Southern Kings players exit for non payment

Problems for the Southern Kings entry into Super Rugby next year are mounting
as players have started leaving after months of not being paid for playing.

Former Shark and Kings captain Tim Whitehead has confirmed that he is leaving
the Eastern Province club. This follows months of players not being paid and recently reports that the EP Municipality have allegedly been paying the players.

Whitehead appears to be the first of many players to leave the Port Elizabeth-based
franchise who failed to pay their players the October salaries.

Earlier this week on Tuesday a deadline from the South African Rugby Players’
Association passed and the players have been told that they now have the right
to legally terminate their contracts.

Whitehead has now confirmed that the time has come for him to call it a day
with Eastern Province Rugby Union.

“These problems have been going on for a while, and it’s been really
tough for everyone affected,” he told SARugbymag.

“You just get to the point when enough is enough and you’ve got
to make a difficult decision.”

Whitehead added that he was leaving without knowing where he will be playing
next season.

“I don’t have anything else secured at the moment, obviously playing
in Super Rugby would have been first prize,” said Whitehead.

“For me, it’s about the lifestyle, and I’ll look at whatever
options there are, locally or abroad, and see what’s out there.”

Reports have also surfaced that other players such as props Lizo Gqoboka and
Tom Botha, wings Luther Obi and Sylvian Mahuza as well as eighthman Tim Agabaand
have also decided to leave.

Players who have chosen to stay have been told that since they have not been
paid their are under no obligation to report to work next week when the Kings
had planned to begin preparations for the new Super Rugby season.