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Toulon have gone from conquering Europe... to hanging out with Kings, the PRO14 strugglers

By Online Editors

04 Apr 2019

(Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Breaking bread isn’t someone anyone can imagine easily doing with maverick Toulon rugby owner Mourad Boudjellal, but newly taken over Southern Kings have entered into exclusive negotiations for a partnership between the two clubs.

Only last month a consortium of Eastern Cape business people acquired a controlling interest in the Kings, the struggling PRO14 franchise.

That acquisition saw South African Rugby sell a 74 per cent shareholding in SA Super Rugby (Pty) Ltd, the Southern Kings’ holding company, to a company called The Greatest Rugby Company in the Whole Wide World (Pty) Ltd (GRC).

The Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) acquired the balance of 26 percent of the shares, a deal that was completed following the conclusion of agreement on the commercial terms.

South Africa Rugby had taken control of the Kings in November 2015 when the EPRU, to whom the operation of the franchise had been granted, ran into financial trouble.

? Le @RCTofficiel et la province Sud-Africaine des @SouthernKingsSA sont rentrés en négociation exclusive en vue d’un partenariat entre les deux clubs. ???https://t.co/IAJAFbw7rm
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) April 4, 2019

Now the Kings, who have won just three of their 39 matches in the PRO14 since joining in September 2017, are hoping that a tie-up with Boudjellal’s Top 14 outfit can enhance what the Port Elizabeth club is trying to achieve.

The Kings-Toulon partnership would be based on an exchange of skills between the two clubs, with the possibility of lending players, sharing methods of training and physical preparation, the organisation of joint courses and friendly matches and even the carrying out of joint public relations between the partner companies of the two entities.

? PARTNERSHIP ??
The Isuzu Southern Kings and French club, Toulon, have entered exclusive negotiations for a partnership between the two sides.
More details on the groundbreaking relationship to follow tomorrow. @RCTofficiel #WithYouForTheLongRun pic.twitter.com/wUyXinSBq6
— Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) April 4, 2019

Toulon reported on their club website that they are happy to be able to consider this partnership, claiming it will bring them new skills for the seasons ahead.

The French side are currently preparing for a massive Top 14 game this weekend at the Velodrome in Marseille. They will host league leaders Toulouse, who last Sunday went to Paris to knock Racing 92 out of the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 2 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Let's hope so, that was a fantastic game.

11 Go to comments

JW 3 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Lol tell that to Rassie.

I was going through the Prems 10s yesterday though and the star ones did play the full 80 for a good two thirds of their games. Generally the back up ten still got minutes however. I think you'll find you'll see the same as last week were Smith stayed on for 80 (he got found out but it was still an exciting move/tactic that worked).

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Bull Shark 3 minutes ago

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Riyadh Rugby

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Flankly 7 minutes ago

Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

I am not an England fan, but still very disappointed at what Borthwick is serving up. Regardless of winning or losing, they should be executing the basics at a world class level. That was the reason they replaced Eddie with Steve. After two years England has not built the solid foundations that the RFU were presumably after. Its hard to see it as anything other than a coaching problem.

Having said that I really hope that Rassie has got his team fired up for the game. The Boks at maximum intensity and with no crises (eg red cards) would be expected to win this game. But it does not take much reduction in pressure for Bok teams to lose. The Boks lose when complacency sets in.

On Felix Jones, my guess is that they can't agree on a non-compete so they kept him on payroll for the duration of the Nov tests. The risk was that he would be hired by Rassie or Razor prior to the tests.

As relates to law tweaking, it feels like WR are more comfortable discussing changes in laws than insisting on implementation. For my money the biggest thing they could do is to be strict and consistent in officiating ruck behavior. In every game we see flopping, lazy lying, clearing of unbound players, making plays while off your feet, delays in placing the ball, side entry, offside line infringements, and similar nonsense. It's really really bad, and the WR attitude seems to be that we should turn a blind eye in pursuit of "flowing rugby". In truth it's just boring, because it randomizes the outcome.

9 Go to comments

JW 10 minutes ago

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

Good to see Steward back, Furbank had been dangerous but also found out of place at the back. Sensible decision based on everyones kick receipt struggles alone.

Could prove a masterstroke and you see why the team naming was delayed so that SA don't have time to change preparation from a kick heavy strategy. Will Rassie have predicted this or be looking to double down with a running approach anyway? I've suggested for a couple of years while SA produce box kickathons that they actually do better playing rugby, this could be another cracker of a match if SA go in with this mindset of beating England at their own game.

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BH 20 minutes ago

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Tupaea should be in the All Blacks ahead of Havili. Tupaea's versatility and his ability to steal turnovers at rucks sets him apart from Havili. NZ has enough players to cover the midfield and fullback positions that Havili usually covers.

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JW 37 minutes ago

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That's the definition of duping.

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AT 38 minutes ago

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Good to read Scott Robinson taking charge of ABs selevtion..

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JW 39 minutes ago

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Will was talking about needing to get upto speed, literally, for the game Joe wants. I wondered then if he was talking about his prep for this week or his outlook for refocusing his whole prep for the Lions next year.

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SS 1 hour ago

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Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

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JW 1 hour ago

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Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

148 Go to comments

SS 1 hour ago

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I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

60 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.

Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

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Bruiser 2 hours ago

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Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

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NH 2 hours ago

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Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

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SS 2 hours ago

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