2016 Eastern Province Kings season explained

2016 Eastern Province Kings season
Headerstyle:	background:#ccf;
Labelstyle:	background:#ddf;
Header1:	Team Information
Label2:	Stadium
Label3:	President
Data3:	Cheeky Watson
Label4:	Director of Rugby
Header5:	Currie Cup qualification
Label6:	Coach
Data6:	Robbi Kempson
Label7:	Captains
Data7:	Lusanda Badiyana, Cornell Hess, Sintu Manjezi and Jeremy Ward
Label8:	Rank
Data8:	14th
Label9:	Record
Data9:	Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 11
Label10:	Top points scorer
Data10:	Garrick Mattheus (66)
Label11:	Top try scorer
Data11:	Somila Jho (5)
Header12:	Currie Cup Premier Division
Label13:	Coach
Data13:	Barend Pieterse
Label14:	Captains
Data14:	Martin Bezuidenhout, Schalk Ferreira and Ricky Schroeder
Label15:	Rank
Data15:	9th
Label16:	Record
Data16:	Lost 8
Label17:	Top points scorer
Data17:	Pieter-Steyn de Wet (27)
Label18:	Top try scorer
Data18:	Johann Tromp (3)
Header19:	Other seasons
Label20:	Previous season
Data20:	← 2015
Label21:	Next season
Data21:	2017 →

In 2016, the participated in the Currie Cup competition. The team played in the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship and the team in the 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship.

In addition, the formally affiliated Super Rugby franchise, the Southern Kings, participateD in the Super Rugby competition between February and July.^[1] From 2016, the team is controlled directly by SARU, and has no affiliation with the Eastern Province Rugby Union or Eastern Province Kings.^[2]

Chronological list of events

• 2 November 2015: The Eastern Province Rugby Union announced the departure of several players; Enrico Acker, Karlo Aspeling, Eben Barnard, Albé de Swardt, Samora Fihlani, Andile Jho, Paul Schoeman, Kuhle Sonkosi, Claude Tshidibi and George Whitehead all left after their contracts expired, Jaco Grobler and Jan Uys were both given an early release of their contracts and Marlou van Niekerk joined the on loan.^[3]
• 11 November 2015: Following the failure of the EPRU to meet a deadline to pay their players' salaries, South African Rugby Players Association spokesperson Nyaniso Sam confirmed that all contracted players could sign contracts with other teams.^[4] Centre Tim Whitehead announced that he would be one of the players to leave the Kings.^[5]
• 12 November 2015: Two more players left the EP Kings, with Lizo Gqoboka joining the ^[6] and Tim Agaba also announcing his intention to leave.^[7]
• 14 November 2015: A fourth Kings player announced his departure, with winger Luther Obi joining the .^[8]
• 16 November 2015: The EP Rugby Union confirmed that Obi and fellow winger Sylvian Mahuza both stated their intention to leave, but also confirmed that Louis Fouché, Carel Greeff, James Hilterbrand, SP Marais, Caylib Oosthuizen, Mark Richards, JC Roos, Jurgen Visser and Stefan Watermeyer have joined the squad and started pre-season training.^[9]
• 17 November 2015: The South African Rugby Union announced that they would take control of the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise following the ongoing cashflow problems.^[10]
• 27 November 2015: Loose-forward Tim Agaba – who previously stated his intention to leave – and outside back Siviwe Soyizwapi are both contracted by the South African Rugby Union for the South African Sevens team on two-year contracts.^[11]
• 2 December 2015: Head coach Brent Janse van Rensburg resigned from his position, with the confirming ongoing talks with Janse van Rensburg about joining their coaching staff.^[12]
• 4 December 2015: The South African Rugby Union, who took control of the Southern Kings Super Rugby side on 17 November, announced their operational plan. As part of the plan, SARU would operate the franchise independently from the Eastern Province Kings, which meant that they would negotiate Super Rugby contracts with identified players, and not necessarily the same players previously signed to Super Rugby contract by the Eastern Province Rugby Union.^[13]
• 7 December 2015: Eastern Province Kings players representative handed a petition to president Cheeky Watson, in which players announced their refusal to play for the Eastern Province Kings or Southern Kings until certain issues were sorted out; these issues included outstanding player salaries, a vote of confidence in the current EPRU executive committee and the appointment of specialists to propose a sustainable funding model for the rugby union.^[14]
• 12 January 2016: English RFU Championship side Jersey announced the signing of EP Kings prop Simon Kerrod.^[15]
• 26 January 2016: Three scholars from Linkside High School were given contracts to join the EP Kings Rugby Academy - lock Hussayn Banzi, fly-half Thabo Matiso and flank Lubabalo Ndamase.^[16]
• 28 January 2016: The South African Rugby Players' Association submitted a liquidation application against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd on behalf of eighteen Eastern Province Kings players who were not included in the Southern Kings Super Rugby squad for 2016 and have not received their salaries since September 2015.^[17]
• 9 March 2016: The Eastern Province Rugby Union confirm that Kings Academy manager Robbi Kempson would be the head coach of the Eastern Province Kings for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.^[18]
• 10 March 2016: The Port Elizabeth High Court provisionally liquidates Eastern Province Rugby, while a failure to pay outstanding player salaries before 10 May 2016 could see the liquidation order being made final.^[19]

Currie Cup qualification

Squad

The following players were named in the Eastern Province Kings squad for 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:

2016 Eastern Province Kings Currie Cup qualification squad
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	First class		EP Kings
Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts<	-- Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	All Appearances	All Points	EP Kings Appearances	EP Kings Points-->
	Prop	April 9, 2016	6	0	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Hooker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Hooker	April 9, 2016	85	50	–	–
	Fullback	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Centre	April 9, 2016	40	30	10	5
	Winger	April 9, 2016	5	10	5	10
	Lock	April 9, 2016	3	0	–	–
	Number eight	April 9, 2016	102	40	31	25
	Centre	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	21	0	6	0
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	51	0	12	0
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Hooker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Centre	April 9, 2016	10	0	10	0
	Centre	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	8	0	–	–
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock / Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Winger	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Winger	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Winger	April 9, 2016	6	0	6	0
	Prop	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	3	0	3	0
	Winger	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fullback / Winger	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Number eight	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	April 9, 2016	5	0	5	0
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fullback	April 9, 2016	21	28	–	–
	Prop	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Hooker	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fullback	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Centre	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Fly-half	April 9, 2016	119	557	6	5
	Fullback	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Flanker	April 9, 2016	5	0	5	0
	Winger	April 9, 2016	–	–	–	–
Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 9 April 2016, the date of the opening round of the competition. Appearances and points refer to the first class domestic competitions only. Appearances for Super Rugby franchises, at representative level or for foreign teams are not included.

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Currie Cup qualification
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16
align=left	Opposition	style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#97DEFF;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"
align=left	Cumulative Points	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	0	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	0	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	0	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	5	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	9	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9	style="background:#97DEFF;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#ECECEC;"	12	style="background:#ECECEC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	13
align=left	Position	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	15th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	13th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	11th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	13th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	13th	style="background:#97DEFF;"	13th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	14th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14th
Key:	win	draw	loss

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:

Player Appearances

The player appearance record in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series was as follows:

Eastern Province Kings
Name																App	Try	Kck	Pts
David Murray	1	1			17	1					1	1	1	1		8	1	0	5
Warrick Venter	2	2	2	2	16		2		16	2	2			2		10	0	0	0
Louis Albertse	3	3	3	3	3		3	3	3	3						9	0	0	0
	4	18	18	18	18	5	18	18								6	0	0	0
Tazz Fuzani	5	4	4	4		4	4	4	4	4	4	4				11	1	0	5
JP Jonck	6	6	6		6			6	6	6	19	6				9	2	0	10
Sintu Manjezi	7	7	7	7	4	7	7	7	7	5	7			7		12	0	0	0
	8	8	8													3	0	0	0
Chuma Faas	9		20	20		20										4	0	0	0
Michael Brink	10						10	15	15	15			12	15		7	0	14	14
Athi Mayinje	11	22	14	14	14	14	11	14	14			14				10	2	4	14
Jeremy Ward	12		12		12									12		4	1	0	5
Somila Jho	13	13	13	13	22	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	22	22		13	5	0	25
Jixie Molapo	14	14									14					3	0	0	0
Keanu Vers	15		22										14	14		4	1	0	5
JP Jamieson	16	16		16		16	16	2		16	16	2	16	16		11	1	0	5
Vukile Sofisa	17	17		17		17	17	17	17	17	3			3		9	0	0	0
Stephan Zaayman	18			19	19	6	8		18	7						7	0	0	0
SF Nieuwoudt	19	19	19	6	7			19		19	6	7				9	1	0	5
Cornell Hess	20	5	5	5	5		5	5	5	18	5	5				11	0	0	0
Davron Cameron	21	20		9												3	0	0	0
	22	15	15	15						10						5	4	8	28
Franswa Ueckermann		9	9		9		9	9	9				9	9		8	2	0	10
Simon Bolze		10	10	10							21	22	10	10		7	1	21	26
Lindelwe Zungu		11	11	11	15	15	15	11	11	11	11	11	15	11		13	1	0	5
Sphu Msutwana		12		21	11	11	14	12	21	21	22	21	13	13		12	1	0	5
Riaan Esterhuizen		21	21				12		12							4	0	0	0
NJ Oosthuizen			1										3	17		3	0	0	0
Tango Balekile			16									16	2			3	0	0	0
Greg Jackson			17					16								2	1	0	5
Liam Hendricks				1	1		1	1	1	1	17	3				8	1	0	5
				8	8	8			8							4	0	0	0
JP du Plessis				12	13					12	12	12				5	0	0	0
Yaw Penxe				22		22		21		14						3	1	0	5
Martin Bezuidenhout					2	2			2							3	0	0	0
					10	10		10	10	22	10	10	21			8	2	56	66
Sibusiso Ngcokovane					20	9	20			20	20	9		20		6	0	0	0
Jordan Koekemoer					21	21	21									3	0	0	0
Roché van Zyl						3						17	17			2	0	0	0
Andile Jho						12										1	1	0	5
Gerrit Huisamen						18	19									2	0	0	0
						19	6	8	19	8	8	8	8	8		9	2	0	10
Mabhutana Peter							22						11	21		3	0	0	0
Rouche Nel								20	20	9	9	20	20			5	0	0	0
Ivan-John du Preez								22	22							2	0	0	0
											15	15				2	0	0	0
Rob Lyons											18	18	6	6		4	0	0	0
Wihan Coetzer												19				1	0	0	0
													4	5		2	0	0	0
Wynand Grassmann													5	4		2	0	0	0
Jayson Reinecke													7	19		2	0	0	0
Justin Hollis													18			1	0	0	0
Stephan Deyzel													19			1	0	0	0
Brandon Brown														18		1	0	0	0
																–	3	–	15
Total																14	35	103	278
Thaki Boloko, Tyler Paul, Warren Swarts, Hayden Tharratt and Elgar Watts were named in the Currie Cup qualification squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Currie Cup Premier Division

Squad

The following players were named in the Eastern Province Kings squad for 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division:

2016 Eastern Province Kings Currie Cup Premier Division squad
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	First class		EP Kings
Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts<	-- Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	All Appearances	All Points	EP Kings Appearances	EP Kings Points-->
	Lock	August 5, 2016	2	0	–	–
	Hooker	August 5, 2016	88	50	3	0
	Prop	August 5, 2016	8	0	–	–
	Flanker	August 5, 2016	1	0	1	0
	Hooker	August 5, 2016	7	10	–	–
	Number eight	August 5, 2016	17	0	–	–
	Fly-half	August 5, 2016	22	99	–	–
	Prop	August 5, 2016	80	15	21	5
	Lock / flanker	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Scrum-half	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	August 5, 2016	2	0	–	–
	Lock	August 5, 2016	32	5	17	5
	Fly-half / fullback	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Centre	August 5, 2016	19	10	–	–
	Number eight	August 5, 2016	15	0	–	–
	Lock	August 5, 2016	2	0	2	0
	Winger	August 5, 2016	25	20	–	–
	Flanker	August 5, 2016	18	25	–	–
	Centre	August 5, 2016	28	10	–	–
	Fly-half	August 5, 2016	11	85	–	–
	Winger	August 5, 2016	58	160	–	–
	Fullback	August 5, 2016	3	0	–	–
	Winger	August 5, 2016	18	5	18	5
	Winger	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Centre	August 5, 2016	95	125	1	0
	Prop	August 5, 2016	22	0	–	–
	Flanker	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Lock	August 5, 2016	–	–	–	–
	Prop	August 5, 2016	8	10	–	–
	Scrum-half	August 5, 2016	51	10	–	–
	Prop	August 5, 2016	14	0	14	0
	Outside back	August 5, 2016	28	40	28	40
	Prop	August 5, 2016	18	15	6	5
	Centre / Fullback	August 5, 2016	14	41	–	–
	Flanker	August 5, 2016	4	5	–	–
	Scrum-half	August 5, 2016	10	10	–	–
	Hooker	August 5, 2016	10	0	10	0
	Hooker	August 5, 2016	31	20	–	–
Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 5 August 2016, the date of the opening round of the competition. Appearances and points refer to the first class domestic competitions only. Appearances for Super Rugby franchises, at representative level or for foreign teams are not included.

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R1	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	SF	F
align=left	Opposition	style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"
align=left	Cumulative Points	style="background:#ECECEC;"	0	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	0	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#ECECEC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	1
align=left	Position	style="background:#ECECEC;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	8th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	8th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	9th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	9th
Key:	win	draw	loss

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division:

Player Appearances

The player appearance record in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division was as follows:

Eastern Province Kings
Name									SF	F		App	Try	Kck	Pts
Schalk Ferreira (c)	1											1	0	0	0
Mike Willemse	2	2	2		2							4	1	0	5
Vukile Sofisa	3	3	3		3	17	17	3				7	0	0	0
Tazz Fuzani	4	4	4					4				4	0	0	0
	5	5					4					3	0	0	0
Vince Jobo	6	6	6		6	6	19					6	1	0	5
	7	7	5		5	5	5	7				7	0	0	0
	8	8	8		8	8	8	8				7	0	0	0
Ricky Schroeder	9	9	9		9	9	9	9				7	1	0	5
Kobus Marais	10	10	10		21							4	0	21	21
	11	11	11		11	11	11	11				7	1	0	5
Waylon Murray	12	12				12	12	12				5	0	0	0
Johann Tromp	13	15	15		15		15	15				6	3	0	15
Alcino Izaacs	14			11		22	14					4	2	0	10
	15	14	14	22	14	14		14				7	1	0	5
Martin Bezuidenhout	16	16	16	2	16	2	2	2				8	1	0	5
Justin Forwood	17	1	1		1	3	1					6	0	0	0
	18			8								2	0	0	0
Brandon Brown	19		20	7	19	7	7	6				7	1	0	5
Jacques Fick	20	20		9								2	0	0	0
Berton Klaasen	21	13	12		12	13	13	13				7	2	0	10
Lungelo Gosa	22	22	21	10		15	21	22				7	0	9	9
Barend Potgieter		17	17	1	17	1		1				6	0	0	0
Etienne Oosthuizen		18	7	18	7	18	18	18				7	0	0	0
		19	19	6		19	6	19				6	0	0	0
Minenhle Mthethwa		21		14		21						3	0	0	0
JC Greyling			13	12	13		22					4	1	0	5
Dylan Pieterse			18	5	4	4		5				5	0	0	0
Ganfried May			22	15	22							3	0	0	0
Pieter Stemmet				3			3	17				3	0	0	0
				4	18							2	0	0	0
Sphu Msutwana				13								1	0	0	0
Warrick Venter				16		16		16				2	0	0	0
				17								1	0	0	0
Cullen Collopy				19			16	20				2	1	0	5
Vian van der Watt				20	20	20	20	21				5	0	0	0
				21	10	10	10	10				5	0	27	27
Total												8	16	57	137
Dolph Botha was named in the Currie Cup Premier Division squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Under-21

Squad

The following players were named in the Eastern Province U21 squad for the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship:

Eastern Province U21 squad

	Lusanda Badiyana Wihan Coetzer Wynand Grassmann Jedwyn Harty Justin Hollis Gerrit Huisamen JP Jamieson Arno Lotter Rob Lyons David Murray SF Nieuwoudt NJ Oosthuizen Jayson Reinecke Hayden Tharratt Roché van Zyl Xandré Vos Did not play: Tango Balekile JP Barkhuizen Ronnie Beyl Matt Howes Sintu Manjezi Tyler Paul Junior Pokomela Elandré van der Merwe
	Simon Bolze Michael Brink Luvo Claassen Malcolm Jaer Somila Jho Garrick Mattheus Jixie Molapo Rouche Nel Sibusiso Ngcokovane Luan Nieuwoudt Mabhutana Peter Stephen Rautenbach Keanu Vers Jeremy Ward Lindelwe Zungu Did not play: Nathan Augustus Davron Cameron Avelo Jubase Jordan Koekemoer Athi Mayinje

Standings

The final league standings for the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship was:

2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts<	-- Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts-->
1	align=left		6	4	1	1	200	140	+60	28	17	6	1	25
2	align=left		6	5	0	1	198	144	+54	22	21	2	1	23
3	align=left		6	3	1	2	185	171	+14	26	22	4	2	20
4	align=left		6	3	0	3	177	184	-7	24	21	4	1	17
5	align=left		6	3	0	3	164	155	+9	19	19	2	2	16
6	align=left		6	2	0	4	152	189	-37	20	25	2	2	12
7	align=left		6	0	0	6	153	246	-93	22	36	4	2	6
Final standings.

Legend and competition rules
Legend:
	The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals.		P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
Competition rules:

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Semi	Final
align=left	Opposition	style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"
align=left	Cumulative Points	style="background:#ECECEC;"	0	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	4	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	9	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	10	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	10	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	15	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	16
align=left	Position	style="background:#ECECEC;"	5th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	3rd	style="background:#ECECEC;"	6th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	6th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	6th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th
Key:	win	draw	loss

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:

Player Appearances

The player appearance record in the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship is as follows:

Eastern Province U21
Name							SF	F		App	Try	Kck	Pts
David Murray	1	1	1	1		1				5	0	0	0
JP Jamieson	2	2	2	2	2	2				6	1	0	5
NJ Oosthuizen	3	17	3	17	3	3				6	0	0	0
Wynand Grassmann	4	4	4	4	4	4				6	0	0	0
Gerrit Huisamen	5	5	5	5	5	5				6	0	0	0
Jayson Reinecke	6	6	6	6	6	6				6	1	0	5
Rob Lyons	7	7		7		8				4	0	0	0
	8				8					2	0	0	0
Sibusiso Ngcokovane	9	9	9	9	9	9				6	0	0	0
	10	10	10	10	10	10				6	1	63	68
Lindelwe Zungu	11	11	11	22						4	1	0	5
Jeremy Ward	12	12	12	13	13	13				6	2	0	10
Somila Jho	13	13			22	22				3	2	0	10
Keanu Vers	14	14	14		14	14				5	2	0	10
Malcolm Jaer	15	15	15	15	15	15				6	4	3	23
Arno Lotter	16		19							1	0	0	0
Roché van Zyl	17	3		3	17	17				3	0	0	0
Justin Hollis	18	8	8	8	7	7				6	0	0	0
Jedwyn Harty	19	16	16	16	16	16				5	0	0	0
Rouche Nel	20			20						2	0	0	0
Simon Bolze	21			21	21	21				3	0	3	3
Mabhutana Peter	22	22	22	14						4	0	0	0
Wihan Coetzer		18	18	18	18					4	0	0	0
Hayden Tharratt		19	7	19	19	20				5	0	0	0
Luvo Claassen		20	20		20					2	0	0	0
Michael Brink		21	21	12						3	1	0	5
Stephen Rautenbach			13							1	0	0	0
Ronnie Beyl			17							0	0	0	0
Jixie Molapo				11	11	11				3	3	0	15
Xandré Vos					1	18				2	1	0	5
Luan Nieuwoudt					12	12				2	0	0	0
SF Nieuwoudt						19				1	0	0	0
Total										6	19	69	164
Nathan Augustus, Tango Balekile, JP Barkhuizen, Davron Cameron, Matt Howes, Avelo Jubase, Jordan Koekemoer, Sintu Manjezi, Athi Mayinje, Tyler Paul, Junior Pokomela and Elandré van der Merwe were named in the Under-21 Provincial Championship squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Under-19

Squad

The following players were named in the Eastern Province U19 squad for 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship:

Eastern Province U19 squad

	Siyanda Am Dylan Barendse Liam Blake-Taylor Temba Boltina Michael de Marco Kamva Dilima Duan du Plessis Apiwe Febana Nico Grobler Matthew King André Lategan Ruben le Roux Leon Lyons Sive Mazosiwe Lupumlo Mguca Thapelo Molapo Lourens Oosthuizen Janse Roux Mylo Sadiki Lutho Selem Donavan Stevens CJ van Niekerk Grant Venter Daniel Voigt Shane Weweje Did not play: Connor Thalrose
	Thaki Boloko Jonathan Booysen Michael Botha Reinhardt Engelbrecht Victor Foster Oyisa Hackula Yomi Keswa Cliven Loubser Malan Marais Wayne Moss Siba Mzanywa Yaw Penxe Leslie Sharp Morgan Steyn Louis Strydom Josiah Twum-Boafo Jac van der Walt Riaan van Rensburg Courtney Winnaar Did not play: Sihle Njezula

Standings

The final league standings for the 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship was:

2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts<	-- Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts-->
1	align=left		12	10	0	2	493	278	+215	66	35	9	1	50
2	align=left		12	10	0	2	427	225	+202	62	27	8	2	50
3	align=left		12	9	0	3	537	236	+301	73	30	8	2	46
4	align=left		12	6	0	6	366	308	+58	49	39	5	1	30
5	align=left		12	4	0	8	294	426	−132	44	61	6	2	24
6	align=left		12	3	0	9	308	497	−189	39	73	5	3	20
7	align=left		12	0	0	12	167	622	−455	22	90	1	2	3
Final standings.

Legend and competition rules
Legend:
	Top four teams qualified to the semi-finals.		P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
Competition rules:

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	SF	F
align=left	Opposition	style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#ECECEC;"	Bye	style="background:#E8FFD8;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"		style="background:#FFCCCC;"
align=left	Cumulative Points	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	5	style="background:#ECECEC;"	5	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	10	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	11	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	12	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	14	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	16	style="background:#ECECEC;"	16	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	20	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	20	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	20	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	20	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	20
align=left	Position	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	2nd	style="background:#ECECEC;"	4th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	2nd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	3rd	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	4th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th	style="background:#ECECEC;"	5th	style="background:#E8FFD8;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	5th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	6th	style="background:#FFCCCC;"	6th
Key:	win	draw	loss

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series:

Player Appearances

The player appearance record in the 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship is as follows:

Eastern Province U19
Name													<	--SF-->	<	--F-->		App	Try	Kck	Pts
Lupumlo Mguca	1				17	3										3	0	0	0
Grant Venter	2	2	2	2	2			17	17	17	17	17				9	0	0	0
Daniel Voigt	3	3	3	3	3		18	18	18	18	18	18				9	1	0	5
Kamva Dilima	4		5	5	19	5	19		5	7	7	5				10	0	0	0
Thapelo Molapo	5	5	18		7	6	5			19	6					7	0	0	0
Duan du Plessis	6	7	6	6	6	2	7	6	6	2	2	2				12	1	0	5
Lutho Selem	7	6	19	20	20	8	6	20	20	16	19	20				11	0	0	0
Mylo Sadiki	8	8	8	8	8	20	8	8	8							9	2	0	10
Yomi Keswa	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	21	9	9				12	3	2	17
Morgan Steyn	10	10	12	12		12		10	10	10						8	0	0	0
Yaw Penxe	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11					11	8	0	40
Malan Marais	12	12			22	22	22	12	12	22	22	12				7	0	0	0
Jonathan Booysen	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	11				12	7	0	35
Victor Foster	14	14	14	14	14			14	14	14	15	10				10	6	79	109
	15	15	10	10		10	10	15	15	15	10	15				11	5	17	42
Apiwe Febana	16	16														2	0	0	0
CJ van Niekerk	17	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1				12	1	0	5
Dylan Barendse	18	18	17	18	18	18	3	3	3	3	3	3				9	0	0	0
Janse Roux	19	4	4	4	4	4		4	4	4	4					10	0	0	0
Siyanda Am	20	20	20													3	0	0	0
Wayne Moss	21	21	21													3	0	0	0
	22			23	10	15										4	0	15	15
	23	23	15	15	15	14	15									6	2	0	10
Leon Lyons		17														1	0	0	0
Michael de Marco		19	7	7	5	7		7	7	8	8	7				10	0	0	0
		22	22									22				2	0	0	0
Sive Mazosiwe			16	17		17										2	0	0	0
Thaki Boloko			23	22	23	23	14									3	1	0	5
André Lategan				16	16	16	2	2	2		16	16				8	0	0	0
Shane Weweje				19		19	4									3	0	0	0
Jac van der Walt				21												1	0	0	0
Oyisa Hackula					12		12			12	12	13				5	1	0	5
Reinhardt Engelbrecht					21	21	21		22		21					4	1	0	5
Temba Boltina							16	16	16			19				1	0	0	0
Matthew King							17									1	0	0	0
Lourens Oosthuizen							20									1	0	0	0
Siba Mzanywa							23	23								2	0	0	0
Ruben le Roux								5		6						2	0	0	0
Liam Blake-Taylor								19	21	20	20	6				3	0	0	0
Louis Strydom								21		9		21				3	0	0	0
Riaan van Rensburg								22	23	23	14	23				4	0	0	0
Donavan Stevens									19	5	5	4				4	0	0	0
Nico Grobler											23	8				2	0	0	0
Leslie Sharp												14				1	0	0	0
Total																12	39	113	308
Sihle Njezula and Connor Thalrose were named in the Under-19 Provincial Championship squad, but not included in a matchday squad.

Varsity Rugby

The Eastern Province Kings Rugby Academy is based at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth and most of the academy players played Varsity Rugby; either for the in the Varsity Cup or for the in the Under-20 competition.

The following players were included in the Varsity Cup squad:

2016 NMMU Madibaz squad

		Tango Balekile Ronnie Beyl Brandon Brown Wynand Grassmann Jedwyn Harty Gerrit Huisamen JP Jamieson Kevin Kaba Marzuq Maarman SF Nieuwoudt Andisa Ntsila NJ Oosthuizen Tyler Paul Junior Pokomela Jayson Reinecke Nemo Roelofse Hayden Tharratt Elandré van der Merwe Warrick Venter Did not play: Lusanda Badiyana Greg Jackson JP Jonck Sintu Manjezi Roché van Zyl CJ Velleman Xandré Vos
		Simon Bolze Luvo Claassen Ivan-John du Preez Riaan Esterhuizen Andile Jho Tom Kean Ivan Ludick Khaya Malotana Yamkela Ngam Sibusiso Ngcokovane Luan Nieuwoudt Warren Swarts Keanu Vers Jeremy Ward Lindelwe Zungu Did not play: Davron Cameron Malcolm Jaer Somila Jho Garrick Mattheus Athi Mayinje Charles Radebe Franswa Ueckermann Courtney Winnaar
		David Maidza

Youth weeks

The Eastern Province Rugby Union announced their squads for the 2016 Under-18 Craven Week, the 2016 Under-18 Academy Week and the 2016 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournaments on 24 May 2016:

Under-18 Craven Week

The 2016 Under-18 Craven Week competition was held between 11 and 16 July 2016 in Durban. Eastern Province Rugby Union entered two sides – Eastern Province U18 and Eastern Province Country Districts U18.

Eastern Province U18 – Craven Week

Forwards		Zane Barnard William Duckit Gregan Glover Tertius Groenewald Etienne Janeke Ruan Jonker Ruben le Roux Khwezi Mafu Roelof Roodt Donavan Stevens Le-Kleu Stokes Stefan van der Poel Viaan Wolmarans
Backs		Lubabalo Dobela Zukhanye Mafunda Ayabonga Matroos Sihle Njezula Aya Oliphant Waqar Solaan Louis Strydom Keagan Tait Sicelo Tole Riaan van Rensburg
Coach		Derik Olivier

Eastern Province Country Districts U18 – Craven Week

Forwards		Hentus Botha Francu Dreyer JJ Human Ollie Losaba Johan Maartens Thembinkosi Mangwana Stephanus Mentz Keanen Murray Dihan Odendaal Lourens Oosthuizen Ewan Pieters Sazi Sandi Bongi Ziya
Backs		Tim Bloem Chulu Chutu Izak Conradie Jonathan Crankshaw Athenkosi Halom Vaughen Isaacs Reynier Meyer Matt Moore Sibabalwe Mzanywa Lutho Nomoyi
Coach		Damian Arends

Under-18 Academy Week

The 2016 Under-18 Academy Week competition was held between 11 and 16 July 2016 in Durban. Eastern Province Rugby Union entered two sides – Eastern Province U18 and Eastern Province Country Districts U18.

Eastern Province U18 – Academy Week

Forwards		Ruan Botha Janu Fourie Desmick Kleinbooi Shane Kluyts Oyama Mgesisi Dillon Minnaar Landile Mlonzi Henco Nel Armand Pretorius Gert Rautenbach Carl Senyane Elandré Smit Leonardo Tshingane
Backs		Rodwill Baaitjies Curtley Deysel Jayren Draghoender Ethan Jantjies Bendré Jonck Julian Kleyn Dylan le Roux Romario McCarthy Henco Pieterse Lindsay Potgieter
Coach		Elroy Swartz

Eastern Province Country Districts U18 – Academy Week

Forwards		Mihle Bobelo Jandré Els Rechardt Engelbrecht Rivaldo Marima Lwandile Ndzilendzila Ikhetheleng Nkhereanye Luvo Piliso Henry Schoeman Pieter Swanepoel Johannes Swart Gerhardus Terblanche Zean van der Walt Cornelius Vorster
Backs		Nevaldo Fleurs Kyle Greyvenstein Aden-Luke Masoling Azizipho Mngcongo Esona Mrwetyana Ruan Pretorius Enrico Saptoe Kindness Sibanda Keenan Stride Andries van Wyk
Coach		Owen Stride

Under-16 Grant Khomo Week

The 2016 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition was held between 4 and 8 July 2016 in Paarl.

Eastern Province U16 – Grant Khomo Week

Forwards		Ryan Adams Shaq Adams Hendrik du Toit Laken Gray Luther Greeff Hlumelo Gumatana Kelvin Kanenungo Rohan Kruger Elmar Lotz Daniel Naudé Corné Slabbert Roché van As Ryan Windvogel
Backs		Enrique Franks Adrian Gouza Claude Jacobs Jayren Marlow Naldo Pedro Johann Smalberger Luke Smuts Emile Stevens Heinrich van Rooyen Andreleigh van Wyk
Coach		Christiaan van Schalkwyk

Under-13 Craven Week Week

The 2016 Under-13 Craven Week competition was held between 4 and 8 July 2016 in Paarl.

Eastern Province U13 – Craven Week

Forwards		Cleavan Adams Ruben Barnard Jan-Hendrik Gouws Ockert Greeff Liyabonga Nathan Matabielie Rayquin Michaels Lwethu Ngcongco Damien Rudman Kyle van Jaarsveld Roland van Wyk Dylan Willis Marnus Winter Lazola Zatu
Backs		Luyolo Dambuza Sive Jack Hlombe Langa Diego Lottering Odwa Mdazana Liyemi Moni Divan Moss Jared Rees George van Heerden Tiaan van Wyk

See also

• Eastern Province Elephants
• Southern Kings
• 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship
• 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship

Notes and References

1. Web site: SANZAR boss Greg Peters confirms South Africa will get a sixth Super Rugby franchise from 2016 . Herald Sun . 4 September 2013 . 26 August 2013.
2. Web site: SARU takes control of Kings . Rugby365 . 17 November 2015 . 2 April 2016.
3. Web site: EP rugby players released from contracts . AlgoaFM . 2 November 2015 . 2 November 2015.
4. Web site: Kings facing player exodus? . Rugby365 . 11 November 2015 . 11 November 2015.
5. Web site: Fresh Kings crisis looms as players look to pull out . Daily Despatch . 12 November 2015 . 12 November 2015.
6. Web site: Bulls snap up Gqoboka . SuperSport . 13 November 2015 . 13 November 2015.
7. Web site: Agaba joins EP Kings exodus . Rugby365 . 13 November 2015 . 13 November 2015.
8. Web site: Haastige Obi groet Kings óók . Netwerk24 . 14 November 2015 . 15 November 2015 . Afrikaans.
9. Web site: EP Rugby Statement . Rugby15 . 16 November 2015 . 16 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117064123/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/11/ep-rugby-statement-2/ . 2015-11-17 . live .
10. SARU steps in to assist the Southern Kings Super Rugby franchise . South African Rugby Union . 17 November 2015 . 17 November 2015 . 18 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151118101324/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24397?view=news&leagueId=2714 . dead .
11. New recruits Soyizwapi, Agaba in strong Academy line-up for Dubai . South African Rugby Union . 27 November 2015 . 27 November 2015 . 8 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110813/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24442?view=news&leagueId=2744 . dead .
12. Web site: Coach joins Kings exodus . Rugby365 . 2 December 2015 . 2 December 2015.
13. SA Rugby unveils Southern Kings management team and operational plan . South African Rugby Union . 4 December 2015 . 4 December 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208121026/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24478?view=news&leagueId=2714 . 8 December 2015 .
14. Web site: EP Kings players hand over petition to Watson . Rugby15 . 7 December 2015 . 7 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160119082841/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2015/12/ep-kings-players-hand-over-petition-to-watson/ . 2016-01-19 . live .
15. New prop joins Jersey RFC squad . Jersey RFC . 12 January 2016 . 12 January 2016.
16. Web site: PE youngsters join Kings Academy . Rugby365 . 26 January 2016 . 26 January 2016.
17. Web site: Southern Kings unaffected by liquidation application against EP Rugby (Pty) Ltd . South African Rugby Union . 28 January 2016 . 29 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203081738/http://www.sarugby.net/news/24620?view=news . 3 February 2016 .
18. News: EP Kings Currie Cup preparations on track, despite financial difficulties . Rugby15 . 9 March 2016 . 9 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309192302/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2016/03/ep-kings-currie-cup-preparations-on-track-despite-financial-difficulties/ . 9 March 2016 . live . dmy-all .
19. News: EP Rugby provisionally liquidated . Herald Live . 10 March 2016 . 10 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310203818/http://www.heraldlive.co.za/just-ep-rugby-provisionally-liquidated/ . 10 March 2016 . dead .