Sunday 13 October 2013

CURRENT CROP - FUTURE KINGS????

Looking to the future I decided to pick a team of players younger than 24 at the EP Kings to determine the foundation that we have to work on for the future (hopeing that we are able to keep them here).  This team will form the base on which a 2016 Super rugby squad will be built if the players remain.  The team is as follow (ages in brackets). 

15: Scott van Breda (21), Shakes Soyizwapi (20)
14: Siyanda Grey (24), Eben Barnard (21)
13: Selvyn Davids (19), Brian Skosana (21)
12: Shane Gates (21)
11: Sergeal Peterson (19)
10: George Whitehead (24), Marlou van Niekerk (20)
9: Kayle van Zyl (21) , Dwayne Kelly (21)
8: Tim Agaba (24)
7: Aidon Davis (19)
6: Stephan Zaayman (20), CJ Velleman (18)
5: Rynier Bernardo (22)
4: Stefan Willemse (21), Armand du Preez (20)
3: Brendon Olivier (21)
2: Dane van der Westhuizen (21), Albe de Swardt (23)
1: Lizo Gqoboka (23)
(players in BOLD have represented Kings in 1 or more games in 2013 Super rugby)

Some of the older guys moving into the twilight of their careers who can maybe give us another 2-3 years of service (hopefully more to create some squad depth), give the youngsters some guidance and maybe carry us into the 2016 season are as follow.
Steven Sykes (29)
Charl du Plessis (26)
Ronnie Cooke (29)
Michael Killian (29)
Luke Watson (29)
Andries Strauss (29)
From this list the leadership ability of Watson, Sykes and Strauss will be needed in guiding the youngsters through what will hopefully be a successful building period for the Kings.

Looking at the above team (youngsters and the seniors) I believe we have a decent base to build on. A few added signings (proper flyhalf & tight five should be first on our shopping list), maybe 2 or 3 more youngsters putting up their hands for selection, a few players from our franchise partners to bolster the squad and with 1 or 2 overseas players drafted into the squad the Kings should be ready and competitive come 2016.

The Kings should be looking to invest in the following players from the 1st division and if they are able to sign some of the names on this list I will be thrilled with the recruiting done by the Kings.
(All good players and still relatively young)
JW Bell (23) [fullback for Pumas]
JC Roos (23) [flyhalf for Pumas]
Coenie van Wyk (25) [flyhalf/fullback for Pumas]
Grant Kemp (24) [front row for SWD]
Luther Obi (20) [wing for Leopards]
BG Uys (25) [front row for Leopards]
Edgar Maratlule (25) [hooker for Leopards]


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