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Cheetahs, Lions to feel Super 14 heat

Friday, November 13 SANZAR’s decision to appoint Melbourne as the 15th franchise for the expanded Super Rugby competition in 2011 not only hurt the Southern Kings.

With the inclusion of Melbourne, the three southern hemisphere giants – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – will each have five teams contesting for the silverware.

South Africa having a sixth team was always going to be a tad greedy and, despite the small talent pool Down Under, SANZAR’s decision levels the playing field nicely.

However, with the Southern Kings losing out, it means South African franchises will be under added pressure to perform in next year’s Super 14 or face the possibility of being omitted from the expanded Super 15 competition as it appears a certainty that the Kings will be one of the South African teams from 2011 onwards.

That spells trouble for South Africa’s two perennial Super Rugby underachievers the Lions and the Cheetahs, who finished 12th and 14th in this year’s competition.

Harold Verster, President of the Free State Rugby Union, confirmed the South African teams are only assured of their places until the Super 14 ends in 2010.

“After that anything can happen. That is why it’s important that the Cheetahs perform well next year. If you get a chance, you have to perform,” Verster told Sport24.

Manie Reyneke, Chief Executive of the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU), admitted that the heat is on to perform next season.

“Of course we are worried,” said Reyneke. “It will be a tragedy if one of the teams has to make way for the Southern Kings. I really think South Africa have enough players for six regional teams.”

Rugby officials from the Kings believe the Cheetahs and Lions will unify once more come 2011.

Should the Cheetahs and Lions reunite to revive the Cats?

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By mrlammy - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
reuniting sounds like the most sensible thing to me. will stop them both sitting near the bottom and allow kings to play. What are the major arguements against this?
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By Campo - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Well the stormers were only 2 points above the lions on the log. So they cant talk. Uniting two teams is very difficult.Two different team cultures. Didn't work in the past, wont work in the future. If the Kings play the Stormers,Lions or Cheetahs in a relegation game and beat them, then they can rightfully enter the super 14.
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By sasuperman20 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
It's about time though because it's been a long time coming - you can always call who the teams are going to be at the bottom of the log - half way through the season many of the teams lose steam because they know they won't progress. Give them something to fight for
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By jakid - Castle Braai recommendations: 1
Ja they didnt do very well the last time they were combined.
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By USARugbyfan - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
The S/Kings are sure to end Last on the S14 log!!!!Unless they buy a LOT of players in good time!!!!!
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By RagingBull - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Yes, i have said this for ages now.
Bring back the Cats. Give the Kings a go~!
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By Rqd2 - Castle Braai recommendations: 1
For the combined Lions / Cheetahs (i refuse to call them the Cats... That was the worst idea ever... I always got this bizarre mental image of a kitten and a ball of yarn...) to work they need a superb coach, someone like a Heyneke Meyer, Jake White for example...

The only trophy the kings / spear chuckers will ever win in the super 14/15 is made of wood and shaped remarkably similarly to a spoon...
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