# 2017 Southern Kings season

In 2017, the Southern Kings participated in the 2017 Super Rugby competition, their third appearance in the competition after also playing in 2013 and 2016. They were included in the Africa 2 Conference of the competition, along with Jaguares, Lions and Sharks.
In April 2017, SANZAAR announced that three clubs would be cut from Super Rugby for the 2018 Super Rugby season, with two of those teams coming from South Africa. A newly-established SARU Franchise Committee was tasked with determining the two teams to drop out of Super Rugby, and on 7 July 2017, it was confirmed that the Cheetahs and Kings would not participate in the competition going forward, but would "explore alternative playing opportunities in other international competitions". On 1 August 2017, the European-based Pro12 announced that the competition would expand to 14 teams — being rebranded the Pro14 — and that the Cheetahs and Kings would be the teams joining the expanded tournament from the 2017–18 season onwards.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Kings coaching and management staff for the 2017 Super Rugby season were:
| 2017 Kings coaches and management |
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Deon Davids |
| Forwards coach | Barend Pieterse |
| Backs coach | Vuyo Zangqa |
| Attack and fundamental skills coach | Dave Williams |
| Kicking coach | Henning van der Merwe |
| Conditioning coach | Nadus Nieuwoudt |
| Doctor | Dr Conrad van Hagen |
| Physiotherapist | Kim Naidoo |
| Team manager | Zingi Hela |

### Squad

The following players were named in the Kings squad for the 2017 Super Rugby season:
| 2017 Kings squad |
| Player | Union | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Super Rugby | Super Rugby | Kings | Kings |
| Player | Union | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| Tango Balekile | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1996-03-07)7 March 1996 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Masixole Banda | Border Bulldogs | Fly-half / Fullback | (1988-06-11)11 June 1988 (aged 28) | – | – | – | – |
| Martin Bezuidenhout | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1989-08-21)21 August 1989 (aged 27) | 41 | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| Thembelani Bholi | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1990-01-18)18 January 1990 (aged 27) | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Alshaun Bock | Griquas | Winger | (1982-05-16)16 May 1982 (aged 34) | – | – | – | – |
| Chrysander Botha | Eastern Province Kings | Fullback | (1988-07-13)13 July 1988 (aged 28) | 11 | 0 | – | – |
| Chris Cloete | Pumas | Flanker | (1991-02-15)15 February 1991 (aged 26) | 9 | 20 | 9 | 20 |
| Lionel Cronjé | Eastern Province Kings | Fly-half | (1989-05-25)25 May 1989 (aged 27) | 17 | 54 | – | – |
| Christiaan de Bruin | Eastern Province Kings | Number eight | (1993-01-20)20 January 1993 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Pieter-Steyn de Wet | Eastern Province Kings | Fly-half | (1991-01-08)8 January 1991 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Ntabeni Dukisa | Border Bulldogs | Utility back | (1988-07-25)25 July 1988 (aged 28) | – | – | – | – |
| Schalk Ferreira | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1984-02-09)9 February 1984 (aged 33) | 43 | 15 | 27 | 15 |
| Justin Forwood | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1993-09-19)19 September 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Ross Geldenhuys | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1983-04-19)19 April 1983 (aged 33) | 40 | 0 | – | – |
| Siyanda Grey | Eastern Province Kings | Winger | (1989-08-16)16 August 1989 (aged 27) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Stokkies Hanekom | Golden Lions | Centre | (1989-05-17)17 May 1989 (aged 27) | 6 | 0 | – | – |
| Kurt Haupt | SWD Eagles | Hooker | (1989-01-17)17 January 1989 (aged 28) | – | – | – | – |
| Chris Heiberg | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1985-06-01)1 June 1985 (aged 31) | 23 | 0 | – | – |
| Irné Herbst | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1993-05-04)4 May 1993 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Malcolm Jaer | Eastern Province Kings | Fullback | (1995-06-29)29 June 1995 (aged 21) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Berton Klaasen | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1990-01-24)24 January 1990 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Ruaan Lerm | Pumas | Number eight | (1992-03-25)25 March 1992 (aged 24) | 3 | 0 | – | – |
| Cameron Lindsay | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1991-10-15)15 October 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Mzamo Majola | Sharks | Prop | (1995-02-20)20 February 1995 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Sintu Manjezi | Eastern Province Kings | Lock / Flanker | (1995-04-07)7 April 1995 (aged 21) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Makazole Mapimpi | Border Bulldogs | Winger | (1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Neil Maritz | Sharks | Winger | (1994-02-22)22 February 1994 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Garrick Mattheus | Eastern Province Kings | Fly-half | (1996-03-23)23 March 1996 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Wandile Mjekevu | Sharks | Winger | (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 26) | 14 | 35 | 4 | 15 |
| Giant Mtyanda | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1986-03-19)19 March 1986 (aged 30) | 13 | 0 | – | – |
| Waylon Murray | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1986-04-27)27 April 1986 (aged 30) | 71 | 40 | 8 | 0 |
| Andisa Ntsila | SWD Eagles | Flanker | (1993-11-07)7 November 1993 (aged 23) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tyler Paul | Eastern Province Kings | Lock / Flanker | (1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Yaw Penxe | Eastern Province Kings | Winger | (1997-04-03)3 April 1997 (aged 19) | – | – | – | – |
| Wandile Putuma | Border Bulldogs | Lock | (1990-08-08)8 August 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Louis Schreuder | Eastern Province Kings | Scrum-half | (1990-04-25)25 April 1990 (aged 26) | 66 | 10 | – | – |
| Ricky Schroeder | Eastern Province Kings | Scrum-half | (1991-01-05)5 January 1991 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Johan Steyn | SWD Eagles | Scrum-half | (1995-10-08)8 October 1995 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Johann Tromp | Eastern Province Kings | Utility back | (1990-12-23)23 December 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Stefan Ungerer | Eastern Province Kings | Scrum-half | (1993-11-23)23 November 1993 (aged 23) | 17 | 25 | – | – |
| Schalk van der Merwe | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1990-12-04)4 December 1990 (aged 26) | 25 | 5 | – | – |
| Wilhelm van der Sluys | Northampton Saints | Lock | (1991-08-14)14 August 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Dayan van der Westhuizen | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1994-04-05)5 April 1994 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Rudi van Rooyen | Griquas | Scrum-half | (1992-01-05)5 January 1992 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| CJ Velleman | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1995-02-24)24 February 1995 (aged 22) | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Luzuko Vulindlu | SWD Eagles | Winger / Centre | (1987-11-14)14 November 1987 (aged 29) | 20 | 15 | 11 | 10 |
| Mike Willemse | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1993-02-14)14 February 1993 (aged 24) | 4 | 0 | – | – |
| Stefan Willemse | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1992-04-12)12 April 1992 (aged 24) | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Mzwanele Zito | Griquas | Lock | (1988-11-23)23 November 1988 (aged 28) | – | – | – | – |

## Log

The final standings for the 2017 Super Rugby season were:
2016 Super Rugby standings: South African Group :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lions | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 590 | 268 | +322 | 81 | 27 | 9 | 0 | 65 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Stormers | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 490 | 436 | +54 | 64 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 43 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Sharks | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 392 | 323 | +69 | 38 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 42 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Jaguares | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 404 | 386 | +18 | 49 | 45 | 1 | 4 | 33 | |
| 5 | Southern Kings | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 391 | 470 | −79 | 49 | 60 | 1 | 3 | 28 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 6 | Cheetahs | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 395 | 551 | −156 | 46 | 75 | 1 | 4 | 21 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 7 | Bulls | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 339 | 459 | −120 | 39 | 59 | 0 | 4 | 20 | |
| 8 | Sunwolves | 15 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 315 | 671 | −356 | 41 | 96 | 1 | 3 | 12 | |
Africa 2 Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts |
| 1 | Lions | 65 |
| 2 | Sharks | 42 |
| 3 | Jaguares | 33 |
| 4 | Southern Kings | 28 |
Overall :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Lions | 65 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Crusaders | 63 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Stormers | 43 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Brumbies | 34 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 5 | Hurricanes | 58 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 6 | Chiefs | 57 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 7 | Highlanders | 51 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 8 | Sharks | 42 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 9 | Blues | 37 | |
| 10 | Jaguares | 33 | |
| 11 | Southern Kings | 28 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 12 | Force | 26 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 13 | Cheetahs | 21 | Dropped from Super Rugby for the 2018 season |
| 14 | Reds | 21 | |
| 15 | Bulls | 20 | |
| 16 | Waratahs | 19 | |
| 17 | Sunwolves | 12 | |
| 18 | Rebels | 9 | |
* Competition rules
* Qualification:
* The top eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #4 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #5 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the conference winners will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry, the second-seeded conference winner hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry, the third-seeded conference winner hosting the second-seeded wildcard entry and the fourth-seeded conference winner hosting the top-seed wildcard entry. The Quarter Final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 4 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 2 and 3, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
* Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference Leaders (i.e. conference leaders will always be ranked at the top) * Log points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Kings in 2017 is as follows:
| 2017 Kings player statistics |
| Player name | JAG | SUN | STO | SHA | LIO | FOR | RED | WAR | REB | SHA | BRU | LIO | JAG | BUL | CHE | | App | Try | Kck | Pts |
| Schalk Ferreira | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 17 | 17 | 17 | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Willemse | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Ross Geldenhuys | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Irné Herbst | 4 | | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mzwanele Zito | 5 | 5 | | | | 19 | 4 | 19 | 19 | | 19 | | | 19 | 19 | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andisa Ntsila | 6 | 6 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 8 | 8 | 8 | | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Stefan Willemse | 7 | 7 | | 20 | 20 | | | | 20 | 20 | 6 | 7 | | | | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ruaan Lerm | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Louis Schreuder | 9 | 9 | | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Lionel Cronjé | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 14 | 2 | 126 | 136 |
| Malcolm Jaer | 11 | 11 | 11 | | 15 | 15 | | | | | | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | 9 | 6 | 0 | 30 |
| Waylon Murray | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Berton Klaasen | 13 | 13 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Makazole Mapimpi | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | 14 | 11 | 0 | 55 |
| Chrysander Botha | 15 | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Bezuidenhout | 16 | | | | | 16 | 16 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 16 | | 11 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Schalk van der Merwe | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Heiberg | 18 | | 18 | | 17 | 17 | 1 | | | 17 | 17 | | | | | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Paul | 19 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | | 15 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Chris Cloete | 20 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 14 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Rudi van Rooyen | 21 | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Masixole Banda | 22 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | 21 | 21 | 22 | | 11 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Luzuko Vulindlu | 23 | 22 | 12 | | 23 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 14 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Kurt Haupt | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 2 | | | 16 | | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Forwood | | 18 | | 18 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Thembelani Bholi | | 19 | 7 | | | | | | | | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pieter-Steyn de Wet | | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 10 | | | | | 10 | 2 | 16 | 26 |
| Ricky Schroeder | | | 9 | | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wilhelm van der Sluys | | | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | 5 | 5 | | 5 | | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johan Steyn | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | | | | | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alshaun Bock | | | | 11 | 11 | | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | | | | | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Johann Tromp | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yaw Penxe | | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | | | | | | 23 | 23 | | | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Dayan van der Westhuizen | | | | | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wandile Mjekevu | | | | | | 22 | 22 | 14 | 14 | | | | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Stokkies Hanekom | | | | | | | | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | | | | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Giant Mtyanda | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 4 | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Mzamo Majola | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stefan Ungerer | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | 22 | 22 | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ntabeni Dukisa | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tango Balekile | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christiaan de Bruin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Siyanda Grey | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Lindsay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sintu Manjezi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neil Maritz | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garrick Mattheus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wandile Putuma | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CJ Velleman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | | – | 2 | – | 14 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 15 | 49 | 142 | 391 |
* Tango Balekile, Christiaan de Bruin, Siyanda Grey, Cameron Lindsay, Sintu Manjezi, Neil Maritz, Garrick Mattheus, Wandile Putuma and CJ Velleman were included in the 2017 squad, but were never included in a matchday squad.