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The Southern Kings have targeted 2012 as the year that they will enter the Super 15 in place of either of the under performing Lions or Cheetahs.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has been working for some time to get an Eastern Cape franchise introduced to Super rugby.
SARU officials committed themselves to the 2012 deadline at a press conference in east London according to OFM radio.
The Eastern Cape has been a breeding ground for black rugby players for many years and with transformation in mind there has been a big push for the introduction of a new Super Rugby franchise.
The poor campaigns by the Lions and the Cheetahs mean they are the most likely candidates to be replaced by the Southern Kings as South Africa's fifth team in the Super 15.
Buntu Ondala, president of the Border Rugby Union says: "Our target is to say come 2012 and we will be saying: this is the team that we will be putting forward."
"But we are in the process of building it so we can say this is our team."he told the SABC.
There is also speculation regarding promotion-relegation matches being played between the worst placed South African team and the Southern Kings for the participation license into the Super 15.
No matter what the outcome there is likely to be more internal battles within South African rugby as neither the Lions nor the Cheetahs are likely to give up their place in the lucrative Super Rugby competition without a fight.
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