'Kings deserve promotion'

SOUTH African rugby bosses are being put under pressure to promote the EP Kings to the top flight of South African rugby even though they lost both their Currie Cup promotion/relegation matches against the Free State Cheetahs.

In a surprise move, Free State coach Naka Drotske has come out in support of the Kings playing with the "big boys" next year after his team were made to struggle to a hard-fought win over a gutsy EP side at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday night.

After being thrashed 53-14 in the first leg in Bloemfontein, the Kings made the Cheetahs sweat blood for their second-leg 16-6 win – and it made a huge impression on the Free State coach.