A penalty after the hooter from five-eighth Lionel Cronje has given Southern Kings a famous 31-30 victory over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

The win came just a day after it was confirmed the Kings, along with the Cheetahs, would be axed from Super Rugby in 2018.

The visiting Kings had opened up a 22-3 lead shortly before halftime, but then trailed going into the final minute of the game before Cronje converted a penalty they won from a scrum.

Wing Makazole Mapimpi, Cronje and fullback Malcolm Jaer scored tries for the Kings, while the home side crossed the line through lock Jason Jenkins, wing Duncan Matthews and hooker Jaco Visagie.

Both sides are out of contention for a place in the Super Rugby quarter-finals, but the Kings have ensured they will finish as the fourth-best South African side in the competition this season, ahead of the Bulls and Cheetahs.