The funds emanated from funding received from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality which followed a lengthy process of negotiations between the franchise and the Metro. The funding received provided for salaries for players and coaching staff.

The Chairman, Loyiso Dotwana, stated: “We are appreciative of the funding and support received from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, which allows us to sustain the livelihood of our players and coaching staff.

“In these unprecedented and challenging times, I, as Chairman, plan to lead the Kings Board in a wide-ranging strategic review and planning process regarding the best possible way forward for the future commercial sustainability of the franchise against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global economic meltdown.”

“The support of the Metro and the Province is critical to what the franchise was established to achieve, which is developing and retaining the best talent to build a strong future base for rugby in the Eastern Cape, and the establishment of a professional, world-class rugby team in the Eastern Cape.