Coachless Kings get World Cup opposition

NEWS: They may not have a coach yet, but the Southern Kings will have some high-profile opposition in the build-up to the start of their Pro14 season.

The Kings will take on World Cup-bound Georgia in the first of their 2019/20 Pro14 warm-up matches next month.

The Port Elizabeth-based side received an invitation from the Georgia Rugby Union to play in the friendly match at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Tuesday, August 27.

"Georgia was set to take on Russia in their World Cup warm-up match, but the Russian team withdrew," Kings team manager Zingi Hela said.

"We were the first team that the Georgian Rugby Union subsequently contacted to see if we were available.

"We duly accepted the invitation which would work in favour of both teams - Georgia for their World Cup preparations, and for us ahead of the start of our Pro14 2019/20 season.

"We could not have asked for a better opponent at this stage than a national team that is renowned for their strong forward pack and fierce scrummagers.

"This will undoubtedly be a timely opportunity for our own team to measure themselves before the start of the new season."

Georgia will begin their World Cup campaign on September 23, when they face Wales.

The Eastern Europe side will also face Australia, Fiji and Uruguay in Pool D at the tournament which will be held in Japan.

The Georgian side is coached by New Zealand-born Milton Haig, who was previously an assistant coach of the New Zealand Under-21 and Chiefs Super Rugby sides.

The side remains unbeaten in 2019 having beaten Russia, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Romania in matches they have played so far this year.