Lion Kings in Super Rugby Next Season?

Super Rugby could very well go all Walt Disney next season if an unlikely merger does come to fruition.

The Southern Kings who finished bottom of the regular season just completed must now play the Lions - who last played in Super Rugby in 2012 - for a spot in the 2014 edition of the competition in a relegation/promotion playoff.

Lions en route to shock win at Carisbrook against the Highlanders in 2011

However, officials in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth are negotiating a deal that could possibly see both Lions and Kings merge to form.. you guessed it the Lion Kings.

First the movie, then the video, DVD, musical. Now there might even be a rugby team!

Before we start to go Hakuna Matata on this almost ridiculous piece of news, one must remember the fact that South Africa's capital and largest city - and Africa's fourth largest city - does not currently feature in Super Rugby and SANZAR probably would like that addressed in its largest member union.

Lions are Currie Cup champions of 2011

Therefore, a Lions-Kings merger may not be as Fantasia as you might think. Plus with the troubles that the Kings have had trying to get a competitive roster, being able to fill it with players from a team that did win the Currie Cup only a few years ago and have plenty of Super Rugby experience might not be a bad thing after all - remember, the Kings were pretty close to getting booted out for fielding too many foreigners.

Ellis Park has been empty for much of this season with no Super Rugby action

However, mergers involving a rugby team based in Johannesburg have been historically unsuccessful and this could very well be a bigger farce than the Cats were - especially considering the animosity between the two sides from a sporting and political stance and the fact that both regions are not geographically linked together. I can only think of one merger of an equally feline nature to this one - the Wests Tigers NRL franchise; however you can easily get between Campbelltown and Leichardt via a bit of Canterbury and Parramatta in about an hour depending on Sydney traffic compared to an hour flight between Joburg and PE with this merger.

Andre Pretorius was long time Cats and Lions pivot 

It may not quite be a Disney dream though for current Kings coach, Matt Sexton. The Kiwi might very well feel like Mufasa to Simba's throne, having done a superb job getting a brand new team up and running, including an incredible draw against the Brumbies in Canberra and winning their first ever Super Rugby game against the Western Force in Port Elizabeth. Current Lions coach, Johan Ackermann is favourite to take charge of the new Circle of Life should it come to fruition.

Anyway, watch this space as the latest drama of South Africa's rugby soap opera continues - this time Mr Walt Disney could have some say!