the shareholding,” said Mr Alexander.

“We appreciated the vision and intentions of the GRC but unfortunately we are operating in an unforgiving business environment.”

A decision on whether an administrator needed to be additionally appointed would be taken in the coming days.

Isuzu Southern Kings Timeline:

November 2010: SA Rugby announces intention to field the Southern Kings in Vodacom Super Rugby in 2013.

February 2013: Kings compete in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition as one of five South African teams.

August 2013: Kings lose place in Vodacom Super Rugby in a two-legged play off against the Lions.

November 2015: SA Rugby takes control of the franchise when EPRU, to whom the operation of the franchise had been granted, ran into financial trouble.

February 2016: Kings return to Vodacom Super Rugby when the competition expands to 18 teams.

April 2017: SANZAAR announces that Vodacom Super Rugby will contract from 18 teams to 15 teams in 2018.

September 2017: The Kings (and Toyota Cheetahs) are included as South Africa’s ground-breaking representatives in the Guinness PRO14 competition.

January 2019: GRC acquires 74% shareholding in the franchise; EPRU retain a 26% shareholding.

June 2020: SA Rugby resumes control of the Isuzu Southern Kings following the failure of GRC to meet contractual commitments.

The Isuzu Southern Kings were unable to make the most of their home ground advantage in their Guinness PRO14 clash against Connacht in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, and had to settle for a disappointing 29-19 defeat despite the visitors receiving an early red card.

There was high drama in the first half as Connacht received a red card in the 15th minute and a yellow card early in the second quarter, which saw them being reduced to 13 men for 10 minutes. But despite this, they entered the break 17-14 ahead thanks to an extra penalty goal.

The visitors added their third try early in the second half before being awarded a vital penalty try, which sealed their bonus point, while the Isuzu Southern Kings’ only points in the half were compliments of an unconverted try.

Connacht struck first in the opening exchanges with Colby Fainga’a (looseforward) gathering a loose ball in the air and dashing to the tryline, and they added their second minutes later compliments of Tiernan O’Halloran (fullback), who gathered a sharp inside pass and stepped on the gas to touch down under the posts for a 14-0 lead.

The Isuzu Southern Kings had two opportunities soon after to reduce their deficit on the scoreboard, but they were unable to convert the chances into points.

The visitors were dealt a massive blow in the 15th minute as Peter Robb (replacement winger) received a red card for making contact with Isuzu Southern Kings centre Howard Mnisi’s neck while carrying the ball up-field, and they found themselves down to 13 men in the 26th minute as Kyle Godwin (centre) received a yellow card for failing to get back onside while the home team were on attack in the red zone.

The hosts took full advantage of this with Stefan Ungerer (scrumhalf) scoring their first try from a pick-and-go from the base of the scrum in the 28th minute, and Erich Cronje (winger) followed soon after as he collected a pass in a half-gap dashed to the tryline. The successful conversions levelled the scores.

A penalty goal by Connacht flyhalf Jack Carty on the stroke of halftime, however, pushed the Irishmen into a 17-14 lead going into the break.

Connacht built on this minutes into the second half as Carty dotted down in the corner after some good patience on attack by the team.

The Isuzu Southern Kings, however, added their third try in the 58th minute thanks to well-read skip-pass to Cronje on the short side – which was his second five-pointer of the match.

But the men from Port Elizabeth were cut down to 14 men in the 70th minute as Ruaan Lerm (replacement looseforward) was sent to the sin-bin for infringing close to the tryline, and they found themselves 29-19 down a minute later as Connacht were awarded a penalty try, which sealed their bonus point.

The visitors were again forced to defend with 13 men in the last minute after Tom Daly (centre) received a yellow card for infringing at a ruck close to their tryline, but despite this, the Isuzu Southern Kings were unable to add to their score and had to settle for the 29-19 defeat.

POINTS SCORERS

Isuzu Southern Kings 19 (14)

TRIES: Stefan Ungerer, Erich Cronje (2).

CONVERSIONS: Siyabonga Masuku (2).

Connacht 29 (17)

TRIES: Colby Fainga’a, Tiernan O’Halloran, Jack Carty, Penalty Try.

CONVERSIONS: Carty (2).

PENALTY: Carty.

The Isuzu Southern Kings fell short in their second tour match in the Guinness PRO14 on Sunday night, with the men from Port Elizabeth going down by 36-17 against the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. The hosts outscored the visitors six tries to two.

The hosts outscored the visitors six tries to two – four of which came in the second half – as they claimed a bonus-point win, which could prove to be valuable for them with a handful of rounds remaining in the league stages of the competition.

The Isuzu Southern Kings opened up the scoring with a penalty goal in the 13th minute by Courtney Winnaar (fullback), but this was cancelled out by a try by Scarlets lock Tevita Ratuva who received a perfectly timed pass in the 20th minute to score the hosts’ first points of the match for a handy 7-3 lead.

The Scarlets, however, found themselves trailing minutes later as Howard Mnisi (Isuzu Southern Kings centre) scored a stunning try from a good pass from a ruck in the 29th minute, and the successful conversion pushed them 10-7 ahead on the scoreboard.

Ed Kennedy (Scarlets flanker) put his side back in front going into the break (12-10) when he received an effective pass out wide without any defence in sight to score.

The Isuzu Southern Kings regained the lead in the 47th minute with a try by Chris Hollis, which was also converted by Demetri Catrakilis, but this was cancelled out by Scarlets replacement back Ryan Conbeer, who received the ball and danced his way through the defence as his side took a 19-17 lead.

The Scarlets increased lead in the 61st minute as former Springbok Uzair Cassiem (No 8) touched down. This was followed by back-to-back tries by Dan Davis (replacement scrumhalf) and Tom Rogers (utility back), which saw them take a commanding 36-17 lead with six minutes to play.

With neither team able to add to their score in the dying minutes, the Scarlets secured the victory, which saw them finish the round in the top three on the log.

Scorers:

Scarlets 36 (10)

TRIES: Tevita Ratuva, Ed Kennedy, Ryan Conbeer, Uzair Cassiem, Dan Davis, Tom Rogers.

CONVERSIONS: Dan Jones (2), Ryan Conbeer.

Isuzu Southern Kings 17 (12)

TRIES: Howard Mnisi, Chris Hollis.

CONVERSIONS: Demetri Catrakilis (2).

PENALTY: Courtney Winnaar.