Southern kings
SA Rugby puts Southern Kings into voluntary liquidation
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said it was time to 'reconsider' a 'suitable and viable' rugby project for the Eastern Cape province.
Reports claim Pollard's former side the Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers are set to replace the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings in the league which includes outfits from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The Kings have faced crippling financial woes in recent months after a failed takeover bid, leading South African Rugby to assume control in June.
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.
The 23-year-old, who has made three appearances from the bench so far this season, replaces Demetri Catrakilis, who has sustained an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old loose-forward served a one-week suspension he was handed for a dangerous tackle in the match against the Cheetahs earlier this month.
The 21-year-old Ludick replaces the injured Yaw Penxe at wing, with Dapula providing loose-forward cover from the bench.
The Southern Kings will go into the match with a few changes to the team that was on duty in the Friendly City last week.
The Southern Kings fell short over the weekend, following a last-minute 30-31 defeat to South African rivals, the Cheetahs in Port Elizabeth.
The 31-year-old hot-stepper has amassed his caps in both the PRO14 championship and Super Rugby making him one of the stalwarts of the Port Elizabeth-based side.
A disciplinary panel convened in Neath to consider the red-card shown to Pieter Scholtz during the Kings' Round 10 PRO14 fixture against Edinburgh on 4 January 2020.
Yaw Penxe’s inclusion is one of only three changes to the starting side that emerged 14-16 winners against the Ospreys in Wales in the Kings’ last outing three weeks ago.
After picking up their first Pro14 win of the season against Ospreys, Southern Kings lock Aston Fortuin believes the team can take that momentum into their upcoming match against Connacht.
The Port Elizabeth-based side will travel to the Sportsground, Ireland will full much confidence after 16-14 victory over Ospreys over a week ago.
Robbi Kempson said it was an unbelievable performance given their injury situation.
The Kings went down 50-0 against last season’s PRO14 finalists, the Glasgow Warriors, in Scotland on Friday.
Ruaan Lerm will lead a side that sees a single change to the forwards pack, with an additional positional switch.
The 27-year-old former Kings player joins the Port Elizabeth based side on a short-term loan.
Southern Kings lost their fourth consecutive PRO14 match against Benetton in Italy on Saturday after going down 36-30.