Kings will continue to build

The Southern Kings may have lost their Super Rugby status and are set to lose a host of key players, but they will not lay down and play dead.

The Lions have clawed their way back into Super Rugby, despite going down 18-23 to the Kings in their second leg promotion-relegation match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Kings needed to win by more than eight points to remain in Super Rugby, but did not have enough firing power to get themselves over the final hurdle.

Kings captain Darron Nell expressed his disappointment with the narrow margin (just two points on aggregate) that they lost out on, but said they will continue to build on the solid foundation laid this year.

"I thought we had a great Super Rugby [season] and the guys here [at Ellis Park] had a great effort," he said of the five-point win in Johannesburg.

"It was small margins today [Saturday] again, that the Lions pipped us by [44-42 on aggregate].

"We'll go back on Monday, get ourselves together and work from there.

"I am immensely proud of what happened down at the Kings [in Port Elizabeth]. The people have been unbelievable - that is the most disappointing thing for our crowds next year, is not to have Super Rugby.

"That is what drove the boys this week.

"We come away [from Ellis Park] with a win, but it is disappointing [to lose our Super rugby status].

"We got together in a circle [after the game] and there wasn't one head up.

"The boys really wanted this badly today [Saturday].

"There was something great we built there and we will carry on building."