Draft system to boost Cheetahs and flagging Kings?

Cape Town - SA Rugby is considering implementing a draft system which could aid PRO14 outfits the Cheetahs and Kings, president Mark Alexander has confirmed.

The Cheetahs made the playoffs in their first year in the tournament, but the Kings found the going tough and secured just one victory - out of 21 matches - in their debut season. 

According to Alexander, SA Rugby is hoping to get finalisation on a new system that would aim to strengthen both South African squads in the competition from next season.

The new system, Alexander hopes, will be approved at SA Rugby' next franchise meeting.

"We are putting a capping on the contracting of players (at Super Rugby level), we’ve got a contracting model about to be approved. In that contracting model, a lot of players will become available to other teams like the Kings and the Cheetahs," Alexander told EWN.

"In any position, you’ll have three or four players for that position. The number four and number five player never get an opportunity to play, that kid can be drafted by another union and have game time.

"So, we can have the best players playing rugby every week and not some of the best players sitting in the storeroom."