![Kings REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** Guinness PRO14 South Africa Launch, Signal Hill, Cape Town, South Africa 11/8/2017 The entry of the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings into the Guinness PRO14 would break the mould for world rugby, the South African launch was told in Cape Town on Friday. The two former Super Rugby teams will kick off in the tournament next month with 12 clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in a radical departure for global rugby. Martin Anayi, CEO PRO14 Rugby, said: “It’s a momentous day for us to arrive in South Africa and get a sense of the excitement around the introduction of the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings into the Guinness PRO14. “The work we have achieved to expand our Championship is a great credit to SA Rugby, the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings. We have already seen the incredible interest from across Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales after our announcement about expansion and it’s great to see that replicated here in South Africa. “This is a ground-breaking feat and a true first in world rugby as we will see north versus south compete on a regular basis in the Guinness PRO14. I would like to thank Jurie Roux and his team at SA Rugby for the hospitality they have shown us and wish our new teams the very best of luck in the coming season. “Rugby supporters in South Africa and across our existing nations are in for a real treat this season and we can’t wait for the Championship to kick what will be an historic campaign." Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO said: “This is a momentous day for rugby – as significant as the launch of the Super 12 tournament, 21 years ago. “We are breaking new ground with a number of global firsts: this is the first cross-hemisphere domestic club competition; the first time we will have played summer rugby in South Africa and the first experiment in aligning a season in the south with that of the north. “Our eyes are on the bigger picture, which is new horizons and new opportunities for South African rugby and our PRO14 partners. I’d like to thank Martin Anayi [PRO14 CEO] and the board of PRO14 Rugby as well as the national unions of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy for opening the door at short notice and welcoming us through it. “We look forward to this adventure and building something special.” Pictured today at the Guinness PRO14 South Africa Launch is a view of Guinness PRO14 branding Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie Kings](https://cdn.punditarena.com/uploads/2017/08/inpho_01248416.jpg)
The PRO14 will see European rugby enter new ground this season, as the league welcomes two South African outfits to the league. The Southern Kings and the Cheetahs will join teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy as the league expands.
However, the competition organisers will be eager that it is more successful than the recent expansion of Super Rugby, which is contracting for 2018, losing three teams.
In order to ensure the financial stability of the Kings, the South African Rugby Union, SARU, have agreed to underwrite the Port Elizabeth outfit.
Jurie Roux, Chief Executive Officer of SARU, confirmed the news.
As reported by Rugby365, Roux stated how they were in “a lot better shape” than when under the support of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole.
“They will be on the pitch and they will be playing. We need to focus on them competing.
“SARU underwrites all their unions participating in international competitions.
“Life is about diversity, life is about options and life is about opportunities. It creates more diversity and makes sense in terms of time-zones.
“This is the first cross-hemisphere competition; the first time we will have played summer rugby in South Africa and the first experiment in aligning a season in the south with that of the north.
“Our eyes are on the bigger picture, which is new horizons and new opportunities for South Africa.”
With financial stability secured, the Kings can now look ahead to the new season with confidence.
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