A Mass exodus of the top EP Kings players is on the cards after the non-payment of salaries gave them the right to cancel their contracts and walk out on the cash-strapped franchise.
An SA Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa) deadline to pay players’ October salaries by midnight on Tuesday expired without payment which has opened the door for unhappy players to move on.
Those without the opportunity to move on are now not obliged to attend training sessions.
It is known there is interest in several key players who are all likely to receive tempting offers from top teams around the world.
Among those expected to be made lucrative offers are Lizo Gqoboka, Tim Agaba, Sylvian Mahuza, Shane Gates, Thembelani Bholi, Tom Botha and Luther Obi.
And explosive centre Tim Whitehead, who captained the Kings while Luke Watson was injured, has confirmed he is leaving the franchise.
His departure will be a big loss as the Kings prepare for a return to Super Rugby next year.
Whitehead led the team when they wore white armbands in support of unpaid players when the Kings played the Lions at Ellis Park in the Currie Cup.
“I am moving on. Not sure where to, but my 10-day notice period has finished and I am free to go. I feel it’s the right time for me to move on,” said Whitehead.
There has been talk that senior Kings management were unhappy that the team wore the armbands in an open show of unity as the cash crisis at the franchise deepened.
There was frantic activity between Sarpa and Kings players on Tuesday as the payday deadline neared.
“We gave the Kings a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to pay the players and that did not happen,” Sarpa spokesman Nyaniso Sam said.
“Sarpa spoke to the players yesterday and advised them of their options. Those of them who have options elsewhere can now exercise their legal right to cancel their contracts.
“Those without options and who choose to stay are within their legal right not to attend training until their salaries are paid. We gave them options so they can exercise their legal rights,” said Sam.
“We have kept an open line of communication with the Kings and shared information. We have not heard anything from the Kings. No commitment and nothing at all in terms of payment from the Kings side.
“We want these things sorted out. Not only for the players but for the game in that region.”
Though the Kings officials are remaining tight-lipped on the latest developments, a return to training has been postponed until Monday.
There are some Kings players with new contracts who only get their first pay at the end of this month and they will be expected to attend training.
There is also a good chance that some will turn up to gauge the mood in the Kings camp after a traumatic end-of-season break.
As the cash crisis continues to drag on, EP president Cheeky Watson says he is “very, very close” to striking a multimillion-rand sponsorship deal for the EP Kings with a giant oil and mining conglomerate in Australia.
He would not elaborate further on the massive sponsorship, thought to be in the region of R250-million, that could breathe new life into the Kings just three months before they play their opening Super Rugby match against the Sharks on February 27.
The Kings face a gruelling Super Rugby campaign that includes visits from the Sunwolves from Japan and an Argentine team to Port Elizabeth.
They will also travel to New Zealand for matches against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
Fresh Kings crisis looms as players look to pull out
An SA Rugby Players’ Association (Sarpa) deadline to pay players’ October salaries by midnight on Tuesday expired without payment which has opened the door for unhappy players to move on.
Those without the opportunity to move on are now not obliged to attend training sessions.
It is known there is interest in several key players who are all likely to receive tempting offers from top teams around the world.
Among those expected to be made lucrative offers are Lizo Gqoboka, Tim Agaba, Sylvian Mahuza, Shane Gates, Thembelani Bholi, Tom Botha and Luther Obi.
And explosive centre Tim Whitehead, who captained the Kings while Luke Watson was injured, has confirmed he is leaving the franchise.
His departure will be a big loss as the Kings prepare for a return to Super Rugby next year.
Whitehead led the team when they wore white armbands in support of unpaid players when the Kings played the Lions at Ellis Park in the Currie Cup.
“I am moving on. Not sure where to, but my 10-day notice period has finished and I am free to go. I feel it’s the right time for me to move on,” said Whitehead.
There has been talk that senior Kings management were unhappy that the team wore the armbands in an open show of unity as the cash crisis at the franchise deepened.
There was frantic activity between Sarpa and Kings players on Tuesday as the payday deadline neared.
“We gave the Kings a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to pay the players and that did not happen,” Sarpa spokesman Nyaniso Sam said.
“Sarpa spoke to the players yesterday and advised them of their options. Those of them who have options elsewhere can now exercise their legal right to cancel their contracts.
“Those without options and who choose to stay are within their legal right not to attend training until their salaries are paid. We gave them options so they can exercise their legal rights,” said Sam.
“We have kept an open line of communication with the Kings and shared information. We have not heard anything from the Kings. No commitment and nothing at all in terms of payment from the Kings side.
“We want these things sorted out. Not only for the players but for the game in that region.”
Though the Kings officials are remaining tight-lipped on the latest developments, a return to training has been postponed until Monday.
There are some Kings players with new contracts who only get their first pay at the end of this month and they will be expected to attend training.
There is also a good chance that some will turn up to gauge the mood in the Kings camp after a traumatic end-of-season break.
As the cash crisis continues to drag on, EP president Cheeky Watson says he is “very, very close” to striking a multimillion-rand sponsorship deal for the EP Kings with a giant oil and mining conglomerate in Australia.
He would not elaborate further on the massive sponsorship, thought to be in the region of R250-million, that could breathe new life into the Kings just three months before they play their opening Super Rugby match against the Sharks on February 27.
The Kings face a gruelling Super Rugby campaign that includes visits from the Sunwolves from Japan and an Argentine team to Port Elizabeth.
They will also travel to New Zealand for matches against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
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