Heyneke Meyer to set coach Kings

Heyneke Meyer is being lined up as the coach for the new Eastern Cape based South African rugby franchise, the Southern Kings.

Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus had been been linked to the job in however, Meyer’s better coaching record puts him in pole position for the role. The Southern Kings will play their first game on 16 June against the British and Irish Lions.

The Kings will play the tourists in the new Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.

“We hope it will be a strong side that is selected, says Cheeky Watson who heads up the franchise. That is why I asked that Davids(convenor of selectors) should work with Peter de Villiers (Springbok coach).

“If there are players Peter would like to see in action (with an eye towards the Lions series), they can be picked.”

Watson would like to see players with their roots in the Eastern Cape in the side.

“We have to be realistic. Not many of the current players (at SWD, EP and Border) will be picked,” he said.