Before Super 12 regionalisation in South Africa in 1998, Free State qualified for the Super 12 in 1997 as one of the top four Unions in South Africa - beating Western Province into the final four - while they have finished amongst the top four teams in the Currie Cup on six occasions in the last eight years.

Since regionalisation they have been part of the Cats’ Super 12 franchise, along with the Lions, Griquas and the Griffons, a marriage that has never been a happy one, mainly because of their annual wrangle over home games, which has seen their home fixtures split between a sparsely populated Vodacom Park (Bloemfontein) and Ellis Park (Johannesburg) every year since 1998.

"This puts us in a bad position," Harold Verster, the President of the Free State Rugby Union, told Planet Rugby. "But, you know, the Super 12 has never really worked out for us. (Former SARFU President) Louis Luyt tried to buy us out some time ago, and there has always been talk of marginalising us. But, given our record, we should be amongst the top four Unions, ahead of a team like the Lions."

The Cheetahs’ consolation prize for missing out on the Super 12, will see them compete in a new a ’second tier’ Super 12 - for want of a better description, which was touched on in the statement from SARFU earlier on Wednesday. While no details were given about this new competition in the statement - it was merely referred to as "a further International Provincial Competition for three more provincial teams" - Verster was able to shed some more light on it.

"The President [Brian van Rooyen] has given me his word that we’ll be involved in the new competition," said Verster. "It’s totally separate from the Super 12 and it will include teams from Ireland, the Pacific nations, Japan, Argentina, and possibly even Australia.

"I do hope it works out as the tournament has some potential, although it is basically just a consolation prize for us after missing out on the Super 12."

The major downside of not being able to play in the Super 12 is the prospect of Free State’s losing its top players to other Unions - the so-called four Metropolitan Unions - in a bid to play in the southern hemisphere’s toughest provincial tournament. Could the Super 12 be compared to a ’B-grade Super 12’?

"We’re always losing players," said Verster. "The advantage is that we’re always able to get young, fresh talent into our side.

"The Free State is a helluva strong rugby power. People shouldn’t forget that, and I’m confident we’ll show that in the 2004 Vodacom Cup. Our young side is looking great."

Meanwhile, FS Cheetahs star Rassie Erasmus, who will coach the Vodacom Cup side this season, was also bitterly disappointed with the decision to exclude Free State from the Super 12.

"Even if this was purely a business decision, and not a rugby one, I believe it’s wrong," said Erasmus to Planet Rugby. "If it was based purely on business, then we should be helped out financially, not just simply pushed aside.

"Our results have been good over the last few years. We consistently finish amongst the top few teams in the Currie Cup and we also more than meet our requirements when it comes to quotas. More often than not we have four or five non-white players in our team - all on merit - surely that should mean something?

"The players, here, are really worried," continued Erasmus. "In the past, guys would stay here for less money because it’s such an enjoyable place to play rugby. But now if the youngsters stay here they can’t play Super 12 - and they all need to play Super 12 rugby to make the Bok side.

"I just hope that Brian van Rooyen keeps his promise and allows us to get involved in a new, separate, competition, involving provincial teams from other countries."

By Howard Kahn

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