# 2016 Southern Kings season

In 2016, the Southern Kings participated in the 2016 Super Rugby competition, their second appearance in the competition after also playing in 2013. They were included in the Africa 2 Conference of the competition, along with Jaguares, Lions and Sharks.

## Chronological list of events

* 17 November 2015: Following the failure of the Eastern Province Kings to pay their players at the end of November 2015, the South African Rugby Union announced that they would take control of the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise.
* 23 November 2015: SARU announced that an operational implementation task group was set up to oversee the running of the Kings.
* 25 November 2015: SARU announced the details of their operational plan for the Kings; the SWD Eagles head coach Deon Davids was named the head coach of the Southern Kings for the 2016 season, with Mzwandile Stick appointed the back coach, Barend Pieterse the forwards coach and Nadus Nieuwoudt the conditioning coach. In addition, a number of consultant coaches from SARU's mobi-unit could also be utilised throughout the season. It was also revealed that a playing squad of 42 players were planned, which would meet all Strategic Transformation Plan guidelines.
* 13 December 2015: The names of the first 20 players to sign up for the Kings for 2016 were released. The players were Thembelani Bholi, Tom Botha, Aidon Davis, JP du Plessis, Schalk Ferreira, Louis Fouché, Shane Gates, Siyanda Grey, James Hall, Cornell Hess, Malcolm Jaer, Kevin Luiters, Edgar Marutlulle, Tyler Paul, Junior Pokomela, Steven Sykes, CJ Velleman, Stefan Watermeyer, Elgar Watts and Stefan Willemse. Eastern Province CEO Charl Crous was named the Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Kings.
* 4 January 2016: SARU announced that prop Jacobie Adriaanse and lock Schalk Oelofse also joined the Kings for the 2016 Super Rugby season. In addition, Lukhanyo Am, Onke Dubase, Billy Dutton, Leighton Eksteen, Monde Hadebe, Ntando Kebe, Michael Makase, Mihlali Mpafi and Luzuko Vulindlu all joined the training squad on a trial basis.
* 8 January 2016: The Kings announced that loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht, who represented the Kings during the 2013 Super Rugby season, would return for the 2016 season.
* 22 January 2016: The Kings confirmed that Lukhanyo Am, JC Astle, Chris Cloete, Leighton Eksteen, Martin Ferreira, Tazz Fuzani and Luzuko Vulindlu all joined the Kings for 2016.
* 25 January 2016: Three more players were confirmed for the Kings for 2016 – hooker Martin Bezuidenhout, lock Philip du Preez and fullback Jurgen Visser. Another fullback, Jaco van Tonder joined on a trial period.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Kings coaching and management staff for the 2016 Super Rugby season are:
| 2016 Kings coaches and management |
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Deon Davids |
| Forwards coach | Barend Pieterse |
| Backs coach | Mzwandile Stick |
| 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 2016 Super Rugby season:
| 2016 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 |
| Justin Ackerman | Golden Lions | Prop | (1992-03-17)17 March 1992 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Jacobie Adriaanse | To be confirmed | Prop | (1985-07-19)19 July 1985 (aged 30) | 13 | 0 | – | – |
| Louis Albertse | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1990-04-02)2 April 1990 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Lukhanyo Am | Sharks | Centre | (1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| JC Astle | Sharks | Lock | (1990-08-30)30 August 1990 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Martin Bezuidenhout | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1989-08-21)21 August 1989 (aged 26) | 34 | 15 | – | – |
| Thembelani Bholi | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1990-01-18)18 January 1990 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Tom Botha | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1990-08-31)31 August 1990 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Chris Cloete | Pumas | Flanker | (1991-02-15)15 February 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Aidon Davis | Eastern Province Kings | Number eight | (1994-04-29)29 April 1994 (aged 21) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| JP du Plessis | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1991-04-29)29 April 1991 (aged 24) | 3 | 0 | – | – |
| Philip du Preez | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1993-08-01)1 August 1993 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Leighton Eksteen | SWD Eagles | Fullback | (1994-09-15)15 September 1994 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Jacques Engelbrecht | To be confirmed | Number eight | (1985-06-10)10 June 1985 (aged 30) | 28 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Martin Ferreira | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1989-01-24)24 January 1989 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Schalk Ferreira | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1984-02-09)9 February 1984 (aged 32) | 31 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Louis Fouché | Eastern Province Kings | Fly-half | (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 26) | 23 | 47 | – | – |
| Tazz Fuzani | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1991-01-18)18 January 1991 (aged 25) | – | – | – | – |
| Shane Gates | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1992-09-27)27 September 1992 (aged 23) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Siyanda Grey | Eastern Province Kings | Winger | (1989-08-16)16 August 1989 (aged 26) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| James Hall | Eastern Province Kings | Scrum-half | (1996-01-02)2 January 1996 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Liam Hendricks | Western Province | Prop | (1994-05-31)31 May 1994 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Cornell Hess | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1989-03-01)1 March 1989 (aged 26) | – | – | – | – |
| Dewald Human | Blue Bulls | Fly-half / Fullback | (1995-05-19)19 May 1995 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Malcolm Jaer | Eastern Province Kings | Fullback | (1995-06-29)29 June 1995 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| JP Jonck | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1991-12-07)7 December 1991 (aged 24) | – | – | – | – |
| Ntando Kebe | Border Bulldogs | Scrum-half | (1988-08-19)19 August 1988 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Theuns Kotzé | Boland Cavaliers | Fly-half | (1987-07-16)16 July 1987 (aged 28) | – | – | – | – |
| Kevin Luiters | Eastern Province Kings | Scrum-half | (1992-07-02)2 July 1992 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Sintu Manjezi | Eastern Province Kings | Lock / Flanker | (1995-04-07)7 April 1995 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Edgar Marutlulle | Eastern Province Kings | Hooker | (1987-12-20)20 December 1987 (aged 28) | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Wandile Mjekevu | Sharks | Winger | (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 25) | 10 | 20 | – | – |
| Andisa Ntsila | SWD Eagles | Flanker | (1993-11-07)7 November 1993 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Schalk Oelofse | SWD Eagles | Lock | (1988-11-02)2 November 1988 (aged 27) | – | – | – | – |
| Tyler Paul | Eastern Province Kings | Lock / Flanker | (1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 21) | – | – | – | – |
| Junior Pokomela | Eastern Province Kings | Number eight | (1996-12-10)10 December 1996 (aged 19) | – | – | – | – |
| Charles Radebe | SWD Eagles | Winger | (1995-12-16)16 December 1995 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Sti Sithole | Western Province | Prop | (1993-03-31)31 March 1993 (aged 22) | 3 | 0 | – | – |
| Vukile Sofisa | Eastern Province Kings | Prop | (1993-04-06)6 April 1993 (aged 22) | – | – | – | – |
| Steven Sykes | Eastern Province Kings | Lock | (1984-08-05)5 August 1984 (aged 31) | 96 | 55 | 13 | 5 |
| Jaco van Tonder | Sharks | Fullback | (1991-04-07)7 April 1991 (aged 24) | 3 | – | – | – |
| CJ Velleman | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1995-02-24)24 February 1995 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Jurgen Visser | Eastern Province Kings | Fullback | (1989-09-13)13 September 1989 (aged 26) | 31 | 13 | – | – |
| Luzuko Vulindlu | SWD Eagles | Centre / Winger | (1987-11-14)14 November 1987 (aged 28) | 9 | 5 | – | – |
| Jeremy Ward | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1996-01-10)10 January 1996 (aged 20) | – | – | – | – |
| Stefan Watermeyer | Eastern Province Kings | Centre | (1988-06-03)3 June 1988 (aged 27) | 14 | 10 | – | – |
| Elgar Watts | Eastern Province Kings | Fly-half | (1985-09-24)24 September 1985 (aged 30) | 19 | 87 | – | – |
| Stefan Willemse | Eastern Province Kings | Flanker | (1992-04-12)12 April 1992 (aged 23) | – | – | – | – |
| Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 27 February 2016, the date of the opening round of the competition. Appearances and points refer to the Super Rugby competition only and excludes the 2013 relegation play-off series against the Lions. |

## Log

The final standings for the 2016 Super Rugby season are:
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 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 535 | 349 | +186 | 71 | 42 | 7 | 1 | 52 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Stormers | 15 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 440 | 274 | +166 | 49 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 51 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Sharks | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 360 | 269 | +91 | 40 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 43 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Bulls | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 399 | 339 | +60 | 47 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 42 | |
| 5 | Jaguares | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 376 | 427 | −51 | 44 | 51 | 1 | 5 | 22 | |
| 6 | Cheetahs | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 377 | 425 | −48 | 47 | 48 | 1 | 4 | 21 | |
| 7 | Southern Kings | 15 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 282 | 684 | −402 | 34 | 95 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| 8 | Sunwolves | 15 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 293 | 627 | −334 | 33 | 88 | 0 | 3 | 9 | |
Africa 2 Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts |
| 1 | Lions | 52 |
| 2 | Sharks | 43 |
| 3 | Jaguares | 22 |
| 4 | Southern Kings | 9 |
Overall :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hurricanes | 53 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 2 | Lions | 52 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 3 | Stormers | 51 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 4 | Brumbies | 43 | Conference leaders Qualify to finals |
| 5 | Highlanders | 52 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 6 | Chiefs | 51 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 7 | Crusaders | 50 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 8 | Sharks | 43 | Wildcard teams Qualify to finals |
| 9 | Bulls | 42 | |
| 10 | Waratahs | 40 | |
| 11 | Blues | 39 | |
| 12 | Rebels | 31 | |
| 13 | Jaguares | 22 | |
| 14 | Cheetahs | 21 | |
| 15 | Reds | 17 | |
| 16 | Force | 13 | |
| 17 | Southern Kings | 9 | |
| 18 | Sunwolves | 9 | |
* Competition rules
* Qualification:
* The top eight teams qualified to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners were seeded #1 to #4 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards were seeded as #5 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the conference winners hosted 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 progressed to the semi-finals, where the highest seed to reach the semi-finals hosted the lowest seed and the second-seeded semi-finalist hosted the third-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals progressed to the Final, 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

## Matches

The Kings will play the following matches during the 2016 Super Rugby season:

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Kings in 2016 is as follows:
| 2016 Southern Kings player statistics |
| Player name | SHA | CHI | CRU | HUR | SUN | BUL | LIO | JAG | BLU | CHE | SHA | JAG | HIG | LIO | STO | App | Try | Kck | Pts |
| Schalk Ferreira | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Martin Ferreira | 2 | | 2 | | 16 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 2 | | | | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Botha | 3 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steven Sykes | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | 4 | 4 | 4 | | 4 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| JC Astle | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Cloete | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 9 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Thembelani Bholi | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Jacques Engelbrecht | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | | 20 | | | | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ntando Kebe | 9 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elgar Watts | 10 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 22 | | 10 | | 22 | 11 | 1 | 26 | 31 |
| Malcolm Jaer | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 15 | | | | | | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Shane Gates | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| JP du Plessis | 13 | | 23 | 23 | | 22 | 11 | | | 13 | 13 | 23 | | | | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Luzuko Vulindlu | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | 23 | | | 11 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Jurgen Visser | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Edgar Marutlulle | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Sti Sithole | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 17 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Albertse | 18 | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Schalk Oelofse | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 5 | | 19 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 4 | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CJ Velleman | 20 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 8 | | | | 6 | | | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leighton Eksteen | 21 | | | | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | | | | | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Fouché | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 10 | | 14 | 1 | 76 | 81 |
| Charles Radebe | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacobie Adriaanse | | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | 3 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 3 | | 3 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stefan Watermeyer | | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 22 | 13 | 13 | | | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| Martin Bezuidenhout | | 16 | | 16 | | | 16 | | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Luiters | | 21 | 9 | 21 | 21 | | | | | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaco van Tonder | | 23 | | | 23 | 23 | | 15 | | | 23 | | | | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stefan Willemse | | | | 7 | 7 | 7 | | 19 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Ackerman | | | | 17 | | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | | 17 | 17 | 18 | | | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aidon Davis | | | | | 8 | 8 | | 20 | | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Siyanda Grey | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Hall | | | | | | 9 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 9 | | | | 9 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Lukhanyo Am | | | | | | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Liam Hendricks | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JP Jonck | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cornell Hess | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wandile Mjekevu | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Dewald Human | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| Andisa Ntsila | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sintu Manjezi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremy Ward | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 23 | 2 | 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 | – | 1 | – | 5 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 15 | 34 | 112 | 282 |