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Full name | Eastern Province Kings | |
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Union | Eastern Province Rugby Union | |
Founded | 1888 | |
Region | Western half of the Eastern Cape, South Africa | |
Ground(s) | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Capacity: 48,000) | |
Director of Rugby | Vacant | |
Coach(es) | Carlos Spencer (Currie Cup) Mzwandile Stick (Vodacom Cup) |
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Captain(s) | Luke Watson Darron Nell |
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League(s) | Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup | |
2014 Currie Cup Premier Division | 8th | |
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Official website | ||
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The Eastern Province Kings are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions. They are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU or EP Rugby). The team represents the Western half of the Eastern Cape province, and they play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Contents
History[edit]
The team was originally a representative team, drawing players from within the provincial union area's local clubs. However, with the advent of professionalism in rugby union in 1995, the team now directly contracts players from various areas. The team now operates more like a professional club, though the EPRU are still responsible for junior representative rugby teams and administrative matters in the region.
Prior to 2010, they were known as the Mighty Elephants, but in order to align themselves with the Super Rugby side the Southern Kings, who are also governed by the EPRU, they changed their name to Eastern Province Kings. The team is the primary feeder to the Southern Kings, which also incorporates the Border Bulldogs and the SWD Eagles.[1]
Stadium[edit]
The team was originally based at St George's Park. They shared the ground with the Eastern Province cricket team.
In 1959, the EPRU decided to move the team to the then named Boet Erasmus Stadium. The stadium was later named Telkom Park, due to a naming rights deal, and then renamed to the current name, the EPRU Stadium. The team played most home matches at the stadium, with a few hosted at other venues in Port Elizabeth and surrounding towns. During the late 2000s, the team shared the stadium with football (soccer) club Bay United.
In 2009, the team played its first match at their current home, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Honours[edit]
The team's major tournament wins include the 2002 Vodacom Shield, 2010 Currie Cup First Division and 2012 Currie Cup First Division.
Results by season[edit]
The table below indicates the Kings' recent finishes. This includes games played as Eastern Province, Eastern Province Kings and Mighty Elephants.
Currie Cup | ||||
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Season | Pool/Group | No of Teams | Position | Play-Off Result |
1988 | Currie Cup Division A | 7 | 6th | |
1989 | Currie Cup Division A | 8 | 8th | |
1990 | Currie Cup Division A | 8 | 5th | |
1991 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th | |
1992 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th | |
1993 | Currie Cup | 6 | 3rd | |
1994 | Currie Cup | 6 | 6th | |
1995 | Currie Cup | 6 | 5th | |
1996 | Currie Cup Section A | 7 | 5th | |
1997 | Currie Cup | 14 | 14th | |
1998 | Currie Cup | 14 | 9th | |
1999 | Currie Cup | 14 | 7th | |
2000 | Currie Cup Section X | 7 | 5th | |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 1st | Losing Finalists | |
2001 | Currie Cup Section X | 7 | 7th | |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 3rd | ||
2002 | Currie Cup Section Y | 7 | 7th | |
Bankfin Cup1 | 6 | 3rd | ||
2003 | Currie Cup Qualifying | 8 | 6th | |
First Division | 6 | 3rd | ||
2004 | First Division | 6 | 5th | |
2005 | Premier Division Section X | 7 | 5th | |
First Division Section X2 | 3 | 2nd | Losing Semi-Finalists | |
2006 | First Division | 6 | 4th | Losing Finalists |
2007 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists |
2008 | First Division | 6 | 6th | |
2009 | First Division | 6 | 4th | Losing Semi-Finalists |
2010 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Champions |
Promotion/Relegation | 2 | 2nd | Failed to win promotion | |
2011 | First Division | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists |
2012 | First Division | 8 | 1st | Champions |
Promotion/Relegation | 2 | 2nd | Failed to win promotion | |
2013 | First Division | 8 | 2nd | Losing Finalists, Promoted |
2014 | Premier Division | 8 | 8th | |
2015 | Premier Division | 8 | tbd |
1 Between 2000 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Bankfin Cup.
2 In 2005, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Premier Division, the bottom 3 in each section for the First Division.
Vodacom Cup | ||||
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Season | Pool/Group | No of Teams | Position | Play-Off Result |
1998 | Vodacom Cup Section A | 7 | 4th | |
1999 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 4th | |
2000 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 3rd | Losing Quarter Finalists |
2001 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 8 | 5th | |
Vodacom Shield1 | 6 | 2nd | Losing Finalists | |
2002 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 7 | 6th | |
Vodacom Shield1 | 6 | 3rd | Champions | |
2003 | Vodacom Shield | 7 | 4th | Losing Semi-Finalists |
2004 | Vodacom Shield | 7 | 6th | |
2005 | Vodacom Cup Section X | 7 | 7th | |
2006 | Vodacom Cup | 14 | 12th | |
2007 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 4th | Losing Quarter Finalists |
2008 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 6th | |
2009 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 7 | 7th | |
2010 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 6th | |
2011 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th | |
2012 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 3rd | Losing Quarter Finalists |
2013 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 3rd | Losing Semi-Finalists |
2014 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th | |
2015 | Vodacom Cup Southern Section | 8 | 5th |
1 Between 2001 and 2002, the top 4 in each section qualified for the Vodacom Top 8 tournament, the bottom 3 in each section for the Vodacom Shield.
Super 10 | ||||
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Season | Pool/Group | No of Teams | Position | Play-Off Result |
1994 | Super 10 Pool A | 5 | 5th |
Current season[edit]
Players[edit]
First team[edit]
The following players were included in the Eastern Province Kings squad for the 2015 Vodacom Cup:[2]
Props Hookers Locks |
Loose Forwards
Scrum-halves Fly-halves |
Centres Wingers Fullbacks |
(c) denotes team captain.
In addition to the players above, the following players were named in a pre-season training squad:[3] Steven Sykes (on loan at Cheetahs), Charl du Plessis, Samora Fihlani, Dwayne Jenner and Darron Nell (all injured), Eben Barnard, Michael Bernardt, Brenden Olivier and Stephan Zaayman (all involved with NMMU Madibaz), Albé de Swardt, Armand du Preez, Kuhle Sonkosi and Claude Tshidibi.
Player Statistics[edit]
The statistics for the current Eastern Province Kings players:
Eastern Province Kings Player Statistics · edit | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Position | Date of Birth | Nationality | Apps | Points | Debut | Level |
Tom Botha | Prop | 31 August 1990 | ![]() |
7 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Lizo Gqoboka | Prop | 24 March 1990 | ![]() |
50 | (15) | 2012 | ![]() ![]() |
Simon Kerrod | Prop | 25 August 1992 | ![]() |
10 | (15) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Charles Marais | Prop | 29 August 1988 | ![]() |
7 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Enoch Mnyaka | Prop | 18 October 1993 | ![]() |
3 | (0) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
CJ van der Linde | Prop | 27 August 1980 | ![]() |
10 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Vukile Sofisa | Prop | 6 April 1993 | ![]() |
5 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() |
Edgar Marutlulle | Hooker | 20 December 1987 | ![]() |
14 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Martin Ferreira | Hooker | 24 January 1989 | ![]() |
7 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Michael van Vuuren | Hooker | 28 September 1991 | ![]() |
8 | (5) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
David Bulbring | Lock | 22 September 1989 | ![]() |
36 | (5) | 2012 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cameron Lindsay | Lock | 15 October 1991 | ![]() |
12 | (5) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Shaun McDonald | Lock | 9 February 1989 | ![]() |
5 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Tazz Fuzani | Lock | 18 January 1991 | ![]() |
5 | (0) | 2015 | ![]() |
Cornell Hess | Lock | 1 March 1989 | ![]() |
3 | (0) | 2015 | ![]() |
Jan Uys | Lock | 3 January 1994 | ![]() |
0 | (0) | ---- | |
Aidon Davis | Flanker | 29 April 1994 | ![]() |
19 | (30) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tim Agaba | Flanker | 23 July 1989 | ![]() |
20 | (15) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Thembelani Bholi | Flanker | 18 January 1990 | ![]() |
25 | (5) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Stefan Willemse | Flanker | 12 April 1992 | ![]() |
33 | (40) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Eital Bredenkamp | Flanker | 28 January 1993 | ![]() |
3 | (5) | 2015 | ![]() |
CJ Velleman | Flanker | 24 February 1995 | ![]() |
3 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() |
Luke Watson | No 8 | 26 October 1983 | ![]() |
31 | (125) | 2002 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paul Schoeman | No 8 | 19 December 1992 | ![]() |
24 | (45) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Kevin Luiters | Scrum-half | 2 July 1992 | ![]() |
12 | (10) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Jaco Grobler | Scrum-half | 11 June 1992 | ![]() |
12 | (5) | 2014 | ![]() |
Dylon Frylinck | Scrum-half | 15 January 1992 | ![]() |
3 | (5) | 2015 | ![]() |
Enrico Acker | Scrum-half | 23 September 1990 | ![]() |
1 | (5) | 2015 | ![]() |
George Whitehead | Fly-half | 17 March 1989 | ![]() |
48 | (254) | 2011 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Gary van Aswegen | Fly-half | 18 February 1990 | ![]() |
11 | (40) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Tony Jantjies | Fly-half | 19 April 1992 | ![]() |
2 | (0) | 2015 | ![]() |
Ronnie Cooke | Centre | 5 April 1984 | ![]() |
20 | (10) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Shane Gates | Centre | 27 September 1992 | ![]() |
24 | (35) | 2011 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Andile Jho | Centre | 21 April 1992 | ![]() |
10 | (0) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Marlou van Niekerk | Centre | 19 May 1993 | ![]() |
7 | (7) | 2013 | ![]() ![]() |
Tim Whitehead | Centre | 30 May 1988 | ![]() |
12 | (20) | 2014 | ![]() ![]() |
Hansie Graaff | Centre | 10 September 1989 | ![]() |
8 | (17) | 2014 | ![]() |
Siyanda Grey | Wing | 16 August 1989 | ![]() |
39 | (75) | 2010 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Shakes Soyizwapi | Wing | 7 December 1992 | ![]() |
28 | (40) | 2012 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sphu Msutwana | Wing | 31 October 1993 | ![]() |
6 | (0) | 2014 | ![]() |
Luther Obi | Wing | 29 April 1993 | ![]() |
4 | (15) | 2015 | ![]() |
Scott van Breda | Fullback | 12 December 1991 | ![]() |
55 | (316) | 2012 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sylvian Mahuza | Fullback | 29 July 1993 | ![]() |
2 | (5) | 2015 | ![]() |
Correct as at 9 May 2015. | |||||||
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Team Officials[edit]
Management | |
Cheeky Watson | President |
Charl Crous | CEO |
Eric Sauls | Manager of Coaching Development |
Sydney Goba | Team Manager |
Arthur Dayimani | Assistant Team Manager |
Coaches | |
Carlos Spencer | Head Coach |
Henning van der Merwe | Kicking Coach |
James Fleming | Head of High Performance |
U21 Coaches | |
Ryan Felix | U21 Head Coach |
Barend Pieterse | U21 Assistant Coach |
Zondi Soloshe | U21 Strength & Conditioning Coach |
Sean O'Dea | U21 Performance Analyst |
Elvis Boltina | U21 Manager |
U19 Coaches | |
Mzwandile Stick | Vodacom Cup / U19 Head Coach |
Wayne van Heerden | U19 Assistant Coach |
Nadus Nieuwoudt | U19 Strength & Conditioning Coach |
Zuko Ndlela | U19 Performance Analyst |
Robbi Kempson | Academy / U19 Manager |
Records[edit]
Eastern Province Kings records:[4]
Team Match Records | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Record | Opposition | Venue | Season | |
Biggest win: | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 110–17 |
Biggest Currie Cup win: | Griffons | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2013 | 63–7 |
Heaviest defeat: | Griquas | Hoffe Park Stadium, Kimberley | 1998 | 12–80 |
Heaviest Currie Cup defeat: | Northern Transvaal | 1984 | 3–65 | |
Highest score: | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 110 |
Most points conceded: | Griquas | Hoffe Park Stadium, Kimberley | 1998 | 80 |
Most tries: | Welwitschias | Adcock Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2001 | 16 |
Most Currie Cup tries: | Griffons | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 2011 | 11 |
Player Match Records | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record | Player | Opposition | Venue | Season | |
Most points by a player: | Hennie le Roux | Eastern Transvaal | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 1991 | 38 |
Most Currie Cup points by a player: | Bertus Kruger | Western Transvaal | 1996 | 29 | |
Most tries by a player: | Erich Knoetze | Stellaland | Rustenburg | 1991 | 5 |
Frikkie Crous | Western Transvaal | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 1994 | 5 | |
Norman Nelson | Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park | 2010 | 5 |
Team Season Records | |||
---|---|---|---|
Record | Matches | Season | |
Most team points: | in 27 matches | 2012 | 875 |
Most Currie Cup team points: | in 27 matches | 2012 | 611 |
Most team tries: | in 24 matches | 2003 | 103 |
in 27 matches | 2012 | 103 | |
Most Currie Cup team tries: | in 18 matches | 2012 | 76 |
Player Season Records | |||
---|---|---|---|
Record | Player | Season | |
Most points by a player: | Bertus Kruger | 1996 | 282 |
Most Currie Cup points by a player: | Brett Hennessey | 2002 | 153 |
Most tries by a player: | Manie van Vuuren | 1994 | 14 |
Henry Pedro | 1998 | 14 | |
Fabian Juries | 2003 | 14 | |
Most Currie Cup tries by a player: | Henry Pedro | 1998 | 13 |
Luke Watson | 2012 | 13 |
Player Career Records | |||
---|---|---|---|
Record | Player | Seasons | |
Most appearances: | Barry Pinnock | 1993–2002 | 173 |
Most points: | Giepie van Zyl | 1981–88 | 1126 |
Most Currie Cup points: | Giepie van Zyl | 1981–88 | 755 |
Most tries: | Norman Nelson | 2006–13 | 56 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Name change for EP Rugby". Sport24. 2010-07-14. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
- ^ "EP Kings announce their Vodacom Cup squad". Eastern Province Rugby. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ "EP Kings Pre Season Training Squad announced". Rugby15. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ SA Rugby Annual 2014. South African Rugby Union. 2014. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-620-57859-2.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Official Facebook Group (registration required)
- Official Facebook Page
- Official Twitter account
- Kings Army Supporters Club
- Eastern Province Kings on sarugby.net
- Eastern Province Kings on suparugby.com
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