Davids – ‘We learned a lot’

Kings coach Deon Davids believes the opportunity to play Super Rugby has been an invaluable experience for his players.

Unfortunately the Kings have been axed from Super Rugby along with the Cheetahs and the sides are now poised to join the PRO12 next year.

The Kings have notched up six wins in Super Rugby this season, winning away in Argentina, Australia and Singapore, as well as claiming the scalps of the Sharks and the Bulls.

Their latest victory was a 31-30 upset of the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday which sees them set to finish above the Cheetahs and Bulls in the standings.

And Davids says that although the news of their axing last week was disappointing, the players were able to clear their minds of any distractions for the match on Saturday.

"It's a bit of a disappointment. However, we never spoke of that, we entirely focused on the task at hand," Davids told reporters, adding that their Super Rugby experience had been invaluable to them as players.

"As players and coaches, we learned a lot. We enjoy being together and the players enjoy the team's culture and looking forward to doing our best next week.

"I said to [the players], if you in the situation that we are now, this will be the last Southern Kings team that ever played a Super Rugby game and if people look back at this team, they will look back at the individuals in terms of the skills that they exhibited, the passion, the pride, the heart, the soul that they've showcased and the fact that irrespective of what happened in life if your dreams are strong and you put in the proper hard work.

"You do things for the right reasons and you understand that you are here to serve and you are not here on your own, you here to give your all.

"If you can carry those values into a society or into a team and people gain inspiration out of that then that is the legacy that you want to leave."

The Kings will play their final Super Rugby match on Friday at home to the Cheetahs, who will also exit the competition in 2018.