Two more Southern Kings players have decided to make their futures elsewhere, bringing the tally to 10 so far. Cornell du Preez will join Solly (Alan Solomons) in Edinburgh, and Nicolas Vergallo will join French club, Lyon.
The players who have now already left the Southern Kings are: Nicolas Vergallo, Cornell du Preez, Daniel Adongo, Waylon Murray, Bandise Maku, Jacques Engelbrecht, David Bulbring, SP Marais, Wesley Dunlop and Dimetri Catrakilis. Alan Solomons of course has also jumped ship to Edinburgh.
Cornell du Preez:
rugby365
Alan Solomons scored another coup for Scottish outfit Edinburgh with the signing of 22-year-old Southern Kings back row forward Cornell du Preez.
Du Preez is expected to arrive in the Scottish capital later this month, subject to visa and medical examination.
The former South African Under-20 star is equally adept on the blindside flank and No.8 position and arrives after an impressive debut Super Rugby season.
His move to Murrayfield reunites him with Solomons, who brought du Preez into the Kings franchise after the 2011 Junior World Championships – during his previous incarnation as Director of Rugby at the South African franchise .
Solomons said: “This signing is fantastic news for the club. Cornell is the complete package.
“He’s very strong physically, is an exceptionally good carrier, has very good skills and is a powerful and confrontational defender.
“It was universally accepted that he was an absolute star in his first Super season.
“He’s a fantastic player and we’re delighted that he’s coming here.”
Born and schooled in Port Elizabeth, Du Preez went to North West University in Potchefstroom, where he played in the Varsity Cup for NWU-Pukke and the Leopards in the Under-19 and Under-21 competitions.
After his part in the national age-grade set-up, Du Preez’ imposing defensive presence and strong running played a big part in the improved fortunes for Eastern Province, where he helped them to a 16-match unbeaten run to lift the First Division title last year.
With nine tries in 19 provincial appearances to his name, Du Preez leapfrogged the domestic Premier Division into the Super Rugby set-up, where he added a further five scores in 16 outings in his first year.
He said: “I’m really excited about joining up with the squad at Edinburgh Rugby.
“The decision to move was an easy one to make, especially when you look at the quality competitions that the club plays in week in, week out, taking on some of the best players in the world, all over Europe.
“I have a very good relationship with [head coach] Alan Solomons and [defence coach] Omar Mouneimne, who’ve had a huge influence on my career and in my joining the club.
“They believe in me, and I believe in their systems and what they want to achieve.
“I’m really looking forward to this awesome opportunity and cannot wait to join up with the black and red army.”
Nicolas Vergallo:
Sport24
The great exodus out of Port Elizabeth continued with the news that Argentine scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo will leave the Kings to take up a contract with Lyon.
EPRU President Cheeky Watson wished Vergallo well with his new contract with Lyon in France, which was confirmed on Tuesday.
“I know that Vergallo has strong aspirations to play international rugby for the Pumas. Many of his former team-mates from Argentina play in the French and European competitions, and the move to Lyon was therefore a sensible option in lieu of him wanting to again represent his country,” Watson said.
Lyon current top the Pro D2 league, the second level in France’s professional league system.
Vergallo joins Cornell du Preez, Daniel Adongo, Waylon Murray, Bandise Maku, Jacques Engelbrecht, David Bulbring, SP Marais, Wesley Dunlop, Dimitri Catrakilis and Director of Rugby Alan Solomons – among others – to have left the Kings since the completion of this year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Am keen to see how former Kings defence coach Omar Mouneimne gets on with implementing his systems at Edinburgh as the season unfolds.
Sounds like du Preez is a really good addition to Edinburgh, but they also need a backup fly half, any suggestions folks…
Didn’t know where Daniel Adongo went, but a bit of digging shows he went to Indiana to try his hand at American Football, seems he joined NFL team Colts a while ago – http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=2013375
Although it is a bit confusing as the link above was posted a few days after another article saying that Jerome Paarwater was looking to include Adonga in his Kenya squad for qualifying matches to be played to get to World Cup 2015 and that Adonga had committed to that:
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-129354/paarwater-turns-adongo-rugby-world-cup-qualifiers
4 @ Bullscot:
I think that’s wishfull thinking on Paarwater’s side.
Adongo signed a financially decent contract to play in the NFL.
RT did an article at the time.
http://www.rugby-talk.com/2013/07/adongo-signs-for-nfl/
With this ongoing player exodus how are EP going to be competetive in the CC Premier next year?
“Rocket” Kockott
Check this out!
Kockott eyes French jersey
2013-09-19 10:17
Cape Town – South African Rory Kockott has a burning ambition to play Test rugby, and could end up playing for France.
VIDEO: Rory Kockott rocket!
The former Sharks and Lions scrumhalf has been a revelation since joining French Top 14 side, Castres, in 2011.
Last year, he was a key member in the Castres team that won the French Top 14 for the first time in 20 years when they stunned big-spenders Toulon 19-14 in the final.
Kockott was again on song over the weekend when they beat the same foes 22-15. He kicked 17 points, including a huge drop goal after his 60m penalty attempt hit the posts.
According to the Rugbydump website, Kockott will become eligible to play for France next year.
And while he would love playing international rugby for his native South Africa, he said playing for France would also be the realisation of a dream.
“I’m a strong believer that if I’m playing the best rugby of my career, I’ll catch the attention of the selectors back home. But if that doesn’t work out, I hope to do well enough to get into the French team. I’m still very young (27) and I’d like to have an international career,” said Kockott.
By Sport24’s count, Kockott would be SIXTH in line for the starting Springbok No 9 berth, behind (in no particular order) Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Jano Vermaak, Piet van Zyl and Francois Hougaard.
And here is that kick by Rory!
http://www.rugbydump.com/2013/09/3390/rory-kockott-misses-long-range-penalty-but-tries-again-with-dropgoal
@ Pietman:
Good one for sure
@ Pietman
ek wag nog vir n oproep van die Spesialis, maar die rug gaan gedoen word en n paar maande later my regter heup.
@ superBul:
Flippit broer, dit klink hulle gaan jou heel uitmekaar haal!
Miskien moet jy n tweede opinie by Dr Daan Doep kry by Nedpark Hospitaal, hy is die top ou daar in Pretoria, maak al die rugbykroks reg.
Sterkte ou maat.
http://www.ballz.co.za/sport/jake-white-weighs-in-on-tmos-and-referee-decision-making-/2786
Read this article by Bob Skinstad
http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2013-09-18-an-8020-principle-match/#.UjrX0n-1vy2
I would still take Rorry as bok no 9 over Pienaar any day.
If anyone wonders about the Boss, GBS is away for a well deserved break with Handbriekie. Somewhere at a outdoor expo witch is part of her work. Articles will be loaded and game threads will be up as normal.
@ superBul:
https://www.weg.co.za/kyknet-buite-ekspo/
The boss is still watching from his cell phone…. hehehe
The eye in the sky…………or should we say the eye in the VW panel van.
Always present!
7 @ Pietman:
Howzit Piet,
To be honest Rory is playing better than all those scrummies except for Fourie. He should be 2nd in that line up. Also he brings a damn fine kicking game which we need at test level. A accurate goal kicker as well.
Felt when he left the Sharks we would lose a excellent player. He is one of a few saffa players that have actually got better playing in Europe. He has got far better since his days playing for my Sharks. He is now Bok quality. Just doubt very much that Meyer has even looked at him or for that matter even seen him play of late. Pity as he would have been better than both the scrummies we had on Saturday. He is way better than Ruan and playing better than Vermaak at the moment.
So really if Meyer is selecting all these Boks from overseas I don’t see why we don’t give someone like Rory a chance.
20 @ Puma:
I have to agree. Fourie and Rory could make a good scrumhalf combo for the next WC. And both seem to be miles ahead of Pienaar.
So if they say that Pienaar was picked because of his kicking then they still got it worn as I think Rory is just as good a kicker as any. And I think is a lot more physical.
But such is life. If you can’t beat them……………………….go play for the French.
Going for a game drive now… lekker
This is more than a full Loftus
Petition To Stop Romain Poite Ever Reffing A Rugby Game Again
63,092 likes · 85,000 talking about this
Wonder what will be done to prevent something like this ever again????
5 @ Scrumdown:
Thanks for clearing that one up, not sure why I didnt recall seeing the article here at the time, wonder how he is doing in NFL.
So does this prove that the Kings were just a lot of huursoldate?
@ Loosehead:
Of course it does!
A bunch of us here said so right from the start.
‘Sheiky’s Mercenaries’ have Sweet Fanny Adams in common with ‘black player development’ in Mdantsane and surrounds; those kids in Bisho are probably still kicking an old ‘beesblaas’ around the village outskirts on a dusty soccer pitch while the ‘Sheik and Son’ lined their pockets.
Ek het so gedog, veral na Scrumdown se opmerking oor die behandeling wat die Luiperds van SARU gekry het.
Cheeky sal maar weer moet druipstert gaan politieke toue trek….
Berig in vandag se “Volksblad”:
Kings, kwotas sorg vir vuurwerk op Saru-vergadering
Curriebeker-herrie
Pieter Jordaan
Donderdag 19 September 2013
JOHANNESBURG. – Die OP-Kings het druipstert afstand gedoen van hul versoek om ’n gewaarborgde plek in die Curriebeker se Premierliga vir die volgende twee jaar te kry.
Dit was volgens Sport24 se inliging een van die belangrikste verwikkelinge by gister se spesiale vergadering van die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyunie (Saru), wat by die O.R. Tambo-lughawe gehou is.
Sterk teenkanting van uniepresidente teenwoordig het die Kings gister daarby laat berus dat hul moontlike toelating tot die Premierliga nie met ’n spesiale vangnet gepaard sal gaan nie.
Ná ’n daglange redekaweling kon daar egter nie betyds oor ’n voorgenome Curriebeker-Premierliga-formaat van 8 spanne – en 6 in die Eerste Liga – gestem word nie.
Teen laatmiddag, met verskeie besluite nog nie geneem nie, moes sommiges teenwoordig op vlugte huis toe spring, sodat die vergadering tot 30 September verdaag is.
Tans spook slegs ses spanne sake in die Premierliga uit, maar die behoefte om die Kings te bemagtig staan sentraal in die idee om die reeks weer te vergroot. Uniepresidente, hoofsaaklik van dié unies wat met ’n verandering steeds in die Eerste Liga agtergelaat sal word, was egter nie gister tydens bespreking vir die 8-6-formaat te vinde nie.
Daarvolgens sal die twee spanne wat boaan die huidige Eerste Liga se puntelys eindig, gepromoveer word.
Tans is die Pumas reeds só ’n plek beskore, met die OP-Kings buitendien gunstig geplaas om die tweede plek te beklink.
Die kleiner unies is egter nie heeltemal gelukkig daarmee nie en het onder meer ’n voorstel ingedien van ’n formaat wat ál 14 provinsiale unies betrek.
Die Luiperds is glo ’n groot dryfveer daarvan. Toe die formaat twee jaar gelede juis van 8 na 6 spanne verklein is, is die Luiperds outomaties gerelegeer.
Noudat die reeks opnuut vergroot word, is outomatiese promosie hulle skynbaar nie beskore nie.
Die Kings het hulle glo vir ’n gewaarborgde plek in ’n 8-span-reeks vir die volgende twee seisoene beywer.
Daarvolgens sou hulle die Southern Kings se Super-rugby-situasie vir eers gelate aanvaar, met die Leeus-streekspan wat dán twee jaar se deelname aan die Super-reeks gewaarborg sou word. Maar met só ’n reëling blykbaar uit die prentjie, is ’n promosie-relegasiestryd vir Super-rugby in 2014 weer ’n besliste moontlikheid.
• Die vonke het egter gister minder gespat rondom die Curriebeker-kwessie as rondom ’n debat oor die beplande kwotastelsel vir 2014 se Vodacombeker-reeks.
Saru het verlede maand onthul dat amptelike kwotas vir spelers van kleur in 2014 vir die eerste keer in 9 jaar gebruik gaan word.
Daarvolgens sal die 14 unies moet sorg dat daar vir elke wedstryd 7 spelers van kleur in hul spanne, waarvan 2 voorspelers, is. Diegene wat ten gunste van die kwotastelsel is – waaronder glo hoofsaaklik die Suidelike rugbyunies – het gister ’n uiteindelike stemming oor dié stelsel met twee stemme gewen.
Die meeste van die Noordelike unies het teen die gebruik van ’n kwotastelsel gestem, maar het gehoes teen donderweer. Volgens inligting gaan hulle egter nou van nuuts planne beraam om dié besluit te probeer omkeer.
@ Loosehead:
Funny enough the best talent down there was not the “mercenaries” a lot of local talent was unearth. NMMU played in the Varsity Cup final , the whole exercise was worth every cent. Lets see if something great changed in Lions country, how many of their own will be the stars, how their Varsity teams fare and what happens in the Junior circles, time will tell.
I want to place a article from Rugby Heaven about their worries about the 3rd party deals in NZ Rugby. That superlative model we always talked about, the spread of talent, is under siege. Their President Mr Teu is worried that the big money spenders will buy n Super rugby team, and development suffers. read it a bit later.
@ Pietman:
Lees hier , moerland daai Kaapse All Blacks laat Cheecky hulle soos engeltjies lyk man. Siek lot.
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/cup-competitions/sa-fan-worried-about-all-blacks-safety-1.1579995#.UjvxZ3-1vy0
@ superBul:
Hulle is willer as die wildtuin, daai lot!
Meeste kom uit die apartheidsjare (die ou SARFU-manne), altyd op Nuweland in die Suidpawiljoen gesit en die Bokke gejou teen die oorsese spanne. Hulle het maar al die jare n ‘grudge’, bokkerol wat ons daaraan kan doen, hulle is te oud al.
Die jonger generasie is darem anders, altans die Kaapse maters wat ek mee te doen het, is Bokondersteuners.
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