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Features: Where to now for Super Rugby?

Carlos Spencer has quit Eastern Province Kings ahead of their re-entry in 2016 to Super Rugby as Southern Kings in an expanded South African conference, citing unpaid wages.

The Kings appointed the Blues and All Blacks legend as coach in December 2013, following assistant roles with the Lions and Sharks, but he was shifted into an "attack and specialist skills role" after a disastrous 2014 Currie Cup season; the Kings finished the season last of eight in the Premier Division, having won just of their 10 matches. He was replaced as head coach by Brent Janse van Rensburg, but the New Zealand Herald quoted Spencer's Auckland-based lawyer, David Jones, rejecting reports in South Africa that he had "paid the price for poor results with the Kings".

"He is owed a substantial amount of money and has had to constantly chase them for arrears," the New Zealand Herald quoted Jones as saying. "The players are in the same position. [Kings president] Cheeky Watson made a promise last Wednesday the players would be paid and they weren't. There has been a series of broken promises. Carlos didn't want to terminate until he had a replacement job, but he reached the end of his tether."

Watson, meanwhile, said: "We would like to thank Carlos for what he brought to the Kings during his time with us. With his specialist attacking skills he was able to provide a new perspective for the players on the game and we will miss his input, but we wish him well for the future.

"In the interim, the coaching staff will be restructured accordingly and we have full confidence in their ability to manage the workload and to run a successful campaign.

"We are still in the process of finalising certain appointments within the coaching structure leading into Super Rugby."

Spencer is looking to return to New Zealand for a long-term coaching role, and Southland Stags general manager Brian Hopley has said that he is "very welcome to throw his hat in the ring" for the ITM Cup team's position vacated by Brad Mooar, who's joined the Crusaders as an assistant coach, Hopley told TVOne in New Zealand that "applications don't close until the end of the month" and "I'm the person that would take it to the board".

Spencer, meanwhile, will assist Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph with the Barbarians for their match against Samoa at Olympic Park in London.