1st DIVISION - THE CREAM TO SCOOP

Now that the the 1st Division Curriecup group stages have been completed I took a look at the top performers (3 semi finals teams - not Kings) during the competition. They say cream always rises to the top so I had a look at who the young players have been that has risen to the top and showed their class during the 1st Division.

This team excludes Kings players as this list is compiled with the idea of scouting possible players to be signed (scooping the creme of the top) by the Kings to strengthen their squad to be more competitive in the Currie cup.  Since the Kings players are not included in this selections and with the Pumas ending top of the log the team is loaded with Puma players. Keep in mind that this article is merely for interest and it is unlikely that any of them these players are to be signed by the Kings.

I know that this is unlikely to happen as funds are required to obtain quality players and without the guarantee of Curriecup we do not really have anything to offer these players.   



THE CRITERIA:
1) As I would be looking to sign players for the future and to carry the franchise to and beyond the 2016 season the cut off for signing a player would be 25 years of age.  In some positions where players are pretty much the same quality age plays a major factor to consider.  Contracting players will have to be a minimum 2 year deal and if we can get a few of these guys to commit for 3 years it will be great.

2) Players coming from the Eastern Cape region will get preference.

THE TEAM:
After sifting the players through the above criteria I decided the following players would make my list of players to approach for possible contracts to create depth and strengthen our current squad.
15) JW Bell (age 23 - Pumas)
14) Luther Obi (age ??? - Leopards)
13) no one really impressed in this position
12) Stefan Watermeyer (age 25 - Pumas)
11) Rosco Spekman (age 24 - Pumas)
10) JC Roos (age 23 - Pumas)
9) Jaco Grobler (age 21 - Leopards)
8) no one really impressed in this position
7) Renaldo Bothma (age24 - Pumas)
6) SJ Niemand (age ??? - Leopards)
5) Schalk Oelofse (age 24 - SWD)
4) MB Lusaseni (age 24 - Leopards) - signed by Lions
3) Grant Kemp (age 24 - SWD)
2) Edgar Maratlule (age 25 - Leopards) or Frank Herne (age 23 - Pumas)
1) BG Uys (age 25 - Leopards)

Please keep in mind that 25 years of age was the cut off and there are obviously other players who would make the team if age was not a factor -  RW Kember, Carl Bezuidenhout, Coenie van Wyk, Alshaun Bok etc. etc.



Looking at the above list I am pretty upset that the Kings let Frank Herne go at the end of last season. From the above list of players I have heard that BG Uys & Jaco Grobler have signed with the Kings for the 2014 season.Its a good start but I would like to see at least 3 or 4 more names joining the current squad for next year.