In the 2017–18 rugby union season, the Southern Kings participated in the Pro14 competition, their inaugural appearance in the competition after losing their Super Rugby status after the 2017 season. They finished bottom of the seven-team Conference B, winning just one of their 21 matches. Masixole Banda was the team's top scorer in the competition with 40 points, while winger Yaw Penxe was the top try scorer with five tries.

Personnel

Coaches and management

The Kings coaching and management staff for the 2017–18 Pro14 season were:

2017–18 Kings coaches and management Position Name Head coach Deon Davids Forwards coach Barend Pieterse Backs coach Chumani Booi Kicking coach Henning van der Merwe

Squad

The Kings' squad for the 2017–18 Pro14 is:

2017–18 Kings squad Player Position/s Date of birth (age) Pro12 Kings Apps Pts Apps Pts Flank – – – – Hooker – – – – Fullback / Fly-half – – – – Wing – – – – Flank – – – – Flank – – – – Hooker – – – – Fly-half – – – – Prop 14 5 – – Lock – – – – Fly-half – – – – Prop – – – – Fly-half / Centre – – – – Utility back – – – – Prop – – – – Prop – – – – Scrum-half – – – – Lock – – – – Prop – – – – Fly-half – – – – Centre – – – – Centre / Wing – – – – Number eight – – – – Flank – – – – Prop – – – – Wing – – – – Scrum-half – – – – Flank – – – – Lock – – – – Centre – – – – Flank – – – – Loose forward – – – – Outside back – – – – Prop – – – – Fly-half – – – – Centre – – – – Prop – – – – Flank – – – – Wing – – – – Prop – – – – Scrum-half – – – – Prop – – – – Prop – – – – Prop – – – – Hooker – – – – Scrum-half – – – – Lock / Number eight 76 100 – – Lock / Flank – – – – Flank – – – – Wing – – – – Centre – – – – Lock – – – – Hooker – – – – Fly-half – – – – Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 2 September 2017, the date of the opening round of the competition. Pro14 appearances only.

Player movements

Player movements between the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season and the end of the 2017–18 Pro14 season are as follows:

transfers 2017–2018 Pos 2017 squad Out In 2017–18 squad PR Schalk Ferreira Justin Forwood Ross Geldenhuys Chris Heiberg Mzamo Majola Schalk van der Merwe Dayan van der Westhuizen Ross Geldenhuys (to ) Chris Heiberg (released) Schalk van der Merwe (to Ulster) Rossouw de Klerk (from ) Martin Dreyer (from ) Njabulo Gumede (from ) Luvuyo Pupuma (from ) Pieter Scholtz (from ) Joe Smith (from ) Piet-Louw Strauss (from ) Entienne Swanepoel (from ) Rossouw de Klerk Martin Dreyer Schalk Ferreira Justin Forwood Njabulo Gumede Mzamo Majola Luvuyo Pupuma Pieter Scholtz Joe Smith Piet-Louw Strauss Entienne Swanepoel Dayan van der Westhuizen HK Tango Balekile (did not play) Martin Bezuidenhout Kurt Haupt Mike Willemse Martin Bezuidenhout (to Bourgoin-Jallieu) Kurt Haupt (returned to ) Stephan Coetzee (from ) Alandré van Rooyen (from ) Tango Balekile Stephan Coetzee Alandré van Rooyen Mike Willemse LK Irné Herbst Cameron Lindsay (did not play) Sintu Manjezi (did not play) Giant Mtyanda Wandile Putuma (did not play) Wilhelm van der Sluys Mzwanele Zito Irné Herbst (returned to ) Cameron Lindsay (to ) Sintu Manjezi (to ) Wandile Putuma (returned to ) Wilhelm van der Sluys (to Exeter Chiefs) Mzwanele Zito (returned to ) Bobby de Wee (from ) Stephan Greeff (from ) Freddy Ngoza (from ) Dries van Schalkwyk (from Zebre) Jurie van Vuuren (from ) Lindokuhle Welemu (from ) Bobby de Wee Stephan Greeff Giant Mtyanda Freddy Ngoza Dries van Schalkwyk Jurie van Vuuren Lindokuhle Welemu FL Thembelani Bholi Chris Cloete Andisa Ntsila Tyler Paul CJ Velleman (did not play) Stefan Willemse Thembelani Bholi (to ) Chris Cloete (returned to ) Tyler Paul (to ) Stefan Willemse (to ) Eital Bredenkamp (from ) Tienie Burger (from ) Khaya Majola (from ) Siya Mdaka (from ) Victor Sekekete (from ) Eital Bredenkamp Tienie Burger Khaya Majola Siya Mdaka Andisa Ntsila Victor Sekekete CJ Velleman N8 Christiaan de Bruin (did not play) Ruaan Lerm Christiaan de Bruin (released) Lusanda Badiyana (from ) Lusanda Badiyana Ruaan Lerm SH Louis Schreuder Ricky Schroeder Johan Steyn Stefan Ungerer Rudi van Rooyen Louis Schreuder (to ) Ricky Schroeder (released) Johan Steyn (returned to ) Stefan Ungerer (to ) Rowan Gouws (from ) Godlen Masimla (from ) JP Smith (from ) Rowan Gouws Godlen Masimla JP Smith Rudi van Rooyen FH Lionel Cronjé Pieter-Steyn de Wet Garrick Mattheus (did not play) Lionel Cronjé (to Toyota Verblitz) Garrick Mattheus (released) Kurt Coleman (from ) Martin du Toit (from ) Benhard Janse van Rensburg (from ) JC Roos (from Canon Eagles) Oliver Zono (from ) Kurt Coleman Pieter-Steyn de Wet Martin du Toit Benhard Janse van Rensburg JC Roos Oliver Zono CE Siyanda Grey (did not play) Stokkies Hanekom Berton Klaasen Neil Maritz (did not play) Waylon Murray Luzuko Vulindlu Siyanda Grey (released) Stokkies Hanekom (returned to ) Neil Maritz (to ) Waylon Murray (to Mâcon) Harlon Klaasen (from ) Jacques Nel (from ) Jarryd Sage (from ) Berton Klaasen Harlon Klaasen Jacques Nel Jarryd Sage Luzuko Vulindlu WG Alshaun Bock Malcolm Jaer Makazole Mapimpi Wandile Mjekevu Yaw Penxe Malcolm Jaer (to ) Makazole Mapimpi (to ) Wandile Mjekevu (to ) Michael Makase (from ) S'bura Sithole (from ) Anthony Volmink (from ) Alshaun Bock Michael Makase Yaw Penxe S'bura Sithole Anthony Volmink FB Masixole Banda Chrysander Botha Ntabeni Dukisa Johann Tromp Chrysander Botha (released) Johann Tromp (released) Masixole Banda Ntabeni Dukisa Coach Deon Davids Deon Davids

Standings

The final Conference B log standings are:

2017–18 Pro14 Conference B Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 21 14 1 6 601 374 +227 83 46 10 2 70 2 21 14 1 6 528 365 +163 69 43 9 3 70 3 21 15 0 6 494 375 +119 62 44 7 1 68 4 21 12 2 7 538 482 +56 68 61 8 2 62 5 21 11 0 10 415 451 −36 51 55 6 5 55 6 21 2 2 17 378 672 −294 43 94 4 4 20 7 21 1 0 20 378 829 −451 48 119 4 3 11

Legend and competition rules Legend: Conference leaders, qualified to play-off semifinals. 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 Second and third placed teams, qualified to play-off quarterfinals. Competition rules:

Round-by-round

The table below shows the Kings' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the conference position:

Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 QF SF Final Opposition Cumulative Points 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 9 11 11 11 11 Position 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th 7th Key: win draw loss bye

Matches

The Southern Kings' matches in their inaugural season in Pro14 are:

Player statistics

The Pro14 appearance record for players that represented the Kings in 2017–18 is as follows:

2017–18 Kings player statistics Player name SCA CON LEI ZEB DRA BEN GLA ULS SCA EDI EDI ULS OSP LEI DRA BEN MUN CAR App Try Con Pen DG Pts Schalk Ferreira 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 20 1 0 0 0 5 Mike Willemse (c) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 16 2 2 2 2 2 13 2 0 0 0 10 Rossouw de Klerk 3 3 17 17 17 3 3 3 3 18 3 3 12 0 0 0 0 0 Jurie van Vuuren 4 4 7 7 7 7 19 4 19 19 10 0 0 0 0 0 Dries van Schalkwyk 5 5 5 5 8 8 20 20 20 5 20 8 12 1 0 0 0 5 Khaya Majola 6 6 6 6 20 20 20 20 6 9 0 0 0 0 0 Victor Sekekete 7 7 7 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 Andisa Ntsila 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 6 6 6 17 2 0 0 0 10 Rudi van Rooyen 9 21 9 9 21 9 9 9 9 9 21 21 21 21 14 0 0 0 0 0 Kurt Coleman 10 10 22 23 10 10 22 10 8 0 12 5 0 39 S'bura Sithole 11 11 11 11 14 5 0 0 0 0 0 Luzuko Vulindlu 12 12 12 12 23 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 22 12 16 4 0 0 0 20 Berton Klaasen 13 13 13 13 12 23 13 13 13 12 13 13 23 13 13 13 13 13 12 13 20 4 0 0 0 20 Yaw Penxe 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 15 14 15 11 14 14 15 11 11 15 18 5 0 0 0 25 Masixole Banda 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 23 15 15 15 15 15 15 10 15 1 7 7 0 40 Stephan Coetzee 16 16 16 16 16 2 2 2 2 2 16 16 16 16 2 2 2 2 18 0 0 0 0 0 Luvuyo Pupuma 17 17 3 3 18 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 14 2 0 0 0 10 Entienne Swanepoel 18 18 18 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 Bobby de Wee 19 19 19 19 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 20 1 0 0 0 5 Siya Mdaka 20 20 20 3 0 0 0 0 0 Godlen Masimla 21 9 21 21 9 9 21 21 21 21 21 9 9 9 9 15 2 0 0 0 10 Ntabeni Dukisa 22 22 15 22 15 23 10 12 8 3 4 1 0 26 Jacques Nel 23 23 23 23 13 13 23 23 23 23 23 13 13 13 2 0 0 0 10 Oliver Zono 22 10 22 22 22 22 10 10 10 9 0 7 3 0 23 Stephan Greeff 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 17 1 0 0 0 5 Piet-Louw Strauss 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 Martin Dreyer 18 18 3 3 18 17 6 0 0 0 0 0 Pieter-Steyn de Wet 10 10 10 3 0 3 4 0 18 Freddy Ngoza 20 20 20 3 0 0 0 0 0 Alshaun Bock 11 11 11 11 11 11 22 7 0 0 0 0 0 Giant Mtyanda 19 19 19 19 19 19 5 19 8 0 0 0 0 0 Rowan Gouws 21 21 21 21 9 9 9 9 9 9 21 11 0 0 0 0 0 Tango Balekile 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 8 0 0 0 0 0 Ruaan Lerm 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 8 14 2 0 0 0 10 Martin du Toit 10 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 10 22 10 11 1 2 0 0 9 Mzamo Majola 17 17 2 0 0 0 0 0 Michael Makase 14 14 14 14 14 11 14 14 14 14 14 14 12 4 0 0 0 20 Lindokuhle Welemu 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 8 1 0 0 0 5 Jarryd Sage 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 Tienie Burger 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 13 1 0 0 0 5 Anthony Volmink 11 11 11 11 11 11 6 1 0 0 0 5 Alandré van Rooyen 16 16 16 3 0 0 0 0 0 Pieter Scholtz 18 18 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 11 0 0 0 0 0 Harlon Klaasen 22 13 22 23 13 23 23 23 11 9 4 0 0 0 20 Benhard Janse van Rensburg 22 22 22 22 22 5 0 2 0 0 4 Eital Bredenkamp 6 6 20 20 20 6 6 1 0 0 0 5 Joe Smith 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 5 0 0 0 0 0 Dayan van der Westhuizen 18 18 18 17 4 0 0 0 0 0 JP Smith 21 21 2 0 0 0 0 0 Lusanda Badiyana 20 20 6 22 4 0 0 0 0 0 Justin Forwood 17 17 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 JC Roos 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 penalty try – 2 – – – 14 Total 21 48 37 20 0 378

(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.

Njabulo Gumede and CJ Velleman did not make any appearances.

Awards

The following player were honoured at the Southern Kings' end-of-season awards:

2017–18 Kings player awards winners Award Player Player of the Year Bobby de Wee Try of the Year Michael Makase Most Professional Player Berton Klaasen Player's Player of the Year Bobby de Wee Golden Boot Kurt Coleman Most Valuable Player Schalk Ferreira Most Consistent Performer Tienie Burger Best Back Yaw Penxe Best Forward Andisa Ntsila

See also

Southern Kings Pro14

References