Herewith the Southern Kings squad members and contenders for Super Rugby 2013:
Props:
Name: Jaco Engels:
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This journeyman prop is one of the Southern Kings most experienced players.
The question has to be asked though whether he still has the mettle for top-flight rugby and I guess that question will be answered in 2013.
He has previously played for the Leopards, Boland Cavaliers and Blue Bulls in South Africa’s Currie Cup. He has also played Super Rugby with the Bulls. He joined the Eastern Province Kings in 2011.
He is also eligible to play for Namibia, but did not play in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Name: Schalk Jakobus Petrus (Schalk) Ferreira:
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Schalk Ferreira represented South Africa both at Under 19 and Under 21 level, in 2003 and 2004 respectively, coming through the ranks of the Western Province youth sides from 1999 to 2005.
He played for Western Province from 2005 to 2009, had a brief cameo for Boland in 2009 and made a short comeback for Western Province in 2012 after coming back from a serios neck injury in 2009.
This is another Kings player with Super Rugby experience having played for the Stormers between 2007 to 2009, earning 14 Super Rugby caps in the process.
He had now joined the Eastern Province Kings on a two-month trial during the 2012 Currie Cup First Division. This turned into a permanent deal and he is also in the Southern Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Schalk is a product of Paul Roos Gymnasium.
Name: Ross Geldenhuys:
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A tighthead prop and a product of St Andrews College, Ross played for the Mighty Elephants Under 19 and Under 21 in 2002, for Western Province Under 20 in 2003 and then played for the Border Bulldogs in 2005.
In 2006 he was back at Western Province where he played some ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division rugby.
In 2007 he went to the Pumas and in 2008 he started playing Super Rugby for the Auto & General Lions after joining the Golden Lions.
Hell, he even went to the Vodacom Blue Bulls for a very short while in 2009, before returning to the Lions for 2010 and 2011.
That was not the end of his travels, in 2012 he started playing for Boland Kavaliers, then the Griffons and ended up playing ABSA Currie Cup Rugby for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in 2012.
Having now moved to the EP Kings, he is already at his 9th Provincial Union.
I do not know of another professional player who has prostituted himself to different Unions more than Ross Geldenhuys, definately no family of mine!
Ross is just another journeyman prop, nothing to be too excited about and he certainly does not scare the opposition.
Name: Kevin Buys:
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He started his playing career at the Blue Bulls as a youth player. In 2007, he made his debut in the Vodacom Cup competition. He then moved to French club CA Brive in November 2007. He played in the Espoirs (their reserve team), but graduated to the first team. He made 15 appearances for the team in the 2007 – 2008 Top 14 season. He just made a further five appearances for the team the following season, three of those in the 2008 2009 European Challenge Cup.
He then returned to South Africa and joined the Golden Lions team in 2009. He played for them in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions, as well as for the Lions in the Super Rugby competition. At the start of 2012, he linked up with the Eastern Province Kings.
Name: Charl Francois (Charl) du Plessis:
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He represented the Golden Lions at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level before being included in their 2008 Vodacom Cup squad, making his debut against SWD Eagles. He made a total of 7 appearances for the Golden Lions in this competition, but never made their Currie Cup squad. In 2009, he also had a short spell at the Falcons, making 8 appearances. He also featured regularly in the Varsity Cup, playing for UJ in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
In 2010, he moved to the Boland Cavaliers, where he played for two seasons, before moving to the Eastern Province Kings for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season.
In the wider Super Rugby training group we also find Lizo Gqoboka.
Starters:
I suppose that Jaco Engels, Schalk Ferreira and Ross Geldenhuys will be the premier props for the Southern Kings, with Kevin Buys getting some game time too. With the uncertainty regarding the foreign element of players in the Southern Kings one can certainly also not rule out regular game time for some or other foreigner.
Hookers:
Name: Bandise Maku:
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He represented his local team Border Bulldogs at the 2004 Craven Week before moving to the Blue Bulls, for whom he played rugby at youth level.
He was first named in a Blue Bulls squad during the 2006 Vodacom Cup. He made his Currie Cup debut the following season, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute against Boland Cavaliers. A year later, he was also included in Bulls squad for the 2008 Super 14 season, making his debut in Rotorua against the Chiefs.
He joined the Lions for the 2011 Super Rugby season, where he started in 14 games. He also played Currie Cup rugby for the Golden Lions, where he was also a member of the starting line-up which defeated the Natal Sharks 42-16 to win the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division. He was injured for the entire 2011 Super Rugby season, but did play some Currie Cup rugby at the end of the season.
2012 Was an up and down season for Maku, some injuries… and of course his side got relegated out of Super Rugby at the end of Super Rugby 2012.
He has now permanently joined the Kings for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Bandise made a brief appearance for the Springboks and his first tour of duty for his country was with the Springboks to France, Italy, Ireland & England in late 2009. He earned his first cap for his country playing against Italy. In 2010, Maku was again called up for duty with the Springboks in a November tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. His call came two matches into the tour on 18 November 2010, after a controversial incident in which two other Springbok players tested positive for a banned substance.
Name: Edgar Marutlulle:
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He represented Leopards at several youth levels before moving to the Golden Lions, where he made his first team debut against the Western Province in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division.
He was included in the 2011 Lions Super Rugby squad, where he made his debut against the Bulls.
He rejoined the Leopards for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season.
He joined the Kings on loan for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Edgar is a product of Potchefstroom High School and represented SA Schools in 2005, SA Under 19 in 2006, SA Students in 2008 and 2009 when attending North-West University.
Name: Johannes (Hannes) Franklin:
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He made his professional debut for the Falcons in 2003, then spent one season at the Pumas and three seasons at SWD Eagles before returning to the Pumas in 2009. During his second spell at the Pumas, he also represented the Royal XV in a game during the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He was also included in the Lions Super Rugby squad in 2010.
He captained the Pumas side that beat the Eastern Province Kings in the 2010 Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation games, which kept the Pumas in the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division, but he joined Eastern Province Kings for the 2011 Currie Cup First Division season.
Name: Virgil Lacombe:
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In 2000, Virgil Lacombe arrives at Stade Toulouse from Nîmes. That same year he played for the French Cadettes.
He made his first team debut on 19 November 2004, facing Castres Olympic as a replacement player and earned his first start on 10 May 2005 against SU Agen. He played 3 games in Top 16 and Heineken Cup during the 2004 – 2005 season, then 8 games in the Top 14 (including two starts) and two Heineken Cup games the following year. As from the 2006-2007 season and in his first professional contract year, his playing time became more regular and substantial.
His fisrst start in the Heineken Cup was on 29 October 2006 in a game against London Irish.
In 2011, he joined Brive and was released from his contract at Brive, following the demotion of Brive and re-joined Stade Toulouse.
Additional players
The players named and described above does not include the regular regular Border Bulldogs or SWD Eagles Currie Cup First Division or Vodacom Cup hookers or the Under 21 hookers, but as I’ve said before, I will limit discussion to players who WILL feature in Super Rugby in 2013.
Starters:
My guess is that Bandise Maku will the premier hooker, he certainly has enough Super Rugby experience with both the Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions. The second in line is difficult to judge, as we do not yet know what standard of play the French Toulon import, Virgil Lacombe will achieve. Edgar Marutlulle could also make a valuable contribution.
Locks:
Name: Steven Robert (Steven) Sykes:
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Sykes began his career with the Natal Sharks in 2005 and also played for the Sharks Super Rugby team from 2007.
Starting in the 2011/12 season, he signed a three year deal to play with Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup. However, he was released from the deal after only 4 appearances and returned on a one year contract with Sharks.
He joined the Kings for the 2013 Super Rugby season on a two-year deal.
He has been a part of the Emerging Springboks team and played for them during their 13–13 draw against the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.
Rugby Career
- 2012: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2011: Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby)
- 2010: Sharks (Vodacom Super 14), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2009: Sharks (MTN test), Sharks (Super 14), Springboks (British & Irish Lions tour), Sharks (British & Irish Lions Tour), Emerging Springboks (British & Irish Lions Tour), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2008: Sharks (Super 14), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2007: Sharks (Super 14), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2006: Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2005: Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Currie Cup Qualifying Round), Natal (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Sharks (Currie Cup)
- 2004: Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Natal (ABSA Under 20 Competition)
- 2003: South Africa Under 19 (IRB FIRA-AER Under 19 World Championship)
Name: David Bulbring:
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He was born in Port Elizabeth and represented Eastern Province at the 2007 Under 18 Craven Week. He then joined the Golden Lions, making his debut for the team in the 2009 Vodacom Cup, which resulted in him being called up to the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team for the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.
In 2010, he represented both UJ in the Varsity Cup and Golden Lions in the 2010 Vodacom Cup, culminating a call-up to the Lions Super Rugby team, representing them in their final Super Rugby game of the season. He then played for the Golden Lions in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division.
He was Golden Lions captain for the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition and made two further Super Rugby appearances. He was then part of the squad that won the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2012, he moved to the Eastern Province Kings.
Name: Rynier Mark (Rynier) Bernardo:
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He came through the youth level ranks at the Eastern Province Kings, representing them in several youth sides until being chosen for the senior squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition. He was named in the Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
Rugby Career
- 2012: Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup promotion / Relegation), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Eastern Province Kings (Currie Cup 1st Division), Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup)
- 2011: Eastern Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010: Eastern Province (ABSA Under 19 Competition), Eastern Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2009: EP (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2008: SA Academy (SA Schools), Eastern Province (Under 18 Academy Week)
- 2007: Eastern Province Under 16 (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
Additional players
In addition, the Southern Kings have Armand du Preez, Samora Fihlani and Wayne van Heerden to fall back on when rotation, injuries and poor form forces their hand. As I’ve said before, I will limit discussion to players who WILL feature in Super Rugby in 2013.
Starters:
My guess is that Steven Sykes & David Bulbring will be sure starters, with Wayne van Heerden getting a look in and Samora Fihlani could be on the bench. To put it bluntly, the Southern Kings are scraping the barrell as far as locks go, with only 2 premier locks in their ranks.
Loose Forwards:
Name: Luke Watson:
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What does one say about the most controvertial South African Rugby player? I suppose one at least has to do justice and paint most of the picture but still refrain from writing a book about him.
Luke Watson attended Grey Junior School and then Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and had an upbringing frought with political slant and upheaval, Luke represented the Eastern Province XV at the 2000 Craven Week, aged 16, then again in 2001.
Watson was selected for the SA Academy squad in 2000. In 2001 he was chosen as captain of the SA Schools team which played the French Under 18 side. That team also contained Bismarck du Plessis and Derick Hougaard.
In 2002 watson was chosen to captain the SA Under 19 team at the IRB Junior Wolrd Championship in Italy, Also in 2002 Watson was selected to play for the SA Sevens team that played at the Commonwealth Games which also contained Jean de Villiers and which was coached by Chester Williams and managed by Rob Louw.
In 2004 Watson was selected to represent South Africa at the IRB Under 21 Rugby World Championship in a team which included Andries Bekker, Bryan Habana and Wynand Olivier… coached by Peter de Villiers.
Watson’s early senior career was spent at the Eastern Province Elephants in 2002, wher ehe first played for the Under 21 side before progressing to the senior side where he made his Provincial debut against the Pumas on 20 July 2002. Watson relocated to Durban in 2003 were he represented the Sharks in the Currie Cup and the Coastal Sharks in the Super 12, same applied for the 2004 year.
In 2005 Watson moved to Cape Town where he played for both Western Province and the Stormers in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
2007 Was the utmost disruptive politically laden year for Luke Watson, bringing Watson a single National Test cap after then Springbok coach Jake White did not select Luke Watson in the 45-man squad, but Luke was added as “Player 46′ by none other that Oregan Hoskins, backed by Koos basson and Springbok Team Manager Zola Yeye, a long-time friend of the Watson family. Springbok players refused to include Watson in the traditional initiation ceremony for newly capped players. Luke Watson made his Springbok debut, in a solitary Test against Manu Samoa on 9 June 2007.
In 2007 Luke Watson was also awarded the Stormers captaincy, to be replaced in December by Jean de Villiers as Stormers captain, by Rassie Erasmus. Early rumors suggested Schalk Burger as designated Stormers captain for 2008.
Then the nasty incident known as the “Ubumbo Speech” took place on 3 October 2008 where Luke Watson spoke about his family’s political record and described wearing the Springbok jersey as “a burden” and said he had to struggle “to keep myself from vomiting on it.” Watson said that his Springbok team-mates refused to associate with him after his forced inclusion in the team in 2007. Although Watson gave no context to his comments, some have inferred that he was referring to the controversy over the retention of the Springbok emblem for national sports teams. In a question and answer session after the speech Watson allegedly stated that he hated losing his place in the Bok team to an Afrikaner (Schalk Burger, a former IRB Player of the Year). He also allegedly quoted his father as saying that the rugby administration was “rotten to the core” and run by “Dutchmen.” Afrikaners associate the term with pejorative attitudes towards them by British colonists and their descendants, connoting lack of intelligence and low breeding. No reference to Burger or to “Dutchmen” occur in the transcript of his speech.
The attitude of the majority of Rugby-supporting South africa turned heavily against Luke Watson because of this controvertial stance and the hate and negativity towars Luke Watson remains till this day. A number of senior players reportedly threatened to boycott the 2008 end of year tour to England, Wales and Scotland if Watson was included in the squad.
Following the appointment in January 2008 of Peter de Villiers as the new coach of the Springbok rugby team, Watson was selected for nine more Test caps. Critics continued to question his performance at Test level throughout the year with comments that his performances were “ordinary” and “anonymous”. Eventually Peter de Villiers relegated Watson to a substitute role, and reverted instead to the flankers whom Jake White had been criticised for preferring to Watson, namely Schalk Burger and Juan Smith.
In 2009 Luke Watson again played Super 14 rugby for the Stormers and Currie Cup for Western Province but failed to make the Springbok cut for the 2009 British & Irish Lions Tour.
In November 2009 Luke Watson left South Africa for the UK to join Bath Rugby, eventually graduating to team captain at Bath in 2010.
In December 2010 Luke Watson announced that he would return to South Africa, thus leaving Bath, for the Eastern Province Kings and in 2013 Luke Watson is destined to be the capatin of the Southern Kings in their maiden Super Rugby season.
Name: Mpho Mbiyozo:
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Mpho was born in Lusikisiki, went to school at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and represented Western Province in various youth competitions until being included in the 2005 Vodacom Cup squad. In 2006, he was called into the South African Sevens rugby team, making some domestic appearances for Western Province and the Boland Cavaliers. He represented the national sevens team until 2009, when he announced he wanted to return to the fifteen-a-side game. He joined the Eastern Province Kings in 2010.
Mpho also made history during the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, when he became the first player to score a try for the newly-created Southern Kings rugby franchise.
Name: Cornell du Preez:
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Cornell was born in Port Elizabeth, but went to North West University in Potchefstroom, where he played in the Varsity Cup for NWU-Pukke. He represented the Leopards in the Under-19 and Under-21 Currie Cup competitions and was named in the Leopards squad for 2011, without making an appearance.
He was part of the South Africa Under-20s team that played at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.
He joined the Eastern Province Kings on 1 November 2011, where he signed a two-year deal.
Name: Devin André Oosthuizen:
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Devin represented the Blue Bulls at various underage levels including the Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and also played for Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup. He made his professional debut for the Blue Bulls in the 2010 Vodacom Cup season, featuring in every game including the final which they ultimately won. On the back of his performances, he was signed by the Eastern Province Kings for the 2010 Currie Cup First Division season.
In 2011 Devin played for the Eastern Province Kings in the Vodacom Cup and in the Currie Cup 1st Division and also for the Southern Kings in the IRB Nations Cup.
In 2012 Devin played in the Vodacom Cup as well as in the Currie Cup 1st Division and also took part in the Promotion / Relegation game against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs for the Eastern Province Kings.
Name: Jacques Jacobus (Vleis) Engelbrecht:
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Jacques (Vleis) Engelbrecht started playing for Boland in the ABSA Under 21 Competition in 2005.
He then went to Western Province where he played in the ABSA Currie Cup for them in 2007.
In 2008 he played Vodacom Cup for Western Province and moved to play Currie Cup for SWD Eagles also in 2008
In 2009, still at SWD Eagles, he played in the Vodacom Cup and the Currie Cup as well as in the Promotion / Relegation games for the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
In 2010, also still at the SWD Eagles he played Vodacom Cup and ABSA Currie Cup 1st Division. He also represented South Africa in the HSBC Sevens World Series in George.
In 2011, having moved to the Eastern Province Kings, he played Vodacom Cup rugby, played for the Southern Kings in the IRB Nations Cup and in the Currie Cup 1st Division.
In 2012 He played Vodacom Cup, played for the SA Barbarians South during the Castle Incoming Tours and ABSA Currie Cup 1st Division.
Name: Conraad Johannes (Boetie) Brits:
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After representing the SWD Eagles at the Craven Week and making the South African schools team in 2005, as well as the SA Under 19 team in the 2006 World Championships, he then represented Western Province at Under 19, Under 21 and Vodacom Cup level between 2007 and 2009, where his career was hampered by a series of injuries. In 2009 and 2010, he played for Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup, helping them to two championships.
He joined the Eastern Province Kings for the 2011 season.
Name: Daniel Ojambo Adongo:
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In Kenya, Daniel played for Strathmore School and Kenya Harlequins junior team. He was spotted by South African scouts at the 2006 Safari Sevens tournament, playing in the schools category.
The next year he moved to the Natal Sharks academy, making his senior debut in the 2011 Vodacom Cup. At the end of 2011, he was signed by the Blue Bulls, but was released from his contract after 6 months to join New Zealand ITM Cup team Counties Manukau.
He joined the Kings for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
He also played for Tuks in the 2012 Varsity Cup.
He has also played for Kenyan Under 18 and Under 21 national teams. He is apparently planning to play for the Springboks one day.
Name: Thabo Mamojele:
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Thabo was born in Witbank and came through the youth ranks of his local team, the Pumas until he moved to the rugby academy of the Sharks in 2006. He played two games in 2007 for their Vodacom Cup side, the Natal Wildebeest, but failed to make the breakthrough to the first team.
He had a short spell at the Falcons for the 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division, before joining the Leopards in 2009. He played for them for three seasons and also represented the NWU-Pukke in the Varsity Cup in 2009 and 2010.
In 2012, he linked up with the Eastern Province Kings.
Name: Tomás Cristian Leonardi:
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A player for S.I.C. in Argentina, he also was included in the Argentinian high performance squad, the Pampas XV, to play in the South African Vodacom Cup competitions in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
He made his debut for Argentina in November 2008 against Chile. In May 2010, he was selected in a squad of over 40 players to represent Argentina in the two-test Summer tour of Europe. He has been a regular international for Argentina ever since.
Name: Petrus Willem (Wimpie) van der Walt:
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Wimpie represented the Pumas at the 2006 and 2007 Craven Week tournaments. He then joined Western Province and represented them at Under 19 and Under 21 levels between 2008 and 2010, as well as representing Maties in the 2010 Varsity Cup. He made his first team debut in a Vodacom Cup match on 27 February 2010 against Boland Cavaliers. He made his Currie Cup debut the following year against Griquas. In total, he made 15 Vodacom Cup and 2 Currie Cup appearances for Western Province.
In October 2011, he joined Italian National Championship of Excellence team San Gregorio.
He returned to South Africa a few months later and joined Eastern Province Kings for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season. He made his debut on 30 July 2012 in the opening game of the season against Boland Cavaliers.
Starters:
My guess is that apart from Luke Watson, who will captain the team from the Number 8 spot, that Boetie Brits, Daniel Adongo and Tomás Leonardi will all have the loudest shouts for spots in the starting berths… but who knows, we will only really know as the season unfolds.
Scrumhalves:
Name: Nicolás Vergallo:
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He played for Jockey Club de Rosario in Argentina between 2004 and 2008. He then moved to France, where he played for Dax, making 47 appearances.
After playing for Dax, he then signed for Top 14 team Toulouse, winning the 2010–11 and 2011–12 Top 14 seasons. In October 2012, Toulouse announced that it had released Vergallo from his contract, which was supposed to end in 2014. This freed him up to sign with the Port Elizabeth-based Super Rugby franchise, the Southern Kings.
He made his debut for Argentina on 3 Dec 2005 against Samoa. He also played in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In 2012 Vergallo was part of the Pumas team that played in the inaugural Rugby Championship.
Name: Scott Mathie:
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Scott Mathie made his professional debut for the Sharks in the Currie Cup back in 2006 and is still highly-rated in South Africa by a number of provincial coaches.
As well as playing in the Currie Cup, Mathie enjoyed a handful of Super Rugby appearances for the Durban-based franchise before making the switch to the Premiership.
A typically strong and determined No 9, Mathie moved to England with Leeds in 2008, helping them win promotion in his first season at Headingley. Mathie was an ever-present for Niel Back’s side in the years to follow, especially in 2010, when he caught the eye of Sale Sharks’ Steve Diamond who had no hesitation in recruiting the Leeds star for the 2011 season.
He joined the Eastern Province Kings in 2012.
Name: Johan David (Johan)Herbst:
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Johan currently plays for SWD Eagles in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup First Division. He plays scrumhalf but can also cover wing.
He played for Maties in the 2009 and 2010 Varsity Cup competitions.
Name: Shaun Venter:
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Shaun Venter is currently on a 1-year loan deal from the Pumas to the Southern Kings for Super Rugby.
He has come through the ranks at the Pumas, representing them at Under 19 in the ABSA Under 19 Competition and at Under 21 in the ABSa Under 21 Competition, both in 2006.
In 2007 to 2009 he played for the Pumas in the Vodacom Cup and ABSA Currie Cup First Division and in 2010 and 2011 for the same team in the Currie Cup Premier Division. In 2012 the Pumas were in the ABSa Currie Cup First Division again.
In 2009 he also represented South Africa at the IRB Sevens Series in George.
In 2012 he represented the SA Barbarians North during England’s tour to South Africa.
Starters:
Nicolás Vergallo should be the premier scrumhalf for the Southern Kings and my guess is that Scott Mathie will also get some game time. The other two scrumhalves are there simply to fill spots on a roster.
Flyhalves:
Name: Demetri Catrakilis:
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Demetri attended St John’s College in Johannesburg where he played for the 1st team (Under 19) as a 15 year old. He then went on to captain the first team in his final school year and finished as the school’s all-time highest point scorer.
He represented the Golden Lions Under18 team in the Craven Week as the No 1 flyhalf. He was chosen to represent the Golden Lions Under 19 team for the Currie Cup season where he finished as the union’s top point scorer, playing a vital part in their journey to the semi-finals.
Following Demetri’s Currie Cup season with the Golden Lions Under 19 team, Demetri was spotted by French Top 14 team Racing Metro where he enjoyed a brief stint with the Under 23 squad before returning back home to South Africa.
He played for the Ikeys during the 2011 Varsity Cup after he was spotted performing spectacularly for local club False Bay. He was the highest point scorer of the tournament with 136 points – the highest in the history of the Varsity Cup – and helped the Ikey Tigers win their first Varsity Cup, beating Tuks 26–16, with Demetri picking up the Man of the Match award. Impressively, it was his first ever Varsity Cup competition.
After an extremely successful Varsity Cup Demetri was drafted into the Western Province Vodacom Cup team for the Quarter Final loss to the Sharks XV in 2011.
He got his chance to play in the first week of the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division season against the Griquas. He came off the substitute bench in the last minute. With the flyhalf problem at Western Province, Demetri was chosen to start against the Leopards in Potchefstroom, where he scored 22 points as WP won 47–9. Following his fine debut, he continued to grow and started the remaining games of the Currie Cup when not injured, playing his way into becoming the No 1 flyhalf at Western Province.
In the 2011 Currie Cup, he scored 150 points with the boot at 84.21% conversion rate, as well as winning the ABSA Currie Cup Player of the Month for August after playing a vital part in guiding Western Province into the Semi-Finals. He also featured in a Man of the Match performance against the then unbeaten and eventual champions Golden Lions with a 100% kicking success rate and a drop goal. His performances saw him awarded the WP Club Rugby Player of the Year.
Because he hadn’t appeared for the Stormers in Super Rugby, he continued his Vodacom Cup career in 2012 with a number of phenomenal performances for the eventual champions Western Province. He finished second on the top-point scorer’s list on 127 points for the 2012 season with WP unbeaten. In November 2012 he was awarded with the Vodacom Cup player of the year award for his successful campaign.
After the successful Vodacom Cup, Demetri was selected as first-choice flyhalf for Western Province in their Currie Cup, proving instrumental in Western Province’s successful 2012 campaign. Demetri had a starring role in the final against the Sharks at Kings Park, where he kicked three penalties and slotted two influential drop kicks in the final quarter of the game, which swung the game in his team’s favour. WP would go on to win the game 25-18 and win their first Currie Cup title since 2001. In total, he accumulated 127 points throughout the competition at a conversion rate of 88%.
In August 2012, it was announced that he would join the Eastern Province Kings at the end of the season on a two-year deal.
Name: Wesley Roy (Wesley) Dunlop:
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He went to Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and played for the Eastern Province Under 19 team, as well as NMMU in club rugby.
In 2007, he moved to Durban, where the joined the Sharks academy. He played for the Sharks XV at Under 21 level and was included in their Vodacom Cup squads in 2009 and 2010. During the 2009 Currie Cup First Division, he made 7 appearances for the Mighty Elephants (now the Eastern Province Kings). In 2010, he was a member of the College Rovers club that won the National Club Championships.
In 2011, he then moved to the Blue Bulls. He made several appearances for their Vodacom Cup team in 2011 and 2012. During the same period, he also played for the Varsity Cup side Tuks. He had a fantastic season in 2012, finishing as top scorer and also being voted the Player That Rocks.
In 2012, he then moved back to Port Elizabeth for his second spell with the Eastern Province Kings. He made his debut on 30 July 2012 in the opening game of the 2012 Currie Cup First Division season against Boland Cavaliers, scoring five points in a 25–20 victory.
Name: George Alexander (George) Whitehead:
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Born in Bloemfontein, Whitehead started playing for the Free State Cheetahs in youth competitions and eventually the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions. He also represented his university – the University of the Free State in the Varsity Cup. In 2011, he joined the Eastern Province Kings.
Name: Shane Edward (Shane) Gates:
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He was born in Port Elizabeth and played for the Eastern Province Kings in several underage competitions. In 2011, he was included in the 2011 Vodacom Cup squad and also represented the South African Kings in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup in Romania.
Starters:
Demetri Catrakilis will be the prime flyhalf for the Southern Kings, but we can also expect game time for Wesley Dunlop and possibly for George Whitehead.
Centres:
Name: Hadleigh Parkes:
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Hadleigh Parkes is one of the “Forbidden” corps of foreign players in the Southern Kings Super Rugby squad.
Parkes made his provincial debut in 2010 for Manawatu. In 2011, he relocated to Auckland and in 2012 made his debut with the Blues. After one season with the Blues, he joined the Kings for the 2013 season on a one-year contract.
Name: Waylon Murray:
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He went to Westville Boys High School where he was a prefect and head of school in 2003 and played in the 1st XV in 2003. He is represented by Baron Phillips of Infinity Athlete Management, and has an educational sponsor from Boston Business College and Reebok as a technical sponsor.
During his debut season in the 2006 Currie Cup and Super 14 season for the Natal Sharks and Sharks, Murray showed great promise as a quality centre for his provincial team. Parlaying those performances into his debut Super 14 season in 2007, Murray slowly rose to prominence as one of South Africa’s leading centres, owing in no small part to his tenacity on defence and astute ball distribution skills, often, with former provincial team-mate Bradley Barritt, providing a valuable link to the wings and offering stability to The Sharks midfield. Murray’s stunning form saw him being selected for the Springboks away leg of the 2007 Tri-Nations (However he was only selected as the first choice centers were being rested for the World Cup.) The Murray and Barrit partnership was however disrupted after Francois Steyn’s superb performances in the number 12 jersey for the Springboks during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This meant that Murray had to challenge Barrit for the no. 13 shirt during much of 2008 Super 14 season, but the partnership resumed during the ABSA Currie Cup due to the absence of François Steyn and Adi Jacobs. However, with the return of the Springboks, and with Adi Jacobs’ stunning form, Murray saw little game time. Murray was injured during the whole of the 2009 Super 14, and slowly began to be exposed to rugby during the Currie Cup, after a seven month absence.
On 7 June 2010, the Sharks agreed to release him from his contract so he could join the Lions.
At the end of 2012, his Lions contract expired and he joined the Eastern Province Kings.
Career:
- 2004 – Kwazulu Natal (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2005 – Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round), Natal (SA Under 19), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2006 – Sharks (Super Rugby), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championship), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2007 – Springboks (World Cup warm-up matches), Sharks (Super 14), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Springboks (Vodacom Incoming Tours & Tri-Nations), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2008 – Sharks (Super 14), Sharks (ABSa Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2009 – Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Super 14), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010 – Sharks (Super 14), Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2011 – MTN Lions (Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012 – MTN Lions (Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
Name: Andries Jacobus (Andries) Strauss:
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In August 2010, Strauss signed a deal wth the Cheetahs for the 2011 Super Rugby season, due to the departure of Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman who then joined the Sharks. In 2011, Strauss played with his brother, Richart Strauss and cousin Adriaan Strauss for the Bloemfontein side.
In November 2010, after an injury to stand in fullback and centre Zane Kirchner, Andries received a call up to play for the Springboks to face a star studded Barbarians side at Twickenham.
Career:
- 2003 – Free State (ABSA Under 20 A Section)
- 2004 – Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championships), Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Under 20 Competition A Section)
- 2005 – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2006 – Sharks (Super 14), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2007 – Sharks (Super Rugby), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Sevens Series London & Scotland)Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Sharks XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies)
- 2008 – Sharks (Super 14), Wildebeest (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2009 – Sharks (MTN test), Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (Super 14), Sharks (British & Irish Lions Tour), Sharks Invitational XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Sharks (ABSa Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010 – Sharks (Super 14), Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks Invitational XV (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tours)
- 2011 – Toyota Cheetahs (Super Rugby), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012 – Toyota Cheetahs (Super Rugby), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
Name: Ronnie Cooke:
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He started his career at the Leopards, playing youth rugby for them until making his full debut in 2004. During this time, he was also a member of the S.A. Under-21 team that won the 2005 Under 21 Rugby World Championship.
He played for the Leopards until the end of 2005, when he joined the Cheetahs Super Rugby team, making several appearances in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Domestically, he played for Griquas in the Currie Cup.
In October 2007, he joined French Top 14 team Brive. He became a regular in the team, making 121 appearances for them between 2007 and 2012 in the Top 14, Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup competitions. He was also named their player of the year in 2008.
After his contract with Brive expired, he joined fellow Top 14 team Grenoble at the start of the 2012–13 Top 14 season as a medical joker, replacing the injured Aaron Bancroft.
Career:
- 2003 – Leopards (ABSA Under 20 A Section)
- 2004 – Leopards (Vodacom Cup)Leopards (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Leopards (ABSA Under 20 Competition Section A)
- 2005 – South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championship), Impala Leopards (Vodacom Cup), Leopards (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Rounds), Impala Leopards (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2006 – Vodacom Cheetahs (Super 14), Wildeklawer Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2007 – 2012 – Vodacom Cheetahs (Super Rugby), Wildeklawer Griquas (Vodacom Cup), Wildeklawer Griquas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Brieve (Top 14, Heineken Cup, Challenge Cup)
- 2012 – Grenoble (Top 14)
Name: Siyanda Grey:
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He was included in the Eastern Province Kings squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup and have represented the team in the Under 21 Currie Cup competition.
He has also represented an Emerging Boks sevens team in the Safaricom Sevens tournament in Kenya.
After scoring five tries in eight appearances in the 2011 Vodacom Cup, he was included in the South African Kings team that played in the 2011 IRB Nations Cup. He was the leading try-scorer in the tournament, scoring six tries in three appearances, including a hat-trick against Georgia.
He scored a further two tries in three games in the 2011 Currie Cup First Division, before missing the remainder of the 2011 and the majority of the 2012 season through injury.
Career:
- 2009 – Eastern Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010 – Eastern province (Vodacom Cup), Eastern Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2011 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), South African Kings (IRB Nations Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2012 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
Name: Ivan Wayne (Wayne) Stevens:
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He started his career playing for the Free State Cheetahs in various youth competitions, such as the Grant Khomo Week. He made his full debut for the team in the 2009 Vodacom Cup and also represented the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup competition. In 2010, he joined the Eastern Province Kings in time for the 2010 Currie Cup First Division season.
He was named captain of a South African Barbarians (South) team to face England during the 2012 mid-year rugby test series.
Career:
- 2004 – Free State (Under 16 Grant Khomo Week)
- 2005 – Free State (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2007 – Free State (ABSA Under 19 Competition), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2008 – Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup), SA Students (SA Students), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2009 – Free State (Vodacom Cup), Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010 – Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup), Free State (Vodacom Cup), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
- 2011 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), South African Kings (IRB Nations Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2012 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), SA Barbarians South (Castle incoming Tours vs England), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
Starters:
Hadleigh Parkes, Waylon Murray and Andries Strauss are the favourites to occupy the centre berths, but Ronnie Cooke might also get a look in in 2013.
Back Three:
Name: Michael Killian:
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He started his career at the Kings (previously known as the Mighty Elephants) and made 58 appearances for them over 7 seasons.
In 2008, he moved to the Golden Lions, where he also became a regular for the Lions Super Rugby franchise.
On 5 June 2012, he announced that he would rejoin the Eastern Province Kings (formerly the Mighty Elephants) for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division.
Career:
- 2002 – Mighty Elephants (Under 19 Competition)
- 2003 – Mighty Elephants (ABSA Under 20 Section B)
- 2004 – Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Shield), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2005 – Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Cup), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2006 – NMMU (Fidentia National Club Championships), Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Cup), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2007 – BA Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Cup), BA Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), BA Mighty elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2008 – Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Auto & General Lions (Super 14), Xerox Lions ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2009 – Lions (MTN test), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Auto & General Lions (Super 14), Xerox Golden Lions (British & Irish Lions Tour), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2010 – Aoto & General Lions (Super 14), Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2011 – MTN Lions (Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
- 2012 – MTN Lions (Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
Name: Marcello Edward Dennis (Marcello) Sampson:
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He started his career with Western Province in underage competitions and represented Ikeys in the Varsity Cup. In 2011, he joined the Eastern Province Kings.
Career:
- 2006 – Vodacom Western Province (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2007 – Vodacom Western Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2008 – UCT (FNB Varsity Cup), Vodacom Western Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2009 – Western Province (Vodacom Cup), UCT (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2010 – UCT (FNB Varsity Cup)
- 2011 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), South African Kings (IRB Nations Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2012 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
Name: Sergeal Petersen:
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He played for the Eastern Province Kings at all youth levels, representing them at the 2007 Under 13 Craven Week, the 2010 Under 16 Grant Khomo Week (scoring three tries in three games) and in the 2012 Under 18 Craven Week (scoring four tries in three games). The latter performance earned him inclusion in the SA Schools team that played against France, Wales and England in August 2012.
Despite interest from several other teams, he signed a contract with the Kings starting from 2013.
He also excelled in athletics, representing South Africa at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics in the 100m and long jump events..
Career:
- 2007 – Eastern Province (Under 13 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
- 2010 – Eastern Province (Under 16 Grant Khomo Week)
- 2012 – South Africa (SA Schools), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
Name: Sarel Petrus (SP) Marais:
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He played for the Boland Cavaliers in youth competitions and was part of the 2009 Vodacom Cup squad. He then moved to the Platinum Leopards for the 2010 season, where he scored three tries in the two relegation play-off games to keep the Platinum Leopards in the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division.
However, it was then announced that he moved to the Eastern Province Kings for the 2011 Currie Cup First Division season.
Career:
- 2008 – Boland (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
- 2009 – Boland Cavaliers (Vodacom Cup), Boland (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2010 – Pukke (FNB Varsity Cup), Leopards (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Leopards (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
- 2011 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), South African Kings (IRB Nations Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2012 – Eastern Province Kings (Vodacom Cup), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
Name: Siviwe Sonwabile Soyizwapi:
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He played for the Border Bulldogs at the Under 18 Academy Week in 2010, earning a call-up to the South African Under 18 High Performance team before joining the Eastern Province Kings Academy. He played for them at Under 21 Currie Cup level in 2012 before making his debut in the 2012 Currie Cup Promotion/Relegation series against the Free State Cheetahs.
Career:
- 2010 – Border (Under 18 Academy Week), South Africa (SA Under 18 High Performance)
- 2012 – Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Under 21 Promotion / Relegation), Eastern Province Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
Name: Elric (Fires) van Vuuren:
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He is currently playing with the SWD Eagles in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup. His regular position is full-back, centre or flyhalf.
Career:
- 2004 – Free State (ABSA Under 20 Competition Section A)
- 2005 – Free State (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
- 2006 – Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Cup)
- 2007 – Border (Vodacom Cup), Border Bulldogs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), Border Bulldogs (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2008 – BA Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2011 – SWD (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
- 2012 – SWD Eagles (Vodacom Cup), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
Starters:
Michael Killian and Marcello Samson are the likely starters on the wing and SP Marais probably the likely fullback. The Southern Kings are extremely thin at both wing and fullback, with Michael Killian probably the best player of the lot, however Michael Killian would not even make most other South African Super Rugby squads, let alone be a favourite to start and to star.
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