In 2012, the participated in the Currie Cup First Division and the Vodacom Cup. As part of the Southern Kings franchise, a number of players also participated in friendlies for this franchise. Chronological list of events 4 January 2012: Castres Olympique announce that they have signed winger Paul Perez as a medical joker on a six-month deal. 19 January 2012: Former captain and Springbok De Wet Barry announces his retirement from playing, but will stay on at the Kings as a defensive coach. 25 January 2012: Earl Rose joins the Kings on a trial basis. Zane Killian also joins the Kings on a short-term loan deal. 31 January 2012: Scrum-half Dustin Jinka also joins the Kings on a trial basis. All three trialists are named on the subs bench for the game against the . 6 February 2012: Paul Perez is denied a visa for his move to Castres Olympique. 21 February 2012: The Kings did not pursue their interest in any of the three trialists – Earl Rose, Zane Killian and Dustin Jinka – and they all leave the union. 6 March 2012: Two more players joined the Kings for a trial – former prop Kevin Buys and Brian Skosana, who has been playing rugby league in Australia with the Sydney Roosters. 29 March 2012: Prop Wayne Swart joins the Kings until the end of the season. 12 April 2012: It is announced that Matt Sexton will join the Kings as head coach on 15 July, with Brad Mooar joining as a specialist skills coach. 16 April 2012: Boela Abrahams rejoins the Kings on a two-year deal following a short spell at in the Varsity Cup. 17 April 2012: Prop Dexter Fahey is drafted into the Kings squad from university team for their Vodacom Cup clash against . 15 May 2012: Fly-half Monty Dumond is released by the Kings. 29 May 2012: The Kings sign scrum-half Scott Mathie from the Sale Sharks. 5 June 2012: Former Eastern Province fly-half Wesley Dunlop rejoins the side from the , while prop Charl du Plessis is also training with the team. Winger Paul Perez makes his debut for Samoa in the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup. 6 June 2012: Winger Michael Killian also announces that he is returning to the Kings for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season. 16 June 2012: Prop Schalk Ferreira joins the Kings for 2 months on